College Scholarships for History Students
Students who wish to pursue a history major generally enroll in a four-year bachelor's degree program at a college or university. As of 2010, the average cost to obtain a four-year bachelor's degree runs around $7,600 a year at a public school and can be more than $27,000 a year at a private institution. To help offset the cost of earning a four-year degree in history, students can apply for a number of scholarships intended specifically for history students.
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Function
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While scholarships do help students defray the many expenses of a college degree, some scholarships have functions besides providing tuition money. Scholarships from the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, for example, promote the study of history and encourage students to pursue history degrees, according to Financial Aid Finder. Those scholarships also help increase membership in Phi Alpha Theta since scholarship recipients must be members to receive the awards.
Sources
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Phi Alpha Theta is not the only history-related association to provide scholarships for history students. Scholarships also come from groups like Daughters of the American Revolution and the U.S. Institute of Peace. The history departments of many colleges and universities also offer scholarships for their students, including the University of Michigan-Flint, Wartburg College and Missouri State University. Many essay and writing contests also provide scholarship money for winners, like the World War II Museum E Pluribus Unum Essay Contest.
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Types
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Besides writing and essay contests, scholarships for history students also come in the form of traditional scholarships, fellowships and grants. The Michael Kraus Research Grant, sponsored by the American Historical Association, offers funding to history students to research American colonial history. Scholarships can also be used to fund other aspects of education besides tuition, like the Donald Peterson Student Scholarship that gives money to a student to attend the annual Society of American Archivists conference.
Features
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Scholarships for history students can be intended for a certain type of student, including minorities and women. Two minority scholarships offered to history students include the University of Michigan's Harry Reed Endowment Scholarship that goes to a minority or female student in the history department and the Harold Pinkett Minority Student Award given by the Society of American Archivists. Scholarship amounts also differ from award to award, from $400 for the Phi Alpha Theta Paper Prize to $10,000 for the U.S. Institute of Peace Award.
Eligibility
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To qualify for a history scholarship, students must be enrolled or be planning to enroll in a history degree program at an accredited college or university. Specific requirements like letters of recommendations and essay questions may also be required for consideration. Some scholarships have academic requirements as well. For example, the University of Michigan-Flint history scholarships require students to maintain minimum grade point averages and have completed particular history courses.
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References
- The College Board: What It Costs to Go to College
- Financial Aid Finder: History Major Scholarships
- College Scholarships: Do You Need Funding for Your History Degree?
- American Historical Association: The Michael Kraus Research Grant in American Colonial History
- Go College: Track Down Scholarship Sources in History and Related Majors
Resources
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