Grants and scholarships are widely available to minority groups. Numerous programs and corporations contribute regularly to scholarship funds in an effort to provide funding for minorities to attend school. In many cases people are unaware they qualify as a minority. Typically individuals of African-American , Native American Hispanic American decent are most commonly thought of as minorities. However women, the economically disadvantaged and the disabled also qualify. Furthermore, individuals with physical challenges as well as learning disabilities, like ADD, or autism qualify for minority grants. These grants are offered in order to diversify both the education sector and to fill professional fields normally not filled with people of that ethnic group.

Traditionally grants and scholarships are awarded based on academic merit. However Minority grants are awarded based on minority status. To apply for a minority grant or scholarship you will first need to fill out a FAFSA; which will determine your level of financial need. Once you have filed the FAFSA and pursued your federal options (Pell grants and FSEOG), begin looking for options that are specific to minorities. Great places to start looking for minority grants are minority organizations. These organizations may offer grants which partially or in some cases fully cover the cost of tuition. Well-known minority organizations such as: the Hispanic College Fund, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the United Negro College Fund and the American Indian College Fund, all provide grant and scholarship programs for ethnic minority students. Federal and state government grant funds are most active in providing need-based grants and scholarships to minority and low-income students. Popular federal grants include:  Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant, National SMART Grant. While not specifically directed towards minorities the above grants tend to be more readily available.

Major corporations also often offer grants. Competitive, but lucrative, grant programs are often launched by major corporations including McDonalds, Wal-Mart, and even Home Depot. By U.S. law corporations must promote diversity, thus corporations may be looking for minority participants. While these are not minority specific grants, the chances of getting one as a minority are quite high.

Some examples of minority grant organizations:

Hispanic Grants

1. The Hispanic Scholarship Fund Institute
2. Hispanic Nurses Association grants and scholarships
3. March of Dimes Nursing Scholarship program
4. Jose Marti Challenge Grant
5. Nursing Education Loan Repayment program
6. Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students program
7. Silicon Valley Scholarship

Grants for Asian Minorities

1. Southeast Asian Studies Regional Exchange Program
2. Association for Asian Studies, Inc
3. Asian American Journalists Association
4. Asian American Federation of New York
5. Luisa Mallari Fellowship

Grants for Disabled Minorities

1. Special Education Preschool Grants
2. Rehabilitation Training: Continuing Education
3. Tech-Prep Education
4. Harry Truman Scholarship Program
5. Training Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf & Individuals Who Are Deaf-Blind

Native American Minority Grants

1. Minority Science and Engineering Improvement
2. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: 2008 Tribal Wildlife Grants
3. Indian Adult Education
4. Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grants

African American Minority Grants

1. The American Psychological Association’s minority fellowship program
2. United Negro College Fund
3. Mordecai Wyatt Johnson Program
4. The National Black Nurses Association
5. Frederick Douglass Scholars Program
6. The March of Dimes Nursing Scholarships
7. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

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