College is expensive, however, there are several scholarship opportunities that are available for minority students and other members of underrepresented groups. These opportunities are in place to help bridge the gap in higher education. If you are someone who is economically or financial disadvantaged, it is still very much possible for you to attend college by applying to scholarships that will help fund some of or all of your college expenses. If you would like to find additional scholarships that you are eligible for beyond the ones discussed below, I recommend checking out Scholly. It is a scholarship app that can match you to several scholarships in only minutes! https://myscholly.com

  1. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship

This particular scholarship is one that is awarded exclusively to high school seniors. Each year, 150 applicants are each awarded $20,000. 

Eligibility: You must currently be a high school senior in order to be eligible to apply for this scholarship. This Coca-Cola Scholars Program is currently only open to students who are U.S. citizens or current permanent residents of the United States. This includes refugees, asylees, Cuban-Haitian Entrants, residence of Puerto Rico, etc. International students are not eligible to apply to this scholarship.

Deadline: October 31st

Check out this link for additional official information regarding eligibility and applying for this scholarship: https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/apply/

2. Jackie Robinson Scholarship 

Each year, approximately 60 students are awarded this scholarship. The Jackie Robinson Foundation provides a commitment for four years of college; in total, you may receive up to $30,000 over the course of your undergraduate career. 

Eligibility: This is another scholarship which you must be a high school senior to apply to. If you consider yourself to be someone who has a lot of leadership potential, then I recommend this scholarship to you. There is a minimum SAT score of 1000 required. The SAT requirement can be substituted for an ACT score of 21. This scholarship requires that you submit a letter of recommendation. There will also be an interview required if you are selected as a semi-finalist. You must be a United States citizen to apply to this scholarship.

When can I apply? November 1st – February 1st

Check out this link for additional official information regarding eligibility and applying for this scholarship: https://www.jackierobinson.org/our-programs/scholarship-program

3. Ron Brown Scholar Program

This is a 4-year scholarship. Each year, recipients of this scholarship will receive $10,000 each, totaling $40,000 by the end of your undergraduate career. 

Eligibility: This particular scholarship is only open to black or African American students who demonstrate financial need. You must be a high school senior to apply to this scholarship. If you are someone who has leadership potential as well as involvement in community service activities, then this is the scholarship for you. You also must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If you are selected as a semi-finalist, you will be invited to an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with the selection committee. 

When can I apply? August – January 9th

Check out this link for additional official information regarding eligibility and applying for this scholarship: https://www.ronbrown.org

4. Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway

Dr. Pepper is giving away almost $2,000,000 in scholarships to students in need. You can potentially win up to $125,000. 

Eligibility: You can apply to this scholarship after you graduate from high school, as you must be between the ages of 18-24 to be eligible. To apply, you must submit a 60-second video detailing how you plan to make an impact with your degree as well as discuss how you will be impacted by receiving the scholarship.

Deadline: October 18th  

Check out this link for additional official information regarding eligibility and applying for this scholarship: https://www.drpeppertuition.com

*All dates included in this article for scholarship opportunities are for the 2020-2021 school year. Deadlines may be subject to change for future years, so be sure to check each scholarship’s official website to confirm those details.