5 Ways for African-Americans to get Money for Grad School

College is expensive, and graduate school is even more so, since money for grad school is often in the form of loans. For many, the expense of additional student loans are worth the investment; but for those who cannot take on additional debt, there are loans and scholarships available to help make a graduate degree more affordable.

Scholarship programs

E. J. Josey Scholarship Program

This is an unrestricted $2,000 annual grant for African American students enrolled in regionally accredited American Library Association programs.

To apply you must:

• Be an African-American citizen of the U.S. or Canada
• Currently be enrolled in an accredited graduate-level ALA program
• Write an essay discussing how information professionals can help the community.
• Visit the website

The Gates Millennium Scholarship Program

The Gates Millennium Foundation offers 1,000 scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students focusing on the fields of education, engineering, computer science, library science, science, public health and mathematics. To apply an applicant must:

• Be African-American, Native American, Asian Pacific Islander or Hispanic American
• Have a minimum 3.3 GPA
• Be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. permanent resident or foreign national
• Hold a high school diploma or GED
• Visit the website

Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Education Scholarship

This is a scholarship for graduate students who wish to pursue an advanced degree in education. Applicants must:

• Write an essay between 500 and 1,000 words on a given topic(s)
• Provide two letters of recommendation, one from a community leader (pastor, volunteer coordinator, etc.)
• Provide a copy of the student’s student aid report (SAR)
• Offer a recent photograph suitable for display
• Write a detailed resume including volunteer work, academic achievements and work history
• Visit the website

Southern Region Education Board

This board offers several scholarship programs for student pursing a doctorate in education. The doctoral scholarship offers three- to five-year $20,000-per-year stipends as well as tuition assistance. The dissertation scholarship is for students who are completing their dissertation, and offers a one-year $20,000 stipend.

To apply students must:

• Be enrolled in an accredited PhD program at one of the participating colleges and in one of the participating states.
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Fill out an application for either the doctorate program or dissertation program scholarship
• Provide a letter of interest
• Provide all academic transcripts
• Offer three letters of recommendation
• Visit the website

United Negro College Fund

This database contains a variety of scholarships, grants, internships and fellowships for African American and other minority students. The awards cover most majors, but there are a decent amount of programs for graduate students focused on education.

Visit the website.

NAACP scholarships

Offers grants and scholarships for African-American students. To qualify, students must:

• Provide a copy of their NAACP membership card or application
• Provide two letters of recommendation from educators in their field of study
• Send an official transcript
• Provide a copy of their student aid report
• Write a one-page essay
• Offer proof of acceptance into college or program or that they are enrolled full-time
• Visit the Website