African American Scholarships for High School Seniors: Top 30 Verified Awards for 2026

Looking for African American scholarships for high school seniors? Here are 30 verified scholarships for Black students, sorted by deadline month, with award amounts, eligibility highlights, and live apply/info links.

FEBRUARY

1) PSEG Foundation Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a strong fit for African American students in New Jersey who want a scholarship that actually lines up with popular, practical majors like engineering, business, IT, finance, and economics. It also works well for seniors who want a recognizable sponsor and a program with a clear academic focus instead of a vague essay-only award. Because it is targeted, regional, and tied to high-demand fields, it can be a better odds play than giant national sweepstakes-style scholarships.
Amount: Up to $5,000.
Deadline: February 3, 2026.
Apply/info: PSEG Foundation Scholarship

2) AABE Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: The American Association of Blacks in Energy is one of the clearest mission-driven scholarship sources for Black students who want to move into energy, STEM, and related business fields. What makes this one especially useful is that it supports seniors planning for college, technical school, or trade school, so it is not limited to the classic four-year route. It is also backed by an organization that awards more than $350,000 annually across local, regional, and national levels, which gives students multiple ways to be considered.
Amount: Varies; AABE says it awards more than $350,000 annually across its scholarship program.
Deadline: February 15, 2026.
Apply/info: AABE Scholarships

3) KWF President’s Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the biggest publicly posted chapter-based awards on the board. A one-time $15,000 scholarship for an African American female high school senior is serious money, and it is aimed at students in the Knightdale–Wake Forest service area who have both academic strength and a clean college-going plan. For eligible North Carolina seniors, this is the kind of local scholarship that can move the needle more than a pile of smaller generic awards.
Amount: $15,000.
Deadline: February 16, 2026.
Apply/info: KWF President’s Scholarship

4) KWF Five Points Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This scholarship stands out because it combines a sizable award with a broader leadership-and-service lens. It supports African American male or female seniors in Wake County who can show real work in one of Delta’s five programmatic thrust areas, so it rewards students whose résumé is deeper than just grades. Since it offers a $7,000 one-time award, it is strong enough to matter for tuition, housing, books, or reducing freshman-year borrowing.
Amount: $7,000.
Deadline: February 16, 2026.
Apply/info: KWF Five Points Scholarship

5) KWF Hands-On Future Scholarship for Skilled Trades
Why It Slaps: This is a great reminder that scholarship money is not only for four-year college students. KWF built this award for African American students pursuing trades and vocational pathways like HVAC, electrical work, cosmetology, welding, automotive repair, and similar programs. That makes it especially valuable for seniors who want a faster workforce path and need scholarship support that actually respects skilled trades as a serious postsecondary option.
Amount: $1,500.
Deadline: February 16, 2026.
Apply/info: KWF Hands-On Future Scholarship

6) Achieving Standards of Excellence Foundation Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This scholarship is a strong local play for African American female seniors in Columbus-area schools who want a straightforward academic award with real community roots. The foundation is awarding a large group of scholarships overall, and this specific award still keeps the bar clear: strong GPA, college enrollment, and a serious student profile. It is the kind of local scholarship that often gets overlooked by students who chase only national names.
Amount: $3,000.
Deadline: February 28, 2026.
Apply/info: ASOEF Scholarships

7) Alpha Sigma Omega Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This award is built for African American female seniors in Columbus-area schools and comes with a strong $3,000 payout per scholarship. It is a smart option for students who want a scholarship with a clear academic floor, HBCU-friendly preference, and a community-based review process rather than a faceless national portal. Because two scholarships are available, it gives applicants a better shot than many one-winner local awards.
Amount: Two scholarships at $3,000 each.
Deadline: February 28, 2026.
Apply/info: Alpha Sigma Omega Scholarship

8) Affinity 13 Community Service Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a good fit for African American seniors who may not have the highest GPA on the page but have actually shown up for their communities. The community-service requirement helps volunteers, school leaders, church leaders, and students with a service résumé stand out against pure academic competitors. It is especially useful for seniors whose strongest story is impact, not just class rank.
Amount: $1,000.
Deadline: February 28, 2026.
Apply/info: Affinity 13 Community Service Scholarship

9) Ann B. Walker Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Journalism scholarships are not as common as general academic awards, so this one is useful for students with a real media, communications, or storytelling interest. It is open to African American seniors in Columbus-area schools and gives an actual lane for students who are building toward reporting, media, communications, or adjacent writing-heavy paths. The $2,500 amount is strong for a local scholarship and can stack nicely with other school-specific awards.
Amount: $2,500.
Deadline: February 28, 2026.
Apply/info: Ann B. Walker Scholarship

10) Dr. Deena J. Chisolm Scholarship in Science and Math
Why It Slaps: This is a clean, targeted scholarship for African American seniors aiming at STEM. Local STEM-specific scholarships can be easier to win than broad national STEM programs, especially when they are built around a smaller applicant pool and a defined geography. For students planning majors in science, engineering, technology, or math, this is exactly the kind of niche-fit award worth prioritizing.
Amount: $1,000.
Deadline: February 28, 2026.
Apply/info: Dr. Deena J. Chisolm Scholarship

11) Josef L. Banks Memorial Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Renewable money is always worth extra attention, and this one is better than a one-shot freshman-year check. It supports African American graduating seniors from Columbus City Schools and can renew annually, with a total value of up to $8,000 over four years. That makes it much more useful for families trying to reduce ongoing borrowing instead of just covering one semester.
Amount: $2,000 annually, up to $8,000 over 4 years.
Deadline: February 28, 2026.
Apply/info: Josef L. Banks Memorial Scholarship

12) Linda C. Smith Legacy Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a sharp niche scholarship for students who plan to attend an HBCU and major in education or an education-related field. It rewards a very specific and meaningful combination: African American female senior, academic readiness, and a commitment to teaching or student-centered work. That specificity makes it a strong odds play for the right applicant.
Amount: $2,500.
Deadline: February 28, 2026.
Apply/info: Linda C. Smith Legacy Scholarship

MARCH

13) Weil Family Foundation Black Student Scholarship (for aspiring freshmen)
Why It Slaps: This is a strong regional scholarship for Black students in San Diego County because it is specifically built for graduating seniors and considers both merit and financial need. It also works for several postsecondary paths, including certification, associate, and bachelor’s degree programs, so it is not boxed into one college route. For eligible California seniors, this is the kind of specific-fit award that should absolutely make the first application wave.
Amount: Varies.
Deadline: March 5, 2026.
Apply/info: Weil Family Foundation Black Student Scholarship

14) Anna V. Waters Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This scholarship does a nice job serving students who may be overlooked by ultra-competitive merit awards. It is specifically for African American high school seniors planning for college, technical school, or vocational school, with a GPA band of 2.0 to 2.9, which opens the door for students with potential, community commitment, and upward momentum. For many seniors, that makes this one of the most realistic and meaningful awards on the list.
Amount: $500 to $2,000.
Deadline: March 15, 2026.
Apply/info: Anna V. Waters Scholarship

15) AVWSF Gladys Combs Award
Why It Slaps: This is a smart niche option for students who want an HBCU-focused education scholarship instead of a broad generic award. It targets students attending an HBCU and majoring in education, which can make the pool more manageable and the fit stronger for future teachers. Because it comes through the Anna V. Waters Scholarship application, it can be a strong bonus opportunity inside a scholarship a student may already be applying for.
Amount: Two scholarships at $1,100 each.
Deadline: March 15, 2026.
Apply/info: AVWSF Gladys Combs Award

16) AVWSF Copes Family Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This award is a good example of a values-based scholarship that rewards family commitment and community-mindedness, not just grades. For African American seniors attending an HBCU who have a real service story or family leadership story, it can be a very natural fit. It is also useful because it rides on the same live application page as the main Anna V. Waters scholarship.
Amount: $1,000.
Deadline: March 15, 2026.
Apply/info: AVWSF Copes Family Scholarship

17) CBC Spouses Essay Contest
Why It Slaps: This is one of the better national-ish opportunities for Black high school students who are strong writers and can think critically about public issues. The contest structure gives students a chance to compete with ideas, analysis, and communication skill instead of relying only on GPA or financial need. If a student is good at argument-based essays, this one can be a very high-value application for the effort involved.
Amount: 1st place $2,000; 2nd place $1,500; 3rd place $1,250.
Deadline: March 27, 2026.
Apply/info: CBC Spouses Essay Contest

18) CBC Spouses Education Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the strongest Black-student scholarships in the late-March window because the award range can go much higher than typical local scholarships. It is open to African American and Black graduating high school seniors, but it is tied to Congressional Black Caucus member districts, so it rewards students who check both the residency and academic/motivation boxes. With awards ranging up to $20,000, this is a must-apply for eligible students.
Amount: $2,500 to $20,000.
Deadline: March 27, 2026.
Apply/info: CBC Spouses Education Scholarship

19) Brother Box Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a strong scholarship for Black male seniors in Alabama or Greenville County, South Carolina, and it is refreshingly clear about who it wants to support. The program is built specifically to help young Black men transition into college, and it allows both 2-year and 4-year pathways. If a student fits the geography and identity requirements, this is exactly the kind of mission-aligned scholarship that deserves to be near the top of the list.
Amount: Eight one-time scholarships at $1,500 each.
Deadline: March 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.
Apply/info: Brother Box Scholarship

20) Building Opportunities for Sistas to Shine (B.O.S.S.) Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a standout scholarship for Black young women because the mission is direct and the eligibility is clearly tailored to cis or transgender female graduating seniors with a strong academic record. It is also more flexible than many scholarships because it allows two-year, four-year, and vocational/technical paths. EverGreen Dreams says the scholarship provides no less than $1,000, and its most recent cycle awarded two $2,000 scholarships, which makes it more substantial than many nonprofit awards in this category.
Amount: At least $1,000; the most recent posted cycle awarded two $2,000 scholarships.
Deadline: March 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Apply/info: B.O.S.S. Scholarship

21) Bobbye Booker Coleman Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the best education-focused scholarships on the page because it is not just a one-time freshman-year check. It is built for African American seniors in the North Harris County Alumnae Chapter service area who want to become educators, and the award is $2,000 per year for four years, which gives it real long-term value. Students who already tutor, mentor, or show interest in teaching should put this near the top of their local list.
Amount: $2,000 per year for 4 years.
Deadline: March 31, 2026.
Apply/info: Bobbye Booker Coleman Scholarship

APRIL

22) Boule’ Foundation Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This scholarship is a clean fit for African American seniors with strong academics who are heading to a four-year nonprofit college. The GPA requirement is reasonable, the award can be meaningful, and the program is clearly targeted to Black students instead of just mentioning diversity in a broad way. For seniors who want a merit-forward award with a national footprint, this is a very appealing application.
Amount: Up to $7,000.
Deadline: April 24, 2026.
Apply/info: Boule’ Foundation Scholarship

23) TMCF | McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the biggest-name scholarships here, and the scale matters: TMCF says 60 scholars will be selected for a need-based scholarship of up to $15,000. It is especially strong for African American students heading to HBCUs or other TMCF member schools because it combines a large sponsor, a respected HBCU-serving organization, and a high-dollar award. For seniors already committed to the HBCU path, this is one of the highest-priority applications on the board.
Amount: Up to $15,000.
Deadline: April 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Apply/info: TMCF | McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Scholarship

24) Red Torch Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a very usable local scholarship because it welcomes African American students in Baltimore City or Baltimore County who may be headed to a four-year college, community college, or vocational school. It also keeps the GPA threshold within reach and still offers a respectable $2,000 one-time award. That combination makes it an excellent practical scholarship for seniors who want a real shot at winning something local.
Amount: $2,000.
Deadline: April 30, 2026.
Apply/info: Red Torch Scholarship

MAY

25) Jewel Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is another strong Baltimore-area scholarship because it is openly designed for African American graduating seniors and has a lower GPA floor than many hyper-competitive awards. That makes it a realistic option for students who are solid but not perfect on paper. With four awards available, it also gives applicants more than just a one-winner shot.
Amount: $2,000.
Deadline: May 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Apply/info: Jewel Scholarship

26) Rodney C. Adkins Academic Achievement Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the more powerful targeted scholarships for African American male seniors going into STEM. The total award is $10,000, paid over four years, and it is tied to a clear academic and career pipeline in science, technology, engineering, and math. For the right student, this is exactly the kind of scholarship that supports both enrollment and persistence.
Amount: $10,000 total, disbursed in $2,500 increments over 4 years.
Deadline: May 15 each year, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Apply/info: Rodney C. Adkins Scholarship

27) Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation Achievement Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the more flexible Kappa awards because it is open to graduating high school seniors in any field of study. That matters for students who do not fit a narrow major-based category but still have leadership, academic achievement, and community service to show. Since the foundation awards ten or more of these, it can be a smart volume play for eligible students.
Amount: $2,000.
Deadline: May 15 each year, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Apply/info: Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation Achievement Scholarship

28) Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation STEM Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This award is a nice middle-ground option for STEM students who want a targeted scholarship but may not qualify for the Rodney C. Adkins program. It supports graduating high school seniors and continuing undergrads in STEM, awards five scholarships, and keeps the amount meaningful enough to help with freshman-year costs. Students building a STEM scholarship stack should absolutely give this one a serious look.
Amount: $2,500.
Deadline: May 15 each year, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Apply/info: Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation STEM Scholarship

OCTOBER

29) Turn 2 Foundation/Sharlee Jeter Endowed Scholarship Fund
Why It Slaps: This scholarship is especially valuable for African American seniors from Michigan, New York, New Jersey, or Florida who want an HBCU-friendly scholarship with a recognizable philanthropic name behind it. UNCF’s listing shows that it serves graduating high school seniors as well as current HBCU students, which gives it a wider path into the Black college pipeline. If a student has geographic fit and an HBCU plan, this is a strong fall application to calendar early.
Amount: Amount not publicly listed on the posted UNCF monthly scholarship page.
Deadline: October 27.
Apply/info: Turn 2 Foundation/Sharlee Jeter Scholarship

DECEMBER

30) Ron Brown Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is the blue-chip national scholarship on the list for Black high school seniors. It is explicitly for Black/African American students, carries a total award of $40,000, and comes with the kind of prestige, network, and leadership value that goes beyond the dollars alone. For students with strong academics, leadership, service, and financial need, this should be one of the first applications started every fall.
Amount: $40,000.
Deadline: December 1 each year.
Apply/info: Ron Brown Scholarship