How to Apply for College Grants for Black Students

In the not-so-distant past, college education was out of the reach of the vast majority of black individuals. Often, black students saw their educational careers grind to a halt with the acceptance of their high school diplomas. Today, however, more African-American students are able to take advantage of the dream of higher education thanks to scholarships and grants geared towards ethnic minority students.

Instructions

Find College Grants for Black Students

1. Apply for admission to historically black colleges and universities, as they often offer grants. These schools do accept students of other races, but they make a concerted effort to cater to the needs of black students, which are often overlooked on other college campuses. Such schools include Howard University, Hampton University, Spelman, Morehouse, Tuskegee and Bethune-Cookman.

2. Check with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), an organization that is dedicated to the educational needs of black students in the United States. This organization offers scholarships, grants and fellowships. You can find information about its grants on the UNCF website.

3. Apply for grants offered by a wide range of public and private organizations. Your high school guidance counselor or college financial aid office should be able to point you in the right direction for finding such grants. Some of the organizations that offer help to black students are the National Black Nurses Association, AT&T, the March of Dimes Foundation, Xerox and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

4. Exhaust federal and state aid. These grant programs are often income-based instead of racially targeted, but they often offer substantial help for students at all levels of college education. Often, such grant programs are need based, however, so you should be prepared to prove your income, and if you can be claimed as your parents' dependent, their income may be factored in as well.

5. Supplement your Internet search for grants with a good book filled with college funding resources. Books like "How to Go to College on a Shoe String: The Insider's Guide to Grants, Scholarships, Cheap Books, Fellowships, and Other Financial Aid Secrets" by Ann Marie O'Phelan are available from websites like Amazon.com.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't wait until the last minute to begin your search for grants. Start at least a year in advance of when you'll need the money. You may have other, competing deadlines for other elements of the application, such as essay contest. Outline the deadlines for each element and work accordingly. Complete the financial applications early so that you are freed up to work on the other requirements.

Resources

• UNCF for black student grants
• Amazon for college grant books