25 Scholarships For Black Women in 2025

African American women have faced historical barriers to higher education that made obtaining a college degree difficult. While more Black women are pursuing a college education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data reports that the percentage of Black female students aged 18 to 24 enrolled in college in 2022 (39%) still fell short of the percentage of females overall (44%).

Affordable HBCUs are leading the charge to increase Black student enrollment by offering lower tuition and financial aid. Below, we'll highlight scholarships for Black women from schools, nonprofits, and citizens also eager to help boost degree attainment.

Scholarships for African American Women

Scholarships for African American women can open doors to exciting opportunities in higher education. Review the following list to discover awards benefiting Black women.

1. Building Beautiful Futures Scholarship

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) offers several college scholarships for Black females, including the Building Beautiful Futures Scholarship for members seeking careers in communications, marketing, finance, business, or science. Eligibility is open to Black females enrolled or accepted at U.S.-based accredited colleges and universities.

Award Amount: $10,000

Deadline: April 11, 2025

2. Michele L. Durant Scholarship

Black or African American females with a 2.5 grade point average or higher can pursue the Michele L. Durant Scholarship created to address wage gaps and other barriers to higher education. Students applying for this award must be entering an undergraduate, graduate, or trade school program at the time of application.

Award Amount: $1,000

Deadline: May 15, 2025

3. The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship

This non-renewable memorial scholarship from the NAACP's Inspire Initiatives awards Black students pursuing a four-year college degree at an accredited institution in the U.S. Eligibility is open to members enrolled full-time or accepted to a school. Applicants must be under 25, have a 3.0 GPA, and demonstrate financial need.

Award Amount: $2,000

Deadline: April 11, 2025

4. Working Women Scholarship

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (NCBW) Oakland Bay Area Chapter offers a financial award for women over age 30 in the Bay Area who are currently employed and attending a college, university, or other post-secondary institution. Priority for scholarships is given to women pursuing their first degree.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: April 26, 2025

5. Outside the Binary: Black Women in Tech Scholarship

Students looking for scholarships for Black women in tech fields can pursue Chineye Emeghara's Outside the Binary: Black Women in Tech Scholarship created for Black female-identifying high school students. The application process involves sharing one's interest in technology and how that can be balanced with other interests.

Award Amount: $500

Deadline: May 30, 2025

6. The Ed Dwight Scholarship

This NAACP Inspire Initiatives scholarship honors Ed Dwight, an author, sculptor, and trailblazer in the American space program. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, students of color, and NAACP members under 25. They must also want to pursue a career in science, aeronautics, aviation, or engineering and demonstrate financial need.

Award Amount: $2,500

Deadline: April 11, 2025

7. The NAACP x Society Awards Scholarship

College students interested in visual/performing arts careers can apply for the NAACP x Society Awards Scholarship. To qualify for this award, an applicant must be Black or a person of color and a graduating high school senior or accredited college or university enrollee.

Award Amount: $2,000 and $1,000

Deadline: April 11, 2025

8. The Dearmont-Dyas Scholarship

The Dearmont-Dyas Scholarship is an NAACP Inspire Initiatives funding opportunity for Black or African American students demonstrating financial need. Eligibility requirements include being an NAACP member and angraduating high school senior or undergraduate student with a 3.0 GPA. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need.

Award Amount: $25,000

Deadline: April 11, 2025

9. UNCF Scholarships

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is the nation's largest private scholarship provider for minority students. In addition to scholarship programs like the K-12 Education Fellowship and UNCF/Koch Scholars Program, students can apply for internships and fellowships. Specific scholarships and other awards have unique eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and requirements.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: Varies

10. Mae & Mary Scholarship Fund

The Mae & Mary Scholarship Fund helps African Americans pursuing careers in the healthcare profession cover tuition, books, fees, and other school costs. When submitting a scholarship application, students should send a recent photo, two letters of recommendation, current transcripts, and a personal essay, cover letter, and resume.

Award Amount: Varies annually

Deadline: March 31, 2025

11. Sachs Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship

Black Colorado high school seniors planning to pursue an undergraduate degree at any accredited institution can apply for the Sachs Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship. Eligibility is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Submission Summary among other factors.

Award Amount: $10,000 to $12,500 per year for four years of study (or $40,000 to $50,000 total)

Deadline: March 15

12. Young Black Women Scholars

The NCBW Oakland Bay Area Chapter helps female students in Bay Area schools cover the cost of programs at four-year universities, junior colleges, community colleges, and trade schools. Undergraduate and graduate students who have attended high school in the Bay Area are encouraged to apply.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: April 26, 2025

13. Women's Independence Scholarship Program (WISP)

WISP in North Carolina offers scholarship funds to cover tuition, books, and fees for female survivors of intimate partner abuse attending most institutions of higher education. To qualify, applicants must be sponsored by a nonprofit domestic violence victim services provider they've worked with at least six months.

Award Amount: $1,000 to $6,000 per academic year

Deadline: March 1 and November 1 (first-time applications are accepted twice a year)

14. Laurel House Social Work Racial Equity Scholarship Award

This competitive scholarship opportunity aims to increase the number of culturally relevant Master of Social Work students providing quality care to underserved communities. Eligibility is open to Black and Latino applicants living in the state who demonstrate need for financial assistance and enroll in a Master of Social Work program in CT or NY.

Award Amount: $10,000 first-place award, $5,000 second-place award

Deadline: May 15th, 2025

15. Lower Connecticut Valley Branch Scholarship

The LCV Education and Scholarship Program offers education grants to help women pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree attend a leadership conference promoted by AAUW. Applicants must be 20 years old by June 9, 2025, demonstrate financial need, reside in Middlesex or New London County, CT.

Award Amount: $5,000 education grants

Deadline: June 9, 2025

16. Fordham Scholarship

The Fordham Scholarship at Fordham University awards traditional first-year students full tuition for up to eight fall and spring semesters (four years). Eligibility is open to applicants designated as semifinalists by the National Merit Recognition Program and scholars by the National African American Recognition Program and other programs.

Award Amount: Full tuition (covers the rest of tuition not covered by Federal Pell Grant, state assistance, and any other tuition-specific resources or scholarships)

Deadline: N/A

MBA Scholarships for Black Women

Organizations also offer graduate scholarships for Black women, particularly students pursuing the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Keep reading to discover more funding opportunities.

17. The Consortium

The Consortium offers annual fellowships to top MBA candidates with a proven record of promoting inclusion in their jobs, school, or personal lives. Students with a bachelor's degree who want to reduce underrepresentation of Native Americans, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans in member schools' enrollments qualify.

Award Amount: Up to a full-tuition fellowship

Deadline: October 15 (early deadline), January 5 (traditional deadline)

18. Forté Fellowships

Forté Fellowships awards full-time MBA students financial benefits, access to resources, networking opportunities, and exposure to leading companies in the Forté network. Select schools offer part-time and executive awards. MBA applicants should first submit to participating schools. After admitting applicants, partner schools select their fellows.

Award Amount: Fellowship

Deadline: No deadline, must become a fellow

Scholarships for Black Women in STEM

Students interested in science, technology, engineering, or math careers can choose from several STEM scholarships for African American women. Explore some of the opportunities below.

19. Julia Elizabeth Legacy Scholarship

African American high school students planning to pursue a two- or four-year degree in STEM can apply for the Julia Elizabeth Legacy Scholarship. This award aims to support underrepresented minority students wanting degrees in the field. To apply, students should share why diversity in STEM matters to them.

Award Amount: $650

Deadline: Jun 5, 2025

20. UNCF STEM Scholars Program

The Fund II Foundation UNCF STEM Scholars Program chooses 500 African American high school students interested in STEM careers. Eligible awardees from 29 states and 71 colleges and universities (including HBCUs and Ivy League schools) benefit from scholarships, internships, and mentoring. Contact UNCF for scholarship application details.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: Varies

21. Development Fund for Black Students in Science and Technology (DFBSST)

DFBSST offers scholarships to African-American undergraduate students interested in studying scientific or technical fields at HBCUs. Applicants should be U.S. citizens enrolled at predominantly Black colleges and universities and majoring in a technical field. Engineering and science department deans and professors identify students to be considered for awards.

Award Amount: Up to $3,000 per year

Deadline: June 15th

22. National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Scholarships

The National Society of Black Engineers offers scholarships to boost freshmen engineering enrollment and increase the number of Black students completing undergraduate engineering programs in the U.S. to 10,000 by 2025. Students can contact the organization to learn how to apply for NSBE Jr. Summer Bridge and diversity scholarships.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: End of spring scholarship cycle

23. Black Girls Do STEM

Parents of young students searching for college scholarships for African American females can find funding opportunities with Black Girls Do STEM. Joining the free STEM Saturday Academy gives middle school and eventually high school students access to grants, private donations, and foundation funding. Academy selections are first come, first served.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: N/A

Scholarships for Black Women in Law

Black women interested in attending law school can find a couple of scholarship opportunities. Explore the awards below to find funding for women of color.

24. The Earl Warren Scholarship

The Earl Warren Scholarship helps law students cover three years of full-time legal study at an accredited law school. In addition to financial assistance, eligible Earl Warren Scholars could participate in internships, externships, or guided research projects. To qualify, applicants must be U.S. citizens demonstrating financial need.

Award Amount: $15,000 per year for three years (total of $45,000)

Deadline: May 1, 2025

25. Herbert Lehman Scholarship

This competitive scholarship aims to increase the number of Black Americans in the legal profession by covering school costs for Black students attending formerly segregated four-year colleges and universities in the South. Eligibility is granted to graduating high school seniors and first- and second-year college students demonstrating financial need.

Award Amount: $3,000 per year over four years (undergraduates), $15,000 per year for three years (law students)

Deadline: April 1, 2025 (undergraduates), May 1, 2025 (law students)

Find an Affordable College Degree

Prepare for an exciting journey in higher education by exploring degree programs found on Learn.org. Contact a school today to learn how they can help you reach your academic goals.