20-great-phd-scholarships-and-doctoral-grants-for-minorities

20 Great PhD Scholarships for Minorities

  • Last Updated

To promote diversity, PhD scholarships for minorities are becoming more common.

Enrollment in doctoral degrees by ethnic minority students has been lower than average. However, this gap is closing. The NCES reports that over one-fourth of doctoral students are members of underrepresented groups.

Earning a PhD often requires some amount of third party financial aid. This can help reduce the high cost of the doctoral program. This increases the PhD’s value as an investment. Graduates with a PhD have an average expected lifetime earnings of $3.3 million! Cashing in on some of the following lucrative doctoral grants for minorities could cover the costs for your career advancement.

Top PhD Scholarships for Minorities

1. AICPA Fellowships for Minority Doctoral Students

Deadline: May 15th

The American Institute of CPAs offers 22 Fellowships for Minority Doctoral Students annually. The scholarships are $3,000-$10,000 each and are awarded to full-time scholars. Recipients must be U.S. citizens who show potential for teaching accounting in higher education. The fellowship is for students who are:

Qualified candidates must:

  • hold a master’s degree
  • obtain CPA credential
  • have at least three years of accounting experience
  • be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Contact

AICPA Fellowships for Minority Doctoral Students
220 Leigh Farm Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 402-4500
academics@aicpa.org
Scholarship Link

2. Alfred P. Sloan Minority PhD Scholarships

Deadline: Varies

The Alfred P. Sloan Minority PhD Scholarships are for underrepresented doctoral students. The scholarships are sponsored by the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. Students must pursue a major related to:

Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens. They must be studying full-time at schools designated Sloan University Centers for Exemplary Mentoring. Since its founding in 1995, the program has provided over 900 doctoral grants for minorities active in PhD research.

Contact

Alfred P. Sloan Minority PhD Scholarships
1 North Broadway Suite 601
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 539-4010
sloanphds@nacme.org
Scholarship Link

3. American Indian Graduate Center Fellowships

Deadline: June 1st

The American Indian Graduate Center awards fellowships to U.S. indigenous students. Students must be currently seeking a PhD or professional degree at an accredited U.S. institution. The award is between $1,000 and $5,000. To apply, candidates must:

  • be enrolled members of federally-recognized tribes
  • have at least one-fourth degree Indian blood
  • exhibit financial need
  • maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0

There’s also a AIGC Loan for Service available.

Contact

American Indian Graduate Center Fellowships
3701 San Mateo NE Suite 200
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 881-4584
web@aigcs.org
Scholarship Link

4. Ruth D. Peterson Fellowships for Racial and Ethnic Diversity

Deadline: March 1st

The American Society of Criminology created the Graduate Fellowships for Ethnic Minorities. This organization awards $6,000 to three students who are:

  • African American
  • Asian
  • Hispanic
  • Native American

Applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral program related to criminology or criminal justice. Eligible applicants don’t have to be members of the ASC. Applications must include proof of admission. A current curriculum vitae and official transcripts are also required. Applicants must submit three reference letters and a letter describing their career plans in criminology.

Contact

Diversity Matters by Rudy
(614) 262-9943
peterson.5@osu.edu
Scholarship Link

5. CHCI Graduate Fellowship Program

Deadline: February 5th

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Graduate Fellowship Program is a paid fellowship. The fellowship pays $2,900 plus bi-weekly pay of $1,160 minus taxes. The goal is to provide professional experience for Latine PhD candidates. The fellowship is in Washington, DC and emphasizes leadership training. Qualified fellows must:

  • have completed a master’s degree
  • maintain a GPA of 3.0
  • be authorized to work in the US.
  • demonstrate evidence of leadership skills

Applicants must show commitment to public service and complete 20 hours of volunteer work. 

Contact

CHCI Graduate Fellowship Program
1128 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 543-1771
fbohorquez@chci.org
Scholarship Link

6. Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships

Deadline: January 8th

The $24,000 Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships provide three-year doctoral grants. The grants are for minority students who are currently pursuing a PhD or ScD. Eligible recipients must:

  • be U.S. citizens or green card holders
  • enroll in a research-based program at a non-profit U.S. institution
  • have superior academic achievement
  • intend to pursue a career in teaching or research in higher education

 Accepted majors include:

  • history
  • political science
  • chemistry
  • linguistics
Contact

Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships
500 Fifth Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 334-2000
infofell@nas.edu
Scholarship Link

7. Harriett G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship

Deadline: February 23rd

NASA sponsors the Harriet G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship. The fellowship provides up to 20 PhD scholarships for:

  • minorities
  • women
  • people with disabilities

Candidates must be studying STEM disciplines. Applicants should be enrolled full-time at accredited U.S. universities. Their doctoral majors must be in a STEM field. Award packages start at $24,500 and include a Mentor-Protégé Initiative.

Contact

Harriett G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship
2750 Prosperity Avenue Suite 600
Fairfax, VA 22031
(800) 231-9155
brenda.j.collins@nasa.gov
Scholarship Link

8. Hsiao Memorial Economics Scholarship

Deadline: February 19th

The Asian Pacific Fund presents the Hsiao Memorial Economics Scholarship each academic year. The scholarship awards $1,000 in financial assistance to Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders attending a U.S.-based college or university. They must:

  • be earning a PhD in economics
  • have a GPA of 3.0
  • plan a teaching or research career in academia
  • be 50% Asian heritage
  • demonstrate financial need
  • be conducting research that benefits Asians

Priority is given to doctoral students of Chinese descent.

Contact

Hsiao Memorial Economics Scholarship
465 California Street Suite 809
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 395-9985
info@asianpacificfund.org
Scholarship Link

9. Jeanette Elmer Scholarship Fund

Deadline: June 1st

The Jeanette Elmer Scholarship Fund gives $1,000 in financial assistance to US indigenous college students. The scholarship was started in 2006 by the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. To qualify, students must be members of federally-recognized tribes in:

  • Wisconsin
  • New Mexico
  • Arizona

 To be eligible, applicants must:

  • have completed a bachelor’s program
  • enroll in an accredited U.S. graduate school
  • be pursuing a master’s or PhD
  • demonstrate financial need
  • be one-fourth indigenous

Applicants must submit a 250-word typed personal essay.

Contact

Jeanette Elmer Scholarship Fund
4520 Montgomery Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
(505) 881-4584
Scholarship Link

10. Johnson & Johnson Minority Nurse Faculty Scholars Program

Deadline: May 1st

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing manages the Johnson & Johnson Minority Nurse Faculty Scholars Program. The scholarship program provides $18,000 PhD scholarships for minorities enrolled full-time. Students must be enrolled in a clinically focused doctoral nursing program. Students must be:

  • American Indian
  • Asian American
  • Black
  • Latine
  • Pacific Islander

The must be U.S. citizens and attend n CCNE-accredited college. Applicants must be licensed RNs. Finally, they must commit to becoming full-time faculty in a RN program after graduation.

Contact

Johnson & Johnson Minority Nurse Faculty Scholars Program
1 Dupont Circle NW Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 463-6930
mokoniewski@aacn.nche.edu
Scholarship Link

11. KSEA-KUSCO Scholarships for Graduate Students

Deadline: April 1st

The Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association partners with the Korea-U.S. Science Cooperation Center. Together they provide 20 scholarships for $1,500 to Korean students earning a master’s or doctorate degree. To qualify, candidates must:

  • attend an accredited U.S. institution
  • major in the STEM fields
  • be KSEA members
  • excel in community service
  • submit two recommendations

They must also write an 800-word essay. The topic is how their research will impact Korean-U.S. cooperation.

Contact

KSEA-KUSCO Scholarships for Graduate Students
1952 Gallows Road Suite 300
Vienna, VA 22182
(703) 748-1221
admin@ksea.org
Scholarship Link

12. Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship

Deadline: February 19th

Funded by Tyler Technologies, the Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship awards $8,000 each year. The scholarship is awarded through the Government Finance Officers Association. The award goes to outstanding master’s or Ph.D. students preparing for a career in state or local government finance. Candidates must belong to an underrepresented ethnic group. Qualified majors include:

  • public administration
  • accounting, finance
  • economics
  • political science
  • nonprofit management

U.S. or Canadian citizens qualify. They must be enrolled at an accredited North American school.

Contact

Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship
203 North LaSalle Street Suite 2700
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 977-9700
rkotchen@gfoa.org
Scholarship Link

13. National Gem Consortium PhD Science Scholarship

Deadline: November 15th

The National Gem Consortium offers the PhD Science Scholarship to minority students. Students must be entering their first year of doctoral studies in natural science. Natural science includes:

  • chemistry
  • physics
  • earth science
  • mathematics
  • biology
  • computer science

Fellows are given full tuition coverage at a GEM university member. They also get a $16,000 living stipend and a paid summer internship. Eligible candidates must:

  • be U.S. citizens or legal residents
  • maintain a GPA of 3.0
  • present promising GRE scores.
Contact

National Gem Consortium PhD Science Scholarship
1430 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 562-3646
info@gemfellowship.org
Scholarship Link

14. NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program

Deadline: December 10th

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awards the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program. The program was established to provide four annual doctoral grants for minorities and women. The award goes to those who may otherwise be unable to afford a PhD. Candidates must be studying:

  • oceanography
  • marine biology
  • ecology
  • a related field

Eligible candidates must:

  • attend an accredited graduate school
  • be U.S. citizens
  • have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • show interest in studying fisheries and coastal ecosystems.
Contact

NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
1305 East-West Highway 11th Floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 713-3125
fosterscholars@noaa.gov
Scholarship Link

15. Predoctoral Fellowship in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Deadline: January 15th

This scholarship prioritizes these applicants:

  • African American
  • US Indigenous
  • Asian
  • Hispanic
  • Pacific Islanders 

Eligible applicants must:

  • be pursuing an accredited doctoral degree in psychology
  • be U.S. citizens
  • be committed to a career in ethnic minority behavioral health services or policy

 Fellows receive three years of funding, training, and dissertation support. They also have the opportunity for networking.

Contact

Predoctoral Fellowship in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
(800) 374-2721
executiveoffice@apa.org
Scholarship Link

16. Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship

Deadline: May 1st

The Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship is awarded by the American Society for Microbiology. The fellowship is for $63,000 over three years. It’s designed for:

  • African Americans
  • Latines
  • Native Americans
  • Pacific Islanders

They must be entering their second year of a doctoral program. Their focus must be microbiological sciences. Applications must include official transcripts and three letters of recommendation. They must also submit a one-page statement explaining their career goals in microbiology.

Contact

Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship
1752 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 942-9283
fellowships@asmusa.org
Scholarship Link

17. SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program

Deadline: March 31st

This $20,000 annual stipend is provided by the Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Scholars Program. The stipend is available to minority students enrolled in a campus-based PhD program. The program must be full-time at a participating U.S. institution. Qualified candidates must:

  • be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents
  • have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree
  • reside in one of 16 member states in the southern United States
  • plan to become full-time university faculty members.

They cannot be employed outside their department. 

Contact

SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program
592 10th Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 875-9211
chanell.turner@sreb.org
Scholarship Link

18. UNCF Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowships

Deadline: December 11th

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Merck Science Initiative offers 12+ dissertation fellowships for $53,000. The fellowships go to African American PhD students enrolled full-time. They must be studying in one of these disciplines:

  • life science
  • physical science
  • engineering

Eligible applicants must:

  • be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
  • attend a regionally accredited institution
  • have completed all doctoral qualifying exams
  • exhibit outstanding academic ability

And they must be within one to three years of completing dissertation research.

Contact

UNCF Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowships
1805 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 810-0331
uncfmerck@uncf.org
Scholarship Link

19. Vine Deloria Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: May 31st

The American Indian College Fund awards the $1,000 Vine Deloria Jr. Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship goes to US indigenous students who are pursuing a master’s or PhD degree. There are no restrictions on area of study. To be eligible, candidates must:

  • be enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe
  • be at least one-quarter indigenous
  • have a GPA of 3.0
  • demonstrate financial need

PhD students could also apply for the Anthony A. Welmas Scholarship.

Contact

Vine Deloria Jr. Memorial Scholarship
8333 Greenwood Blvd.
Denver, CO 80221
(800) 776-3863
info@collegefund.org
Scholarship Link

20. Xerox Technical Minority Scholarships

Deadline: September 30th

Ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, the Xerox Technical Minority Scholarships are awarded to full-time students. Students must be pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD degree in a technical science. This includes:

  • chemistry
  • computer science
  • information management
  • physics
  • manufacturing
  • software systems
  • engineering

Eligible applicants must:

  • attend an accredited U.S. four-year college
  • have a B average
  • have unmet financial need
  • provide a detailed electronic resume

Applicants cannot be related to Xerox employees.

Contact

Xerox Technical Minority Scholarships
45 Glover Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06856
(877) 747-3625
GlobalCareers@xerox.com
Scholarship Link

Earning a PhD will cost you plenty of stress and sleepless nights for around five years of your life. With rising tuition, that doctoral degree can also cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many minority students are held back simply by lacking the financial means. Financial aid in the form of scholarships can provide ample funding, helping avoid massive student loan debt. If you identify as African American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Hispanic, or Alaska Native, consider these 20 great PhD scholarships for minorities. If you want to find great values on PhD programs, check out some of our school rankings.

GCD Staff, Updated March 2024

Related to PhD scholarships for minorities:

20 Great Left Handed Scholarships

20 Great Doctoral Scholarships for African American Females and Males

20 Great Doctoral Scholarships in Education

20 Great Hispanic Scholarships

This concludes our ranking of top PhD scholarships for minorities.

Find Your Degree!