6 North Carolina scholarships for students of color
Scholarships are available for students of color in North Carolina. Here’s what you need to know about six of them.
Numerous scholarships for students of color are available in North Carolina. A broad list can be found here, but we’re going to take a deeper dive into six scholarships to give you an idea of what’s out there. For a general rundown on how to find additional opportunities, how to apply, and more, here’s a helpful guide from the US Department of Education.
Most scholarships provide a detailed description of what they’re looking for when reviewing applications, and they also tell you how many students will be selected for each award. It’s recommended that you apply during your senior year of high school, though some scholarships are open for juniors as well. We’ll make a note of that as we talk through the six we’re focusing on today.
The most important thing to note is that you do not have to repay funds you receive through a scholarship. However, it’s important to read the fine print to see what conditions apply to your exact agreement. For example, some scholarships will need to be repaid if:
- You fail to maintain a certain grade point average (GPA).
- You drop out of school before completing the program you received the scholarship funds to attend.
- You use your funds for non-educational purposes.
- You change your enrollment from being a full-time student to being a part-time student.
You’re allowed to use a scholarship in addition to other forms of financial aid, like student loans, to cover the cost of your tuition. The amount you receive through a scholarship fund varies. Most of the time, it will only cover part of your yearly tuition, but some do cover all four years of education. Most scholarships are one-off awards, though others can be renewed yearly.
We’ll note for you here what these specific scholarships cover, but as you look for other opportunities on your own, take your time to read through what’s being offered before you apply to make sure you’re choosing scholarships that best fit your financial needs.
CBC Spouses Essay Contest, Mae & Mary Scholarship Fund
CBC Spouses Essay Contest – Deadline: March 29, 2025
The CBC Spouses Essay Contest is awarded to three students from North Carolina. Each student will receive $2,000 in funding. The opportunity is available to Black and African American students in junior and senior high school who are participating in the organization’s Essay Contest and Issue Forum. Participants are given a topic to discuss in their essays that will cover “some of our communities’ most pressing issues and are asked to write an essay to defend their research, analyses, and opinion.”
To qualify, you must identify as Black or African American, and you must reside in a NC district represented by a Congressional Black Caucus Member. To determine whether you’re eligible, please click here and here.
Mae & Mary Scholarship Fund – Deadline: March 31, 2025
The Mae & Mary Scholarship Fund varies both in terms of the amount of money awarded and the number of students selected to receive funds. The amount you receive will be “determined based on academic excellence and financial need.”
The main thing to note for this opportunity is that it’s geared toward Black and African American students who are pursuing a career in healthcare and medical-related fields. To qualify, you must be planning to attend either a two-year or a four-year technical school or university after graduating from high school.
Additionally, you can only use the awarded funds to cover the cost of your tuition, books, and other education-related fees. To apply for this opportunity, follow this link.
Organization of Latino Actuaries Scholarship Program – Deadline: March 31, 2025
* This scholarship is only available to Latino students who are interested in pursuing a career as an actuary.
The Organization of Latino Actuaries Scholarship Program offers various awards to an unspecified number of students. One winner will receive $7,500 through the Cresta scholarship, and other named winners will be awarded $5,000. General scholarship winners will receive $4,000. You will not receive the money directly, though. Regardless of the prize amount, the funds will be distributed directly to your chosen school to cover part of your tuition and fees.
Finalists for the Cresta scholarships and those who are selected for the $5,000 awards must complete an interview to receive their funds. Finalists for the general scholarship do not need to participate in the interview process.
In addition to identifying as Latino and demonstrating an “interest in pursuing a career in the actuarial profession,” you must be enrolled—or plan to enroll—in a US university or college for the 2025-2026 academic year.
You can learn more about the application process here.
Carolinas Chinese Chamber of Commerce Scholarship – Deadline: May 31, 2025
The Carolinas Chinese Chamber of Commerce Scholarship awards $3,000 to three recipients. The goal of this program is to “provide students funding for their interest in study-abroad programs to Asia to promote culture exchange.” To qualify for this opportunity, students must be Asian Americans who are majoring in political science.
As an added bonus to the monetary award, students will be invited to attend events held by the Carolinas Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and they will also have direct access to individuals and leaders within that community. This is great for networking purposes as you transition from academic studying into the job market.
To learn more information about the CCCC, and to submit your application, please use this link.
The North Carolina Hispanic College Fund – Deadline: April 4, 2025
The North Carolina Hispanic College Fund is granted to students of Latino/Hispanic descent who are either graduating from any high school in North Carolina this year or who have graduated from high school within the last two years. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $2,000. In order to receive these funds, you must be enrolled in a degree program at a two or four-year university, or at a community college. The listing notes that you must also “be committed to public service and community development.”
Additional qualifications include:
- Receiving a four-year cumulative GPA of 2.5 (or higher) on a 4.0 scale.
- A personal statement of around 500 words.
- Two letters of recommendation. These can be from high school teachers, principals, community leaders, employers, pastors, or other similar individuals.
- A high school transcript.
Recipients of this award are chosen based on academic achievement, leadership, community involvement and volunteerism, and your family’s economic need. Preference is given to students who are foreign-born or who are native-born children of foreign-born parents.
To learn more, including how to submit your application and written statement, please click here.
NCAE Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship – Deadline: February 5, 2026
The North Carolina Association of Educators Minority Affairs Commission (NCAE) awards the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship to eligible students in the state. The amount you receive through this award varies, as it depends on the amount of money the NCAE receives through its Martin Luther King Jr. events, along with annual donations. The money you are awarded is distributed during your fall and spring semesters of your freshman year of college.
To qualify, you must be an NC resident and a high school senior who is currently at a public school. You must have a minimum GPA of 2.5, and you must demonstrate “character, community involvement, and scholastic achievement.”
Additional information, including when/how to submit before next year’s deadline, can be found here.
For additional scholarships, please click here, here, and here.
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