Paying for college is tough. For first-generation students and families with lower incomes, the task is even greater. The cost of tuition has steadily increased over the years, too. According to a 2014 report from investment management company Vanguard, tuition increases by about 6 percent each year. A study conducted by The College Board in 2014 projects that by 2023, tuition costs will climb to $32,934 for public college and $73,281 for private institutions.
At rates like that, students are in search of more options to help foot the bill.
For students of color, more and more scholarship opportunities continue to become available. Read on for a list of five scholarships you should know about.
For a longer list of scholarships, click here .
Actuarial Diversity Scholarship
Open to Black/African-American, Hispanic, Native North American and Pacific Islander students who intend to pursue a career in the actuarial profession and have at least one parent that is a member of one of the aforementioned minority groups.
Requirements:
- Will be a full-time undergraduate student at a U.S. accredited educational institution
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), emphasis on math or actuarial courses
- Entering college freshmen must have a minimum ACT math score of 28 or SAT math score of 600
Deadline: May 1
More information: actuarialfoundation.org/programs
AICPA Fellowships for Minority Doctoral Students
The AICPA Foundation awards annual fellowships to full-time minority accounting students.
Requirements:
- Be accepted to or enrolled in a doctoral program
- Have earned a master’s degree and/or completed at least three years of full-time experience in the accounting practice
- Be a minority student of Black/African-American, Hispanic or Native American ethnicity
- Attend school on a full-time basis and remain enrolled full-time until attaining a doctoral degree
- Be a CPA or plan to pursue the CPA credential
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Deadline: May 15
More information: aicpa.org
CBC Education Scholarship
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation has a number of opportunities available for students of color living in their districts. This one is open to students of all majors planning to attend a full-time undergraduate or graduate program.
Requirements:
- U.S. citizen or have permanent U.S. residency status
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
- Be an African-American or Black student who resides or attends school in a CBC member district
Deadline: May 19
More information: cbcfinc.academicworks.com
Hyatt Hotels Fund for Minority Lodging Management Students
In the late 1980s, the Hyatt established this fund to assist minority students studying hotel management and hospitality. Since that time, thousands of dollars have been awarded.
Requirements:
- Be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours for the upcoming fall and spring semesters
- Be pursuing a baccalaureate hospitality management major in a U.S. college or university
- Competition is open to African-American, Hispanic, Native American/Alaskan and Asian/Pacific Islander students
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident
Deadline: May 1
More information: ahlef.org
William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship
This scholarship was started by the Indiana General Assembly in 1988 to increase the number of minority educators across the state. Eligible students must agree in writing to apply for a teaching position in Indiana and, if hired, continue to teach in the state for at least three years.
Requirements
- Be a Black or Hispanic student seeking a teaching, special education, occupational or physical therapy certification
- Be an Indiana resident and a U.S. citizen
- Admitted to an eligible institution as a full-time student or already attending as a full-time student
- Pursuing or intend to pursue a course of study that would enable the student upon graduation to teach in an accredited elementary or secondary school in Indiana
Deadline: Sept. 4
More information: in.gov
