7 scholarships for students of color in Arizona

These scholarships can help offset college expenses for people of color in Arizona, addressing historical barriers to higher education.

Going to college isn’t the end-all-be-all in life, but it can certainly open more doors professionally and financially. And the opportunity for higher education can mean the world to students who have been historically at a disadvantage. Getting accepted to your dream school is one hurdle, but paying for it is a whole other can of worms. There are some essential steps to take when finding college funding.

First, all students should apply to the FAFSA. This will generate grant and loan offers for any student, often fully covering tuition for students from low-income families. Next, students should look at employer match programs. Some common employers that help with college costs include Starbucks, McDonalds, and Freeport-McMoRan. Finally, applying for scholarships can ease—if not eliminate—the burden of paying for education. There are many national scholarships and others local to Arizona that are geared toward helping underserved students, especially students of color. Though our list is far from exhaustive, here are some of the best scholarships to explore.

The Arizona Wildcats sign at the University of Arizona football stadium. (JR P/Flickr)

Minority Scholarships

Minority Scholarships updates its page monthly to include scholarships with approaching deadlines that cater to supporting minority students entering college. By paying attention to upcoming deadlines, students may have an advantage in winning the award. Many times, students forgo the effort of applying for scholarships—especially those that include essays—so submitting your application as the deadline approaches is a great way to get attention and stay fresh in the minds of the scholarship committee. Just be sure to put your best foot forward!

NAACP

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or the NAACP, launched in 1909 to advance justice for Black Americans. It offers both undergraduate as well as graduate scholarships to students of color. The deadline is April 11 for all of the available scholarships from the NAACP.

The University of Arizona’s front signage, surrounded by cactuses. (Pixabay/Picryl)

The University of Arizona 

The University of Arizona celebrates underrepresented students, particularly Indigenous peoples. Recently, a $1.6 million grant boosted the number of Indigenous students attending the nursing program at U of A. If you apply to U of A by April 1, are a registered member of one of Arizona’s 22 recognized tribes, and fill out the FAFSA, there are even more grants available (depending on need and academic interest). Like scholarships, grants do not need to be paid back. Unlike many scholarships, grants are awarded based on need.

The African American Opportunity Scholarship

Although the deadline has passed for the 2025-2026 school year, African American high school students from Tucson can apply for this $2,000 Arizona scholarship. Applicants are required to write a short essay and the organization will declare winners based on both need and merit. 

Students working in a computer lab. (Desola Lanre-Ologun/Unsplash)

Arizona Community Foundation

The Arizona Community Foundation offers a service through which students fill out a single application to find, apply to, and match with over 150 scholarships that vary between merit-based and need-based. This service is open to anyone and can also match students of color to appropriate scholarships. This is a tool everyone should check out, alongside the other scholarships on our list!

Beyond the Boroughs 

While the deadline for Beyond the Boroughs has already passed for 2025, this scholarship awards up to $20,000 over four years to full-time students. Having already awarded more than $300,000 since its inception, this scholarship opens yearly, so even if you missed it this year, bookmark it and apply in 2026! 

UNCF

UNCF is a private group that awards scholarships annually to minority members and has helped over half a million students reach their college dreams. While many of its scholarships closed in February, there is an ongoing application process, meaning it is never too late to apply! 

All things are possible

While the scholarships on our list are online, many local companies offer scholarships to their community members. Look around restaurants, city halls, rec rooms, high schools, and any other places you can think of. You never know what you’ll find!

College is an opportunity to grow and expand socially, emotionally, and financially. The school of your dreams may be able to open more doors than others, and with financial assistance via FAFSA, grants, and scholarships, expenses don’t have to be the barrier. Once you enroll, many colleges offer a program called work-study, where students can get paid while working at a facility on campus. This helps students earn both money and valuable work experience.

There are also financial aid offices at all colleges, structured to help students find funding to attend the school. Working with the financial aid office of your college may yield unexpected results. I once had a friend ask her college for more financial assistance when another school offered her a more competitive package. This request resulted in a scholarship that left her only paying for her phone bill! It never hurts to ask for help from the financial aid office, because if a school values you enough the funding should appear. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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