STEM Scholarships for Minorities
Scholarships play an important role in promoting equity and inclusion in higher education. When scholarships are awarded, they help alleviate the financial burden of college and make it feasible for students to pursue their academic dreams without being overshadowed by the looming threat of student debt.
Whether you’re a senior in high school or continuing your undergrad or graduate studies, check out these STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) scholarships for minorities.
1. NACME Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Provider: National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME)
Founded in 1974, NACME’s mission is to increase the representation of Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic-American, and Native/American Indian in the fields of engineering and computer science. NACME partners with like-minded entities to provide scholarships, resources, and opportunities for high-achieving, underrepresented minority college students pursuing careers in engineering and computer science. Scholarship deadlines and award amounts vary.
Requirements:
- Applicant must either be a high school senior applying to an engineering or computer science program, within one year of graduating from high school, or
- Applicant must be matriculating in a community college program with the intent to apply to a NACME Partner Institution, or
- Applicant must be currently matriculating in an engineering or computer science program at a NACME Partner Institution.
- Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Applicant must meet the minimum GPA requirement of the specific scholarship for which they’re applying.
- Applicant must be Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic-American, or Native/American Indian.
2. The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Provider: The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society recognizes education as a means of empowerment, personal growth, and fosters the diversity Indigenous students will bring to STEM landscapes. AISES provides financial aid to Indigenous students in STEM through scholarships funded by donors and partners.
Requirements:
- Applicants must be an enrolled member or a descendant of an enrolled member of a federal or state-recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Village; or Native Hawaiian or descendant of a Native Hawaiian; or Pacific Islander or descendant of a Pacific Islander; or an Indigenous person of Canada.
- Applicant must be an AISES member (free for students).
- Applicant must be pursuing a degree in STEM.
3. Maureen L. & Howard N. Blitman, P.E., Scholarship to Promote Diversity in Engineering
Amount: $5,000
Provider: National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
The Maureen L. and Howard N. Blitman, P.E., Scholarship to Promote Diversity in Engineering is awarded annually to a high school senior from an ethnic minority who has been accepted into an ABET-accredited engineering program at a four-year college or university.
Requirements:
- Applicant must be a high school senior.
- Applicant must be a member of an underrepresented ethnic minority in the field of engineering: African-American, Hispanic, Native American, or Pacific Islander.
- Applicant must have been accepted into an ABET-accredited engineering program at a four-year college or university.
- Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen.
4. ACS Scholars Program
Amount: Up to $5,000
Provider: American Chemical Society
The ACS Scholars Program awards renewable scholarships to undergraduate students from historically underrepresented groups in the chemical sciences, majoring in chemistry-related disciplines, and intending to pursue chemistry-related careers.
Requirements:
- Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent U.S. resident.
- Applicant must be African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, or Indigenous (e.g. Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native).
- Applicant must be a graduating high school senior or college freshman, sophomore or junior. Seniors can apply for their fifth year.
- Applicant must intend to major or already major in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical technology, or another chemistry-related science AND plan to pursue a career in a chemistry-related science.
- Applicant must be a full-time student at a high school or accredited college, university, or community college.
- Applicant must demonstrate high academic achievement in chemistry or science (GPA of 3.0 or higher).
LPA Interdisciplinary Diversity Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: LPA, Inc.
LPA Inc. is an integrated design firm with six offices in California and Texas. It provides sustainable design for educational, corporate, healthcare, recreation, and civic facilities.
The LPA Interdisciplinary Diversity Scholarship provides renewable scholarships of $5,000 per year to students in LPA’s home states who are pursuing undergraduate degrees in eligible majors associated with the building and design industry.
Requirements:
- Applicant must be a high school senior residing in California or Texas.
- Applicant must be accepted in a full-time undergraduate study at an accredited NAAB, LAAB, ABET, CIDA or NASAD four or five-year college or university for the entire upcoming academic year.
- Applicant must be pursuing a degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Architecture/Design, Architectural Engineering, Structural Engineering, Building Science, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related degree
- Applicant must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Applicant must be Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander or a Woman (all races).
Agile Mile Scholarship Program
Amount: $2,000
Provider: Agile Mile, Inc.
The Agile Mile Scholarship Program supports Black students studying urban planning and computer science. Two (2) $2,000 scholarships are awarded.
Requirements:
- Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.
- Applicant must be 17 years of age or older.
- Applicant must be Black or African American.
- Applicant must be enrolled or planning to enroll in urban planning or computer science programs at accredited institutions.
7. Shell Incentive Fund Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: Shell Oil Company
Shell Company (“Shell”) offers $5,000 annual scholarships through the Shell Incentive Fund Scholarship program to underrepresented students pursuing an undergraduate degree in a specific technical field of study at certain universities.
Requirements:
- Applicant must be enrolled as a freshman, sophomore, or junior for the current academic year.
- Applicant must be enrolled full-time.
- Applicant must have a minimum 3.20 cumulative GPA.
- Applicant must major in one of the following disciplines: geology, geophysics or physics, chemical, civil, electrical, environmental, mechanical, petroleum, geological, or geophysical engineering.
- Applicant must be Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian or Alaskan Native.
8. AROC AI/ML Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: AROC
The AROC AI/ML Scholarship aims to narrow the gap in access to STEM education so that all students can pursue the careers of their dreams.
Requirements:
- Applicant must be Black or African American
- Applicant must be pursuing a STEM degree.
- Applicant must be a high school or undergraduate student.
9. Madam C.J. Walker Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: Mary Kay. Inc. / Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC)
The Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC) Madam C.J. Walker Scholarship supports under-represented minorities of any gender identity pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in STEM disciplines related to the cosmetics and personal care industry.
Requirements:
- Applicant must be an under-represented minority (Black, African American, Native American, American Indian, Indigenous Peoples, or Hispanic/Latin American).
- Applicant must be enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university in the U.S.
- Applicant must be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in chemical, physical, medical, pharmaceutical, biological or related sciences and technology relative to the cosmetics and personal care industry.
10. NextEra Energy Foundation (NEEF) Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: NextEra Energy Foundation Inc.
The NextEra Energy Foundation (NEEF) scholarship, in partnership with NextEra Energy Foundation, Inc., provides financial assistance to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate and graduate students enrolled full-time at an accredited institution and pursuing degrees with a focus in environment, energy, cultural sustainability, or a major in a STEM or STEM-related discipline.
Requirements:
- Applicant must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Applicant must be an enrolled member or a descendant of a federally or state-recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native group.
- Applicant must be enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree.
- Applicant must be pursuing a degree with a focus in environment, energy, cultural sustainability, or a major in a STEM or STEM-related discipline.
11. For A Bright Future – STEM Scholarship
Amount: Up to $10,000
Provider: For A Bright Future
The For A Bright Future STEM Scholarship supports underrepresented and underprivileged, and exceptional students pursuing a degree in sustainability and STEM.
Requirements:
- Applicant must be a minority (American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Other Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, Black or African American) graduating high school senior or current college student.
- Applicant must reside and study in the United States.
- Applicant must have a 3.0 GPA.
- Applicant must be between the ages of 17 and 30 years old.
- Applicant must be planning to attend college in the next academic year.
- Applicant must be majoring in a STEM degree.
12. HITEC Scholarship
Amount: Up to $5,000
Provider: HITEC Foundation
The HITEC Foundation Scholarship is designed to assist students of Hispanic descent in obtaining a university degree in technology.
Requirements:
- Applicant must be a graduating high school senior, GED recipient, or a current undergraduate or graduate student.
- Applicant must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- Applicant must major (or intend on majoring) in technology or an approved technology-related major.
- Applicant must be of Hispanic heritage (i.e., at least one parent must be of Hispanic descent).
- Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; or be eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
13. William A. Lewis Scholarship
Amount: $1,500
Provider: Edwards_Lewis Family
The William A. Lewis Scholarship aims to honor the legacy of William A. Lewis by supporting underrepresented students interested in pursuing careers in mathematics or other STEM fields. Any BIPOC undergraduate or graduate student who is pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in STEM at an HBCU may apply for this scholarship.
Requirements:
- Applicant must attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).
- Applicant must be an undergraduate or graduate student.
- Applicant must be pursuing a STEM degree.
- Applicant must be a BIPOC (Black, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Hispanic or Latino, or Asian).
14. Ralph W. Shrader Graduate Diversity Scholarship
Amount: $3,000
Provider: AFCEA International
The Ralph W. Shrader Graduate Diversity Scholarship awards $3,000 to full-time students (women and minority students), enrolled in at least their second semester and at least two semester-equivalent courses who are currently pursuing a graduate degree at any accredited academic institution in the United States.
Requirements:
- Applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
- Applicant must be a graduate student.
- Applicant must be currently enrolled in their second semester and at least two semester-equivalent courses per semester at an accredited college or university in the United States at the time of application.
- Applicant must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Applicant must be pursuing a STEM degree related to the mission of AFCEA. Majors include aerospace engineering, astronomy, biometry/biometrics, computer engineering, computer forensics science, computer programming, computer science, computer systems, cybersecurity, electrical engineering, electronics engineering, geospatial science, industrial engineering, information science, information technology, information resource management, intelligence, mathematics, mechanical engineering, network engineering, network security, operations research, physics, robotics engineering, robotics technology, statistics, strategic intelligence, and telecommunications engineering.
15. TEAM-UP Together Scholarship Program (TUTSP)
Amount: $10,000
Provider: Society of Physics Students (SPS)
The TEAM-UP Together Scholarship Program (TUTSP) developed by TEAM-UP Together Lead Partners and administered by SPS, supports African American students in the pursuit and attainment of their bachelor’s degrees in physics and astronomy. These awards of up to $10,000 aim to reduce the financial barriers that prevent Black students from completing their undergraduate degree programs in physics and astronomy.
Requirements:
- Applicant must be a current United States Black/African American undergraduate student.
- Applicant must be majoring in physics or astronomy.
- Applicant must be attending school at an accredited U.S. college or university.
- Applicant must have a minimum GPA of 2.0.
- Applicant must demonstrate a financial need impeding progress toward their degree.
Disclaimer: This blog post provides personal finance educational information, and it is not intended to provide legal, financial, or tax advice.
- STEM Scholarships for Minorities - September 5, 2024
- Finding Local Scholarships: Tips for High School Seniors - August 6, 2024
- Counselors: Why You Should List Your Local Scholarships on Going Merry - July 16, 2024