Equity scholarships provide financial assistance to low-income students who attend private schools. They often have restrictions, such as requiring students to remove tattoos or wear uniforms.
Equity Scholarship Overview
An equity Scholarship is a type of financial aid that helps low-income families pay their children’s college tuition. This kind of aid is provided through scholarships and grants. Scholarships are given out at schools across the country. They are usually awarded based on academic merit alone.
Grants, however, are given out by federal agencies such as The National Science Foundation (NSF) or The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). These grants are either in cash or kind, meaning they come from things like free computers or other types of equipment.
Equity Scholarships are typically funded by businesses or entities that want to assist low-income students. These types of scholarships tend to be less prestigious than merit-based scholarships but have the advantage of being much easier to get.
While most schools offer scholarships, the equity scholarship amount varies widely depending on the school. Some schools give out thousands of dollars in scholarships each year, whereas other schools may only provide one dollar.
Many universities offer scholarships to incoming first-year students, transfer students, graduate students, international students, veterans, and others. However, not every college offers an equity scholarship program.
Types of Equity Scholarships
There are two types of equity scholarships.
Internal Equity
One type is called internal equity scholarships, which are granted to current students who excel academically or otherwise demonstrate exceptional performance.
Internal equity scholarships include the following awards:
- Academic scholarships
- Student leadership awards
- Community service awards
External Equity
The second type of equity scholarship is external, awarded to applicants who cannot qualify for the first type of equity scholarship.
External equity scholarships include the following types of awards:
- College tuition assistance
- Scholarships for specific majors
- Financial aid for certain programs, such as nursing, law enforcement, pharmacy, and medicine
- Tuition waivers for low-income students, military veterans, and Native Americans.
15 available Equity Scholarships
Whether you’re interested in pursuing higher education or moving forward professionally, an undergraduate scholarship provides valuable resources to cover tuition costs and expenses.
There are thousands of available scholarships, but not everyone has been listed here. This list features 15 available equity scholarships based on student interest.
These scholarships range from $500 to $10,000 and provide financial support to students who demonstrate academic excellence. All of these scholarships allow applicants to receive funds directly from the institution.
1. American Association of University Women Scholarship
AAUW annually awards scholarships ranging from $500 to $1000 to outstanding female college students. To apply, you must submit information regarding your leadership abilities, community service, financial status, educational background, career goals, and extracurricular interests.
2. Aspen Institute Scholarships
The Aspen Institute offers several scholarships to help pay for higher education, including fellowships, internships, and graduate programs. Applicants can qualify for funding based on academic achievement, professional potential, personal development, and life experiences.
3. Black Male Initiative
This scholarship was established to give black men an opportunity to pursue higher education. Eligible candidates must be enrolled in an accredited two or four-year degree program, complete a minimum 3.0 GPA, and maintain full-time enrollment status.
4. Bright Futures Scholarship Program
Created by the National Merit Corporation, this scholarship is designed to assist minority students in achieving success in college. Students must have a 2.75 cumulative grade point average, be involved in school activities, and participate in community service.
5. National Civil Rights Museum Scholarship
The museum provides scholarship money to students pursuing careers in civil rights advocacy. Applicants must be in high school, college, grad school, or military training. They must be a citizen of the United States.
6. David H. Koch Charitable Trust Scholarship
Established in 1991, this scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors whose families earned $100,000 or less annually. Candidates must demonstrate financial stability, academic promise, and a desire to serve others.
7. National Coalition Against Censorship Scholarship
This organization is dedicated to preserving freedom of expression and opposing censorship. It offers scholarships to students who exhibit creativity in their writing and art.
8. National Society Daughters Of The American Revolution Scholarship
NSDR awards an equity scholarship to descendants of Revolutionary War soldiers. Applicants must be a member of society and be majoring in a STEM field. They also need to have a 3.25 GPA and meet eligibility requirements.21. Urban League creates opportunities for young people to develop skills necessary to succeed in today’s economy.
Its National Scholars Program aims to ensure that students have the chance to earn a postsecondary diploma or certificate.
9. North Central Texas Community Service Council Scholarship
This scholarship is funded by the National Urban League and administered by the North Central Texas Community Service Center. It awards scholarships to students studying business, healthcare, criminal justice, education, engineering, computer technology, and many other majors.
10. National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI) Scholarship
NAMI assists children and adults living with mental illness. In addition to providing financial aid, it helps people access quality care and services.
11. Hispanic Business Committee Scholarship
Offered exclusively to Hispanics, this scholarship honours entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals in the Hispanic community.
Eligibility requirements include a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, participation in at least three hours of volunteer service per week, and leadership ability.
12. International Cultural Diversity Scholarship
This scholarship recognizes international diversity within the Penn State community. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and possess a 3.0 GPA.
13. James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy Scholarship
The institute seeks to educate policymakers on issues affecting low-income people. To be eligible, applicants must be economically disadvantaged, hold a bachelor’s degree, and intend to pursue a master’s degree.
14. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Scholarship
The library and museum offer annual scholarships to students attending any Pennsylvania state university. Candidates must currently enrol in a baccalaureate-level coursework program and meet eligibility requirements.
15. Martin Luther King Jr.- Coretta Scott King Memorial Foundation Scholarship
Established in 2002, this foundation gives out up to $20,000 annually to students from across the United States pursuing degrees in the humanities, fine arts, business administration, and liberal studies. Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
How Do I Apply for Equity Scholarships?
Eligibility requirements vary widely for equity scholarships. Many colleges and universities have set minimum GPA and SAT/ACT scores required to apply for these scholarships.
Students applying for equity scholarships must submit evidence of their financial need, which may be demonstrated through the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Students who complete their applications early may receive priority consideration.
Some institutions, however, don’t have any minimum GPA requirements for applying for external equity scholarships.
However, some schools ask prospective applicants to fill out a paper application form. This is usually done during the fall semester, though it may come earlier or later, depending on the institution.
Once completed, the student submits their application to the financial aid office. Students then wait until the spring semester to find out if they received an acceptance letter.
A student who does not receive an admission letter for the fall semester is notified about the status of their application after the spring semester.
Conclusion
In conclusion, equity Scholarships are usually offered by colleges themselves. Some schools offer scholarships for minority groups, others give them to low-income families, and others still assist low-income students.
