This free scholarship search, geared for African-American students, contains more than 300 scholarships searchable by GPA requirement, academic and career interest, and application deadline.

This directory is a part of The Sallie Mae Fund’s multi-faceted African-American College Access Initiative, launched in October 2005, to improve access to higher education among African-American students. Produced by the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education.

FINDING DOLARS FOR COLEGE

Before you begin to look through the scholarships in this guide, there are a few things you need to know.

1) Why scholarships?

All students should apply for as much scholarship and grant aid as possible. Why? Because you don’t have to pay them back. This money is made available to help students who meet specific qualifications pay for college.

Once you apply for and receive the scholarship money, you can use it to pay for the costs you face, such as tuition and fees, room and board, books, or other college-related expenses. In limited cases, some scholarship providers ask recipients to participate in community service or volunteer activities, or to work in certain jobs or areas for a limited time in exchange for the financial support.

2) How do I apply for scholarships?

As you will see in reading through this guide, each scholarship provider may have their own process for students to apply and determine eligibility. Generally speaking, though, you may be asked to download an application and mail it in, along with the required materials, or you may have to contact the organization to obtain a hard copy of the application. In some cases, teachers, faculty members, or members of your community may have to nominate you, meaning you will need to obtain nomination forms or other materials to start the process of being considered for the scholarship.

While the requirements can vary, there is some general information that scholarship providers frequently request. To save time, gather the following before you begin filling out applications: resume; personal statements and/or essays; letters of reference/recommendation (from teachers, faculty, or other appropriate individuals); transcripts; GPA; writing samples; other samples of your work, such as art or media pieces; financial information, including the FAFSA (see below); parental/student income tax forms; and letters verifying enrollment, financial need, or receipt of financial aid. While you may be asked to customize some of this information for specific scholarships, starting with the basics will make the process go more smoothly from the start.

3) What is the FAFSA?

If you are a student who is entering college next year, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ). This form is used by the federal government to determine your eligibility for federal aid, such as grants and student loans. State agencies, colleges and universities, and many scholarship providers also use the FAFSA to assess financial need for students and their families.

This form is available in January of each year. Using your own financial information, as well as your parents’ information, fill it out as soon as possible as many aid dollars are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Once you have completed and submitted the form, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR ), which shows you how much money your family is expected to contribute towards your education for the coming year. With this information, colleges and scholarship providers are able to understand the amount of financial aid you will need to pay for your education.

If you are already enrolled in college, don’t forget that you have to renew your FAFSA every January to be eligible for aid the next school year.

4) How do I know if scholarship offers are legitimate?

One practical rule to follow is that if it costs money, beware! Across the Internet scholarship search tools and materials are available free of charge. If a website, an organization, or an individual asks you to pay a fee to look for scholarships, better safe than sorry—stay clear and use the free search tools and materials. In addition, be careful about scholarships that require an application fee. While some legitimate scholarships may do so, most do not, so check with college counselors, financial aid offices, and other advisors before submitting payments or financial information to anyone. You can also use online sources, such as www.finaid.org, to find out more about potential scholarship scams.

5) Where can I get more information?

The U.S. Department of Education has several online sites, including Student Aid on the Web (http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp), which can help you plan for college and understand more about the student aid process. The FAFSA can also be filled out online, starting at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/, which will walk you through the process of completing and submitting the FAFSA . In addition, the Department of Education also provides free publications, including a guide to student financial aid. You can order online, or by calling 1-800-4FED -AID (1-800-433-3243).

The Sallie Mae Fund website also includes more free resources you can use to help plan and pay for college. You can download the information at www.salliemaefund.org.

Visit Black College Dollars Website

The research and compilation of the information contained in this publication were the results of the efforts of several individuals. We would like to acknowledge the following for their contributions:

• From the Pell Institute and the Council for Opportunity in Education, Adrienne Fritsch and Colleen O’Brien were the authors of this report. Additional assistance was provided by Jennifer Engle and Jodi Koehn-Pike.

• From The Sallie Mae Fund – Kasey Coleman, Catherine Fitzgerald, Erin Korsvall, and Kathleen deLaski.

In addition, we would like to thank the individuals at the organizations providing scholarships—we appreciate your responses to our inquiries.

We acknowledge the efforts of these individuals in the process of preparing this publication. We also recognize that responsibility for the content of this report, including any errors or omissions, rests solely with the authors.

Download Black College Dollars

PDF format, 12MB, 92 Pages.

WELCOME!
November 2007

Dear Students, Parents, and Friends
You know the facts: it takes a lot of money to pay for a college education!

These days students and families are struggling to meet the cost of tuition, room and board, and books, but you know it’s worth it, because without a college degree, your future is not as bright. But the question is how can you pay for it without breaking the family bank? Scholarships, that’s how!

In addition to financial aid awarded by federal and state government agencies, there are numerous scholarships that colleges and universities, business corporations, private foundations, and community organizations are offering right now for high school students going on to college, undergraduate students currently enrolled, and even graduate students pursuing education beyond a bachelor’s degree. The money is out there, but how do you find it?

The Pell Institute, along with The Sallie Mae Fund and BET Networks, is pleased to present this scholarship guide for African-American students as one way to make your scholarship search a little easier. Inside this guide, you will find information about scholarships that are designed to reduce the cost of college for African-American students, and for all students of color.

Along with the who’s, what’s, and how’s for applying for scholarships, this guide also contains information to connect you to sites where you can download online applications (where available) and details to contact the sponsoring organizations both in person and online. You can also access the online version of this scholarship guide at www.blackcollegedollars.org, which allows you to search for scholarships based on your interests and abilities.

We hope that you find this scholarship guide helpful as you navigate your way through paying for college! Good luck – now get started!

Sincerely,
Colleen T. O’Brien,
Director, THE PELL INSTITUTE
for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education

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