HBCU Scholarships 2025-2026 – Bestcolleges.com
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The cost of college has risen 22-fold since 1963. Scholarships can help you offset this price tag by giving you money you don’t have to pay back.
Historically Black college and university (HBCU) scholarships support students from historically excluded backgrounds — particularly Black students — who are attending or plan to attend an HBCU.
According to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), HBCU students borrow student loans at a higher rate than non-HBCU students. While 80% of HBCU students borrow loans to fund their education, just 55% of non-HBCU students use loans to pay for school.
HBCU scholarships help you earn your degree with less debt — so be sure to check if you’re eligible for any.
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Here’s a list of popular HBCU scholarships and fellowships you can apply for, whether you’re an incoming undergraduate or a current HBCU student.
Some programs award scholarships based on financial need, while others award based on merit and other factors.
Eligibility: This scholarship is available to 121 students from 57 Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) member schools, including HBCUs, historically Black community colleges, and other predominantly Black institutions. Applicants must have at least a 2.5 GPA and be able to demonstrate financial need.
Application Deadline: December
Award Amount: Up to $2,500
Eligibility: This scholarship supports students at five HBCUs: Lincoln University, Norfolk State University, Bennett College, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and Central State University. You must be majoring in a creative field, such as media and visual arts, and have at least a 2.0 GPA. Students with financial hardship get priority.
Application Deadline: Varies
Award Amount: Varies
Eligibility: This scholarship awards 25 students majoring in STEM or business at HBCUs or predominantly Black institutions that are TMCF member schools. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA and be able to demonstrate financial need.
Application Deadline: December
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Eligibility: This scholarship targets full-time Black undergraduates in their second year or higher. You must have a record of community service, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and demonstrate financial need or exceptional academic achievement.
Application Deadline: April
Award Amount: Up to $1,000
Eligibility: To apply, you must be a Black, economically challenged high school senior who plans to attend an accredited four-year college in the U.S. You must also be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. All majors are eligible.
Application Deadline: December
Award Amount: $40,000 ($10,000 per school year)
Eligibility: This scholarship caters to full-time students pursuing a technology bachelor’s or master’s degree at an accredited HBCU. You must write an essay that answers two prompts, have a GPA of at least 3.0, and submit a resume.
Application Deadline: February
Award Amount: $10,000
Eligibility: This scholarship targets students who plan to attend or currently attend an HBCU. Students must be nominated; you can even nominate yourself by writing a 250-word nomination essay. You must be an HBCU undergraduate or a graduating high school senior with an acceptance letter from an HBCU.
Application Deadline: October
Award Amount: $5,000
Eligibility: To apply, you must provide proof you’ve been accepted into an HBCU. You must also have at least a 3.0 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and hold U.S. citizenship or U.S. national or permanent resident status.
Application Deadline: February
Award Amount: $10,000
Like scholarships, grants are gifts awarded to students who meet certain qualifications. These do not need to be repaid, though some grants may include service agreements.
Grants for HBCU students can help alleviate some of the student loan debt that disproportionately affects Black college graduates.
The following are among the most popular federal grant opportunities.
Eligibility: To apply for a Pell Grant, you must be an undergraduate who hasn’t earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or professional degree. You must submit the FAFSA and demonstrate financial need.
Application Deadline: June 30 (FAFSA deadline)
Award Amount: Up to $7,395
Eligibility: Eligible students, as determined by the FAFSA, include undergraduates who have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree. You’ll get priority if you demonstrate exceptional financial need.
Application Deadline: June 30 (FAFSA deadline)
Award Amount: $100-$4,000 per year
Eligibility: Eligible students are those who do not qualify for a Federal Pell Grant based on their student aid index but meet all other criteria. You must have been younger than 24 or enrolled in college at least part time when your parent or guardian died during military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11.
Application Deadline: June 30 (FAFSA deadline)
Award Amount: Up to $7,395
Eligibility: To apply for the TEACH Grant, you must meet the general criteria for federal student aid programs and be enrolled in a TEACH Grant-eligible program. You must also score above the 75th percentile on one or more parts of a college admissions test or maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA. Lastly, you must agree to teach for at least four years at low-income schools in high-need fields. If you do not fulfill the service requirement within eight years after graduation, the TEACH grant is retroactively turned into an unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loan.
Application Deadline: June 30 (FAFSA deadline)
Award Amount: Up to $4,000 per year
Some HBCUs offer “free” tuition in the form of full-ride scholarships. Other HBCUs may offer big discounts, such as universal in-state tuition rates or tuition waivers, for students who meet certain criteria.
You can combine these discounts with scholarships and grants to cover much of your tuition fees and education expenses.
The University of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., is among the most affordable HBCUs. The school reported a net price of $14,287 in 2022-2023, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Many of the most expensive HBCUs keep tuition costs lower than the national average.
According to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), more than 65% of students at HBCUs receive Pell Grants, and nearly 18% receive PLUS Loans. By comparison, nearly 40% of students at non-HBCUs receive Pell Grants and only about 4% use PLUS loans.
Outside of federal aid, many HBCU scholarships are distributed based on available institutional funding, which pales in comparison to that of historically white institutions. On average, HBCUs’ endowments are one-eighth the size of those for non-HBCU institutions, TMCF reports.
Spelman College tends to charge more than other HBCUs. Spelman’s net price was $37,403 in the 2022-23 academic year, according to NCES.
Howard University awarded the most financial aid of any HBCU in the 2022-23 academic year. That year, 100% of students received financial aid, and 99% received institutional grants or scholarships, according to NCES.
Many other HBCUs, including Miles College, Coppin State University, Tuskegee University, and Claflin University, tend to award generous scholarship packages to students.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute professional financial advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Readers of this website should contact a professional advisor before making decisions about financial issues.
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