Information for Multicultural Students Studying Abroad: Scholarships for Multicultural Students

"There are a few things that I found surprising as a student of color studying abroad. The first was that people seemed to assume that I was African until they heard my American accent and even then I found my identity contested. I ended up in a very heated discussion with a British gentleman in Scotland when he said to me, "Oh so you're an American but where did your family come from?" I found in Dublin that the Irish identify with Afro-Americans because they feel that they too were enslaved by the British and brought to America. One Irishman said to me, "You Americans did it right. You kicked the British out of your country a full hundred years before we did." Study abroad was one the most valuable experiences I had at MSU."

Michael Griggs griggsm1@hotmail.com
Summer 2002 ATL/Arts and Humanities in the United Kingdom

Study abroad is an investment in your future. Like any other type of investment, it requires planning, careful management, creativity, perseverance and commitment. How can you pay for it? Start by planning far in advance (a year is suggested). By planning and selecting certain programs, you may find that the cost of study abroad is far less than you imagined. Check out the Web for suggestions on financing your experience at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/shared/afford.html as well as checking on the many scholarship opportunities listed below.

Updated 3/7/2005

General Scholarships

AGI Minority Geosciences Student Scholarships – for students of color majoring in geosciences, including the geosciences sub disciplines of geology, geophysics, geochemistry, hydrology, meteorology, physical oceanography, planetary geology, or earth-science education- http://www.agiweb.org/mpp/index.html

Air Force Crossroads Scholarships - https://www.afcrossroads.com/education/coll_scholar.cfm

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants – Scholarships for Minority Accounting Students- http://www.aicpa.org/members/div/career/mini/smas.htm

American Physical Society – Corporate Minority Scholarships- for freshmen and sophomore minority students majoring in physics. - http://www.aps.org/educ/com/scholars/index.cfm

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship – a scholarship based on the financial aid one is already receiving (must be getting the Federal Pell Grant) and the location of the study abroad program. - http://www.iie.org//programs/gilman/index.html

Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE) – includes programs and services for studying, working and volunteering aboard. Also provides five different scholarships. - http://www.ciee.org

Freeman-Asia Grant – this grant is based on the location of the program and financial need of the student. - http://www.iie.org/programs/freeman-asia/

NAFSA: Association of International Educators - http://www.nafsa.org

The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) – Scholarships for Minorities in Engineering - http://www.nacme.org/scholarships

Peace Corps – a resource on the Peace Corps various programs - http://www.peacecorps.gov

University of Michigan – Work Abroad: Americans of Color Abroad- descriptions of programs and scholarships offered through U of M. - http://www.internationalcenter.umich.edu/swt/work/americans_of_color.html

Scholarships for African Americans

Black Excel – one of the largest databases of scholarships and resources for African American students. - http://www.blackexcel.org/link4.htm

African American Scholarships – find scholarships by state, major and academic level. - http://www.africanamericanscholarship.com

National Association of Black Journalists – open to African American students majoring in journalism - http://www.nabj.org/programs/scholarships/index.html

NAACP: Scholarship Programs -
http://www.naacp.org/inc/docs/education/education_scholarships_minorities.pdf

National Society of Black Engineers: Scholarships - http://www.nsbe.org/programs/

Scholarships for African Americans - http://www.free-4u.com/african.htm

Science Research Scholarship Awards – for African American students, with junior standing who are pursuing a degree in life or physical sciences - http://www.uncf.org/merck/programs/undergrd.htm

Scholarships for Asian Americans

Asian American Journalists Association: Scholarships - http://www.aaja.org/programs/awards

The Korean American Scholarship Foundation - http://www.kasf.org

South Asian Journalist Association – Scholarships - http://www.saja.org/scholarships.html

Scholarships for Latino/Latina Americans

The Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting Scholarships - http://www.alpfa.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageID=354

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute – List of Scholarships - http://www.chci.org/chciyouth/scholarship/listofscholarships.htm

Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement – Scholarship Program - http://www.hace-usa.org/programs/scholar.asp

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and Laureate  -  International Scholarship Programs - http://www.internationalscholarships.net

Hispanic Scholarship Fund – College Scholarship Program - http://www.hsf.net

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Scholarships - http://www.lulac.org/Programs/Scholar.html

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund – Scholarship Programs - http://www.maldef.org/education/scholarships.htm

National Association of Hispanic Nurses – Scholarships - based on GPA (3.0 or higher), leadership capabilities, association with the NAHN and financial need. - http://www.thehispanicnurses.org

State Farm Insurance – Hispanic Scholarship Awards Program - http://www.statefarm.com/foundati/hispanic.htm

La Unidad Latina Foundation – Scholarships - http://foundation.launidadlatina.org

Scholarships for American Indians

A Better Chance - http://www.abetterchance.org/ReferralOrgs&Resources/res-coll_native_schol1.htm

American Indian Science and Engineering Society – Scholarships - http://aises.org/highered/scholarships/

Association of American Indian Affairs – Scholarship Programs - http://www.indian-affairs.org

The Cherokee Nation – Higher Education - http://www.cherokee.org/services/EducationService.asp?ID=190

Friend of Hubbell – Scholarship Details and Application- for Navajo Nation student with a 3.0 GPA or higher and of junior or senior status. - http://www.friendsofhubbell.org/Scholarships.htm

Indian Health Service: Scholarships - http://www.ihs.gov/JobsCareerDevelop/DHPS/SP/spTOC.asp

Books Regarding Scholarships for Minorities

Beckham, Barry, ed. The Black Student's Guide to Scholarships. Maryland: Madison, 1999.

Student Services, L.L.C. Minority and Women's Complete Scholarship Book. Illinois: 1998.