African American Scholarships in California
While the number of African American students attending colleges and universities has increased, graduation rates for African American students are stagnate, at roughly 43%. African American women are faring slightly better than the men, but low graduation rates are indicative of obstacles African American students may be facing once they make it to higher education.
African American student success is higher in schools which support the unique needs of minority students, African American students in particular. The amount of support African American students receive in academia grows in relation to how high the percentage of African American students is. Some schools, such as Brown, make a concerted effort to support their African American students, while other schools, including California’s Berkely, which is home to a very small percentage of African American students, have suffered because of subsequent low graduation rates. (Source)
California, along with Florida and Texas, has banned Affirmative Action when used to determine college admissions. California enacted their ban in 1996, since it began the number of Asian American students has gone up substantially, while the number of African American, Hispanic and white students have gone down. Several California colleges experienced a drop to fewer than 3% African American students.
Fortunately, even without Affirmative Action, there are scholarships available for African American students. While the competition for these scholarships is fierce, scholarships can help ensure that African American students have the same opportunity as their non-African American peers. Below, find a handful of examples of scholarships for African American students. Keep in mind, this list is far from comprehensive, so use it as a jumping-off point for your own research.
This is scholarship.com’s list of scholarships for minority students. Some of these are nationwide, some of them are regional, and some would benefit from better fact checking, but it’s a good list to use as a starting point.
The American Bar Association offers a scholarship for minority students pursuing a law degree.
The California Librarians’ Black Caucus offers several scholarships for African American students.
Browse African American Scholarships in California:
Listing 1 to 15 of 15
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2023/2024 College Scholarship | $1,000 |
| Sponsored: There is no GPA requirement and no essay to write! | |
| California Community Service-Learning Program (CCSLP) | $5000 |
| Awards for underrepresented minority students attending medical school in California. Training and research will be completed during 3rd or 4th year of medical studies. www.nmfonline.org. ... | |
| Alvie Campbell Bible Scholarship | $1000 |
| This scholarship is awarded in honor of educator Alvie Campbell Bible. Be an African American female student, attending a Bay Area junior college or four year col1ege/university • have a ... | |
| CANFit Program Scholarships - Graduate | $1,000 |
| The California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program (CANFit) is offering undergraduate and graduate scholarships for African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific ... | |
| CANfit Program Scholarships - Graduate | Varies |
| Undergraduate and graduate scholarships are available for California African-American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American, Pacific Islander or Latino/Hispanic students expressing ... | |
| CLA Award in Memory of Edna Yelland | $2500 |
| Scholarship is awarded through the California Library Association, to encourage and support ethnic minority students in attaining a graduate degree in library or information science. Minority ... | |
| Edith & James (Jim) Howard Scholarship | $500 |
| One $500 scholarship is awarded annually to African-American graduates of Eureka High School or St. Bernard High School. The applicant must have maintained a 3.0 GPA during the last 3 years ... | |
| Edith and James A. Howard Scholarship | $500 |
| This scholarship will be awarded annually to high school seniors from Eureka or St. Bernard high schools. Requires an official Humboldt Area Foundation Application Form. Open to students of ... | |
| Ernest Dabbs Memorial Scholarship | Varies |
| Awarded to an African American male student who is a local resident. | |
| George Washington Carver Scholarships | $200-$10,000 |
| THE GEORGE WASHINGON CARVER SCHOLARSHIP FUND, INC. is a non-profit corporation, which provides grants to students who attend historically black colleges or universities and major in an area ... | |
| Iola Williams Scholarship | $200 |
| Applicant must be a full-time African American student who is a graduate of a Santa Clara County high school. Along with a completed application the student must submit a letter of ... | |
| ScholarshipPoints $10,000 Scholarship | $10,000 |
| Sponsored: Thousands available in scholarships this year. | |
| KNTV Minority Scholarship | $1000 |
| KNTV Minority Scholarships are provided by KNTV Channel 11 in California. Residents of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey or San Benito counties attending a California institute full-time. ... | |
| Miss Black California USA Scholarship | Varies |
| The Miss and Ms Black California USA Scholarship is a chance for African American female students to compete in an official US competition. Open to African American females from California ... | |
| Modesto Bee Scholarship Program | $500 |
| Financial assistance offered through the Modesto Bee for high school seniors enrolling in college for the following fall. For a deserving Native American Indian, Hispanic American, Asian ... | |
| Opportunity Award | $500 |
| Awarded to African American students who look to education as a gateway to a more meaningful and productive life. The applicant must have completed a minimum of 9 semester units, and have a ... | |
| Wilma Cochrane Scholarship | Varies |
| Scholarship awarded to African American students. Completion of 12 units is required with a 2.0 GPA. Must have a student educational plan in one of the counseling programs on campus. ... | |
| $2,000 "No Essay" Scholarship - Niche | $2,000 |
| Sponsored: Open to all students and those planning on enrolling in either 2023 or 2024. | |