Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were founded to offer Black students the opportunity to pursue higher education. They weren’t admitted into primarily white institutions, causing HBCUs to not only become a resource for education but a safe space. To this day, Black students, non-Black students of color and white students attend HBCUs for the purpose of advancing their studies and expanding their cultural awareness. Through donations and some government funding, HBCUs continue to make this possible for their student body. As grants and loans are offered, so are university scholarships. Here’s what we know about the best HBCU scholarships.

Scholarships Offered By HBCU Partners

To the surprise of some, HBCUs do offer full-ride scholarships. Students who meet certain criteria can also combine partial scholarships with grants. More than 75% of students at HBCUs receive grants, and 13% of students pursue loans. The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) awards more than $100 million annually in scholarships. From the Ralph and Fanny Ellison scholarship for students from New York or Oklahoma to the Associates Scholars Empowerment Program for students pursuing an associate degree, there’s a scholarship for everyone. There’s also the Publix Cares Scholarship for students pursuing education at any of the following HBCUs: Benedict College, Bethune-Cookman University, Clark Atlanta University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spelman College, Tennessee State University, University of Central Florida and Virginia State University.

Scholarships That Students Can Apply For (To Attend HBCUs)

There are HBCU scholarships to accommodate every type of student no matter their hometown, major or previous careers. Ralph Lauren, P&G and partners of UNCF all offer between $1,500 and $10,000 in scholarships. There is also the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, in addition to the Federal Pell and Supplemental Educational Opportunity grants. Lastly, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Educational Advancement Foundation and Google Foundations are among the organizations/companies offering financial support to students attending HBCUs.

The HBCU That Awards The Most Scholarships

HBCUs have also taken into consideration the economic factors that play a role in whether Black students pursue higher education. The average cost of attendance for a student living on campus and attending a four-year university is $27,146 per year, or $108,584 over four years. Each year is subject to a 2.5% to 3% inflation rate. In 2022-23, the average cost of attendance for on-campus students at HBCUs ranged between $26,791 and $30,624. While HBCUs measure pretty closely in cost to that of their predominantly white institution (PWI), Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the first HBCU ever founded (in 1837), has awarded the most scholarships to cover that charge.

Now that you have this information, which of these universities do you plant to apply for or share with your community first? Are you the recipient of any of the scholarships mentioned?