Historical societies nationwide have reserved money to support scholarships for history majors.
Studying history allows you to master the art and science of meticulously analyzing historical records to produce compelling, fact-based stories of the past. Among the humanities, history is a versatile major that sharpens students’ research and communication skills for diverse careers.
Resource: Online Master’s in History
Many history majors excel as:
- historians
- curators
- archivists
- librarians
- nonprofit administrators
- teachers
- journalists
- cultural resources managers
However, history degrees can also be applied in:
- business
- medicine
- law
- public relations
Those finishing a doctorate could become post-secondary professors where jobs will grow faster-than-average by 13 percent.
Cash in on the following scholarships for majoring in history and studying the world’s colorful past. If you are interested in financial support and pursing an undergraduate degree, check out these scholarships for history majors!
History Major Scholarships
1. Antonette Willa Skupa Turner Scholarship
Deadline: February 28th
Through the Willa Cather Foundation, the Antonette Willa Skupa Turner Scholarship awards $500 annually. It’s for graduating high school seniors who plan to major in English or history. Eligible candidates must:
- reside in Nebraska
- be incoming freshmen at regionally accredited U.S. colleges
- display intellectual promise
- showcase creativity
The four-page application must include a 1,500-word essay in MLA format discussing the characters, themes, and lessons in Cather’s novel My Antonia. This is a good option for those researching history essay scholarships.
Contact
Antonette Willa Skupa Turner Scholarship
413 North Webster Street
Red Cloud, NE 68970
(866) 731-7304
info@willacather.org
Scholarship Link
2. B. Phinizy Spalding Scholarship
Deadline: February 12th
Each year, the Georgia Trust grants for history majors two $1,000 scholarships, including the B. Phinizy Spalding Scholarship. Qualified recipients must:
- be enrolled full-time as freshmen at accredited colleges in Georgia
- demonstrate sincere commitment to historic preservation
- intend to remain in-state after graduation
- have academic merit
- exhibit leadership ability
Finished applications must include:
- proof of registration
- an official transcript
- resume of preservation-related experience
- three recommendation letters.
Contact
B. Phinizy Spalding Scholarship
1516 Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 874-5835
fmccullough@georgiatrust.org
Scholarship Link
3. Christopher W. Keyser Scholarship
Deadline: July 31st
The Christopher W. Keyser Scholarship was created by the Keyser Law, P.A. firm in Minneapolis. The Scholarship presents $1,000 to undergraduate students nationwide. They must be working towards a legal career with majors in:
- criminal justice
- history
- political science
- pre-law
- related fields
Eligible applicants should be attending an accredited four-year U.S. college and intend to enroll in ABA-accredited law schools after graduation. Selection is based on a 2,000 to 3,000-word essay responding to assigned legal topics. This is a good option for history essay scholarships.
Contact
Christopher W. Keyser Scholarship
400 South Fourth Street Suite 806M
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 338-5007
scholarship@keyserdefense.com
Scholarship Link
4. F. Gerald and Elsie Ham Scholarship
Deadline: February 28th
The Society of American Archivists funds the F. Gerald and Elsie Ham Scholarship. It awards $10,000 to graduate students majoring in one of these areas:
- archival studies
- historic preservation
- history
- museum studies
Meritorious applicants should be:
- affiliated with accredited U.S. graduate schools
- have outstanding academic records
- hold SAA membership
- intend to become archivists
Completed applications must include:
- an official transcript
- cover letter
- curriculum vitae
- reference letter.
Contact
F. Gerald and Elsie Ham Scholarship
17 North State Street Suite 1425
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 606-0722
awards@archivists.org
Scholarship Link
5. Finnish American Social Club Scholarship
Deadline: March 7th
The Greater Worcester Community Foundation grants for history majors the Finnish American Social Club Scholarship annually. It’s for $1,000. Eligible are graduating high school students (seniors) of Finnish descent who are enrolling full-time in bachelor’s programs in:
- history
- political science
- economics
To qualify, candidates must:
- reside in central Massachusetts’ Worcester County
- be entering any accredited U.S. college this fall
- have a cumulative GPA above 2.5
- demonstrate unmet financial need.
Contact
Finnish American Social Club Scholarship
370 Main Street Suite 650
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 755-0980 ext. 116
scholar@greaterworcester.org
Scholarship Link
6. Graydon A. Tunstall Undergraduate Scholarship
Deadline: March 1st
The Graydon A. Tunstall Undergraduate Scholarship is sponsored by the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society. The $1,000 scholarship is annual. It goes to exemplary student members who are entering their senior year of an on-campus bachelor’s program studying modern European history from 1815 to present. Three copies of the application are required with:
- official transcripts
- a resume or CV
- a letter from the History Department chair
- three references.
Contact
Graydon A. Tunstall Undergraduate Scholarship
4202 East Fowler Avenue
Tampa, FL 33620
(800) 394-8195
info@phialphatheta.org
Scholarship Link
7. Harriet and Leon Pomerance Fellowship
Deadline: November 1st
The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) offers the Harriet and Leon Pomerance Fellowship. The $5,000 award is for graduate students in:
- archaeology
- history
- Classics,
- related fields
This is for scholarly research projects pertaining to the Aegean Bronze Age. Interested AIA members must:
- be U.S. or Canadian citizens
- be actively pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree at an accredited North American university
- demonstrate academic merit
Priority is given to projects involving travel to the Mediterranean.
Contact
Harriet and Leon Pomerance Fellowship
656 Beacon Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 358-4184
fellowships@aia.bu.edu
Scholarship Link
8. Helen James Brewer Scholarship
Deadline: June 15th
Valued at $1,000, the Helen James Brewer Scholarship is awarded by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It’s for descendants of Confederate soldiers or marines. They must be enrolling full-time in an accredited four-year undergraduate program studying history or literature. Eligible to apply are residents of:
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
Eligibility criteria requires:
- being a U.S. citizen
- maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0
- being endorsed by a Chapter President.
Contact
Helen James Brewer Scholarship
328 North Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 355-1636
udc@hqudc.org
Scholarship Link
9. Henry Salvatori Graduate Fellowships
Deadline: January 23rd
Annually, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) grants two Henry Salvatori Graduate Fellowships. They for $10,000 each. Eligible are U.S. citizens enrolled full-time in an accredited master’s or doctoral program related to the American Founding, especially history. Interested ISI members can apply by submitting:
- three academic recommendations
- official transcripts
- a 10-page writing sample
- one-page curriculum vitae
- 2,500-word essay describing the significance of the American Founding in the evolution of the free society.
Contact
Henry Salvatori Graduate Fellowships
3901 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19807
(800) 526-7022
awards@isi.org
Scholarship Link
10. Ida B. Wells Graduate Student Fellowship
Deadline: May 15th
The Ida B. Wells Graduate Student Fellowship is one of the scholarships for history majors available through the Coordinating Council for Women in History. For this $1,000 award, eligible CCWH members must:
- be doctoral candidates
- have passed to A.B.D. status
- be affiliated with an accredited United States university
- demonstrate financial need
- submit a current CV
- devote their historical dissertation to investigating matters of race or gender.
Contact
Ida B. Wells Graduate Student Fellowship
7 Neilson Way
Northampton, MA 01063
(413) 585-2970
WellsAward@ccwh.org
Scholarship Link
11. J. Franklin Jameson Fellowship
Deadline: April 1st
The American Historical Association grants the J. Franklin Jameson Fellowship. It’s for $5,000 annually. It’s for late-stage doctoral and post-doctoral students who hold a PhD in history from an accredited U.S. institution. Chosen fellows benefit from spending two to three months full-time in residence at the Library of Congress to spark their academic career in history.
Graduate students studying history could also receive the $1,000 Bernadotte E. Schmitt Grant or $1,000 Albert J. Beveridge Grant.
Contact
J. Franklin Jameson Fellowship
400 A Street SE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 544-2422
info@historians.org
Scholarship Link
12. James Madison Memorial Junior Fellowships
Deadline: March 1st
Aspiring educators wishing to teach American history, social studies, or government to secondary students in grades 7-12 could receive up to $24,000 from the James Madison Memorial Junior Fellowships. Qualified fellows must:
- be U.S. citizens
- have completed an accredited bachelor’s degree
- intend to complete a master’s degree in history or teaching in two years full-time
- undertake at least 12 credits of constitutional study
- participate in the foundation’s four-week Summer Institute.
Contact
James Madison Memorial Junior Fellowships
1613 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(800) 525-6928
Madison@scholarshipamerica.org
Scholarship Link
13. King V. Hostick Scholarships
Deadline: March 31st
The King V. Hostick Scholarships honor the late manuscript dealer and offer history major scholarships. It’s sponsored by the Illinois State Historical Society and is valued at $5,000. It’s for history majors writing doctoral dissertations investigating some aspect of Illinois history. Interested graduate students must:
- be enrolled in an accredited PhD program
- have unmet financial need
- display research competence
- submit a maximum six-page research proposal with a historiography
Preference is given to candidates studying historical documents in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.
Contact
King V. Hostick Scholarships
5255 Shepherd Road
Springfield, IL 62704
(217) 525-2781
wfurry@sbcglobal.net
Scholarship Link
14. Lucinda Beneventi Findley History Scholarship
Deadline: February 10th
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) administers the Lucinda Beneventi Findley History Scholarship. It provides one-time $2,000 awards to deserving high school seniors who are pursuing their interest in history. Suitable applicants must:
- work towards a bachelor’s degree full-time
- attend an accredited four-year college in the United States
- achieve a minimum grade point of average of 3.25
Graduate history majors also qualify for the $2,500 DAR Centennial Scholarship.
Contact
Lucinda Beneventi Findley History Scholarship
1776 D Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 628-1776
LBFindleyHistoryScholarship@NSDAR.org
Scholarship Link
15. Mary Isabel Sibley Fellowship Program
Deadline: January 15th
The Mary Isabel Sibley Fellowship Program awards $20,000 for extraordinary female graduate students who are studying:
- Greek literature
- language
- history
- archaeology
The Phi Beta Kappa Society seeks women who are:
- pursuing a doctorate with A.B.D. status
- between 25 and 35 years old
- unmarried
- affiliated with an accredited university anywhere worldwide
- devoted to full-time research work
Applications must include a detailed dissertation proposal, including budget.
Contact
Mary Isabel Sibley Fellowship Program
1606 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 745-3287
awards@pbk.org
Scholarship Link
16. NFWL-NRA Bill of Rights Essay Scholarships
Deadline: July 15th
The National Foundation for Women Legislators partners with the National Rifle Association (NRA) annually to host a Bill of Rights Essay Contest. It presents six $3,000 scholarships for history majors. Eligible are female college-bound high school juniors and seniors who plan to enroll full-time at accredited U.S. institutions. Judges carefully review 400 to 600-word essays concerning the 19th Amendment and its importance to American democracy.
Contact
NFWL-NRA Bill of Rights Essay Scholarships
1727 King Street Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 518-7931
meghan@womenlegislators.org
Scholarship Link
17. Phi Alpha Theta Doctoral Scholarships
Deadline: March 1st
As the nation’s history honor society, Phi Alpha Theta grants four Doctoral Scholarships annually. They’re for $850 to $1,000. Eligible are advanced graduate students who are completing a PhD in history and its sub-specialties. Successful applicants must:
- be verified Phi Alpha Theta members
- attend regionally accredited U.S. universities
- have passed their department’s qualifying exam by February 15th
- submit a dissertation prospectus
- show dedication to careers in academia.
Contact
Phi Alpha Theta Doctoral Scholarships
4202 East Fowler Avenue
Tampa, FL 33620
(800) 394-8195
info@phialphatheta.org
Scholarship Link
18. Rose and Isidore Drench Memorial Fellowship
Deadline: January 15th
The Rose and Isidore Drench Memorial Fellowship is a $5,500 stipend. It’s granted by the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. It’s for outstanding doctoral students who have devoted their dissertation research to American Jewish history, especially the Jewish labor movement. The three-month program includes studying at the YIVO Library and delivering a college lecture. History majors interested in Jewish culture must attend an accredited U.S. university to apply.
Contact
Rose and Isidore Drench Memorial Fellowship
15 West 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 246-6080
yivomail@yivo.cjh.org
Scholarship Link
19. Samuel Eliot Morison Naval History Scholarship
Deadline: April 29th
The Samuel Eliot Morison Naval History Scholarship is named after the Pulitzer Prize-winning maritime historian. It presents $5,000 annually by the Naval History and Heritage Command. Eligible are active duty commissioned officers of the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. They must be undertaking graduate study in:
- history
- military history
- international relations
- related areas
Candidates must display:
- high academic qualifications
- leadership potential
- exemplary military service.
Contact
Samuel Eliot Morison Naval History Scholarship
805 Kidder Breese Street SE
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374
(202) 433-7880
michael.crawford@navy.mil
Scholarship Link
20. William G. Saletic Scholarship Fund
Deadline: March 16th
The Independent Colleges of Washington established the William G. Saletic Scholarship Fund. It awards $1,000 each year to undergraduate juniors and seniors. Since this is a scholarship for history majors, they must be pursuing bachelor’s degrees in history or political studies. Qualified recipients must attend an ICW member college full-time, such as:
- Gonzaga University
- Whitworth University
- Seattle University
- Pacific Lutheran University
Applications must include:
- a one-page resume
- unofficial transcript
- financial aid form
- 3,000-word character essay.
Contact
William G. Saletic Scholarship Fund
600 Stewart Street Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 623-4494
info@icwashington.org
Scholarship Link
Investigating events and ideas of the past can lead to future career success. Although history degrees receive a bad reputation like other humanities, they can provide great return on investment. According to PayScale, the average lifetime ROI for history majors is $537,800! The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that historians make $61,220 and museum curators earn $56,990 each year on average. Affording the advanced degrees required for these titles can become expensive though. It’s important to research history scholarships for college students, as well as top colleges for history majors. Luckily, these are just 20 of the scholarships for history majors to nip tuition costs.
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