Have you noticed that colleges and universities pride themselves on their diversity? They work hard at keeping it that way. They try to have students from as many states and countries as they can and from a representative spectrum of ethnic backgrounds. Currently that is still in your favor if you are African American or belong to a minority, not so good if you are the average Caucasian male. Your chances at a scholarship go up significantly if you can qualify for minority scholarships.

The link at http://www.blackexcel.org/200-Scholarships.html lists 200 scholarships for a variety of minority groups. What is really nice about the African American scholarships and grants is that the amounts are substantial. Many of these scholarships are in the $5000 and up range especially the ones tied to sciences. There has been a push to increase the presence of African Americans in the professional fields involving science and engineering. Just look at scholarships such as the UNCF Merck Science Initiative at http://umsi.uncf.org/ which offers undergraduate scholarships up to $25,000 or the American Physics Society’s scholarships at http://www.aps.org/programs/minorities/honors/.

You should also check out the traditionally African American colleges in the United States. There are about forty of them and most have African American scholarships to allow minorities to fulfill their dream of college. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking you can simply depend upon your ethnic background though. Remember, you are still applying to college, you need to demonstrate the appropriate qualifications to have a chance at these. However, if you are dedicated and can show that you have the skills to succeed, you have an excellent chance at receiving one of the African American scholarships.

Scholarship funds have been shrinking at most universities so if you are in high school and just starting on your search, determine which colleges and universities you are interested in and start checking into their tuition and housing fees. Most colleges end up raising fees every year. Some universities have been lucky and have been able to keep tuition rates unchanged such as The Ohio State University and others have such large endowment funds that they have been able to meet the economic downturn with increased financial aid efforts such as Harvard University.

Look at all the colleges. Don’t assume because they have a great reputation, you have no chance of affording an education at that institution. If your academic ability matches their criteria, even if they do not offer African American scholarships, you may qualify for minority scholarships or scholarships based on financial need. In the end, your success in receiving scholarships from specific universities will depend on how well you have matched up your abilities, interests and background with what the universities you are applying to are looking for.

If you are from Tennessee and applying to a university in Tennessee, you may not have as good a chance at an African American scholarship as you would at a university in a predominantly Caucasian state such as Utah or Idaho. Open your mind to a wider range of choices. Consider different locations. Don’t forget about your major either. Many scholarships are tied to what you plan to study. Race plays no role in many of these, however, there are minority scholarships tied to specific majors and companies. If you receive one from a company, they may expect you to work for them for a specified number of years once you graduate but in today’s job market that may be an added benefit rather than an attached string. Basically, it is up to you to take off the blinders. Look for African American Scholarships but don’t ignore the rest.