Scholarships and Financing Options for Minority Doctoral Students

Types of Financial Aid for Doctoral Students

Earning a PhD can be expensive, but you have options beyond student loans. Here are the most common types of financial aid for doctoral students:

Scholarships

Scholarships are “free money” that does not need to be repaid. They’re awarded based on factors such as:

• Financial need
• Academic performance
• Minority status
• Career field
• Leadership, athletics, or other traits

Be aware: applications often require essays. Focus on the best-fit scholarships to maximize your time and reward.

Grants

Grants, like scholarships, typically don’t need to be repaid unless you withdraw from your program or drop below full-time status. They may come from:

• Federal or state governments
• Nonprofits
• Universities

To apply, start with the FAFSA and also check directly with organizations that offer grants.

Fellowships

Fellowships are short-term, funded academic opportunities, often without teaching or research duties. Sponsored by organizations or institutions, fellowships can provide:

• Professional networking opportunities
• Stipends
• Research or training support
• Cultural immersion

Assistantships

Assistantships offer paid, part-time roles for graduate students — often as researchers, teaching assistants, or project coordinators. Benefits include:

• Skill-building and faculty mentorship
• Work experience in your field
• Tuition credits
• Stipends

Loans

Loans must be repaid with interest, but they can be an important financial tool. Options include:

• Federal Loans: Easier to qualify for, lower fixed interest, and payments deferred until graduation or half-time enrollment
• Private Loans: Often require credit checks and may have higher rates

Graduate students may borrow up to $20,500/year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans through the federal government.

Scholarships for Minority Doctoral Students

The following scholarships are specifically for minority students seeking advanced degrees:

ABA Diversity Scholarship

Awarded to focus on broadening the number of traditionally underrepresented groups in the management and operation ranks of the transportation, travel, and tourism industry.

• Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: Minority or diverse students studying travel/tourism or related fields.
• Annual Deadline: April 15

Generation Google Scholarship

Awarded to students pursuing computer science degrees to help them become leaders in the field. Selections are based on the strength of each candidate’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; demonstrated leadership; and academic performance.

• Aid Amount: $10,000
• Eligibility: Students from underrepresented groups in tech, pursuing CS or related degrees.
• Annual Deadline: April 23

Protecting Black Voices Graduate Scholarship

Awarded to high-achieving graduate black students pursuing an advanced degree in history, political science, communications, media, journalism, public policy, public administration, or related fields.

• Aid Amount: $10,000/year (for 2 years)
• Eligibility: Black graduate students in history, political science, journalism, public policy, and related fields.
• Annual Deadline: February 15

Otsuka Scholarship

Awarded to high-achieving black graduate students pursuing an advanced degree in a business or a STEM-related field.

• Aid Amount: $10,000/year (for 2 years)
• Eligibility: Black graduate students pursuing business or STEM fields.
• Annual Deadline: February 15

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Minority PhD Program

Offers substantial scholarship support to underrepresented minority students who are beginning their doctoral work in engineering, natural science, and mathematics. Scholarships are provided through eight partner schools including Cornell, Duke, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

• Aid Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: Underrepresented students in STEM doctoral programs at partner institutions.
• Annual Deadline: Varies

ACHE Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship

Offered to provide financial aid to minority students in healthcare management graduate programs to offset tuition costs, student loans, and expenses. Designated for minority students enrolled in their final year of a healthcare management graduate program.

• Aid Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: Racially/ethnically diverse students in healthcare management graduate programs.
• Annual Deadline: March 31

AICPA Fellowships for Minority Doctoral Students

The program’s goal is to increase the number of minority CPAs who serve as role models and mentors to young people. Awarded to full-time minority accounting PhD scholars who demonstrate significant potential to become accounting educators.

• Aid Amount: $15,000
• Eligibility: Minority CPA doctoral students in accounting education.
• Annual Deadline: June 15

Brown and Caldwell Minority Scholarship

Awarded to support students who identify as minorities and are interested in a career in the environmental profession.

• Aid Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: Minority students in environmental engineering/science fields.
• Annual Deadline: March 31

Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Spouses Education Scholarship

Awarded to students who demonstrate leadership ability through exemplary community service and academic talent. Awards are granted to highly motivated full-time African-American or black students pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degree in a variety of fields.

• Aid Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: Full-time Black students with leadership and community service experience.
• Annual Deadline: April 28

SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program

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. 

• Aid Amount: $20,000
• Eligibility: Minority PhD students in southern U.S., planning to become faculty.
• Annual Deadline: March 31

Wells Fargo American Indian Scholarship

Awarded to provide financial assistance to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate (juniors and seniors) and graduate students pursuing degrees full-time at an accredited institution.

• Aid Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: American Indian/Alaska Native students pursuing business or hospitality degrees.
• Annual Deadline: June 1

How to Make Your Application Stand Out

Even with strong qualifications, your application must shine. Here’s how:

1. Highlight Unique Experiences and Perspectives

Use your personal story. As a member of a marginalized group, share:

• What perspectives you bring to your field
• Specific challenges you’ve overcome
• How your doctoral degree will help you uplift your community

2. Showcase Leadership and Community Involvement

Whether through mentoring, organizing events, or volunteering — leadership matters. Focus on:

• Support for other underrepresented communities
• Positive impact
• Long-term involvement

3. Get Strong Recommendations

Ask for letters from:

• Professors
• Advisors
• Supervisors or community leaders

Choose people who can speak to both your academic potential and personal character.

4. Write a Compelling Personal Statement

Don’t copy and paste. Instead:

• Focus on goals, passion, and alignment with the scholarship’s mission
• Tailor each statement to the scholarship
• Share authentic anecdotes

5. Emphasize Academic Strength (Even if Imperfect)

Strong GPA? Highlight it. Weak spots? Don’t ignore them. Instead, show growth, context, and how you’ve rebounded.

Types of Minority Doctoral Students

The term “minority” includes a wide range of identities. Here are key groups and funding tailored to them:

Racial and Ethnic Minorities

American Indian College Fund

Awards scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native college students pursuing graduate degrees at tribal colleges, nonprofit, and accredited schools.

• Aid Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: Native American students (2.0+ GPA).
• Annual Deadline: May 31

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers PhD Scholarship

Scholarships are offered by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, an organization with a mission to “empower the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development.” 

• Aid Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: Hispanic STEM graduate students.
• Annual Deadline: Mid-April

Religious Minorities

Church of the Brethren Nursing Scholarships

Awards a limited number of scholarships each year to individuals enrolled in a nursing program.

• Aid Amount: $2,000
• Eligibility: Nursing students who are members of the Church.
• Annual Deadline: April 1

Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF)

Awards are given to increase American Muslim representation in media and politics to improve public opinion and public policy.

• Aid Amount: $3,000-$10,000
• Eligibility: Muslim students in media, politics, or law fields.
• Annual Deadline: Late March

Disabled Minorities

AbbVie Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship

Recognizes exceptional students with cystic fibrosis who demonstrate academic excellence, community involvement, creativity, and the ability to serve as positive role models for the cystic fibrosis community. 

• Aid Amount: $3,000
• Eligibility: Students with cystic fibrosis.
• Annual Deadline: April 18

Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program

Open to Maryland students in any major who are the sons, daughters, stepchildren, or surviving spouses (who have not remarried) of U.S. service members who died or became disabled as a result of military service, veterans disabled as a result of military service, POWs/MIAs from the Vietnam War, victims of 9/11, or state, local or public employees or school employees who either died in the line of duty or suffered a disabling injury.

• Aid Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: Maryland students connected to military/public service sacrifice.
• Annual Deadline: July 15

Incight Scholarship

Awards scholarships to students with disabilities pursuing higher education. These scholars are enrolled in community college, university, vocational school, and graduate programs. 

• Aid Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: Students with disabilities in WA, OR, or CA.
• Annual Deadline: April 15

Sex and Gender Minorities

Out to Innovate Scholarships for LGBTQ+ STEM Students

Awarded to graduate students pursuing degrees in STEM who are either lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or an active ally of the LGBTQ community. The scholarships are designed to promote academic excellence and increased visibility of talented LGBTQ+ students in STEM careers.

• Aid Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: LGBTQ+ STEM students (2.75+ GPA).
• Annual Deadline: Early June

PFund Scholarship

Awards scholarships to LGBTQ+ learners from the upper Midwest at all stages of their education. 

• Aid Amount: $1,000-$12,000
• Eligibility: LGBTQ+ students from MN, IA, WI, ND, or SD.
• Annual Deadline: Mid-March

Stonewall Community Foundation Aritzia Scholarship

Awards students who support LGBTQIA people in their pursuit of higher education. Centered on Aritzia’s values, the scholarship prioritizes students who demonstrate excellence and creativity and who strive to make a positive impact on their communities.

• Aid Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: LGBTQIA+ students in fashion, mental health, or advocacy.
• Annual Deadline: TBD
  

Common Challenges Minority Doctoral Students and Solutions

Now that you have a list of financial aid and scholarship opportunities at your fingertips to help you pay for your doctorate degree, let’s walk through some challenges that minority doctoral students face when obtaining their degree.

Lack of Diversity

With only 1/3rd of students receiving doctorates identifying as members of underrepresented groups, what follows is an overall lack of diversity. This can be seen not only in your courses, but also throughout your school and into your program and career field.

Challenge: You’re the only minority student in your cohort and feel isolated.

Solution: Build peer relationships and talk with your advisor about organizing diversity-focused workshops for undergrads.

Bias & Stereotyping

As a minority doctoral student, you could be faced with ongoing bias and stereotyping by your classmates, professors, and other faculty. 

Challenge: A professor ignores or dismisses your input in class discussions.

Solution: Address it respectfully with the professor. Share your experience and how it affects your learning.

Lack of Mentors/Role Models

Many women and minority students report discomfort, disappointment, and levels of frustration with a perceived pressure to conform to normative models. This pressure carries on into the vital relationship of mentors and role models for minority doctoral students, which can be lacking throughout many academic programs and institutions. You may have difficulty finding a mentor who understands your unique set of circumstances.

Challenge: Others have mentors guiding them, but you don’t.

Solution: Ask your advisor to help you connect with external mentors at nearby schools or online networks.

Unfamiliarity with the System

Only 6% of nationwide academic faculty are African American, 5% are Hispanic, and 1% are Native American. Many minority doctoral students might not have anyone within their family who has pursued an advanced degree, resulting in students facing challenges and obstacles without direct support.

Challenge: You’re a first-generation grad student overwhelmed by forms, deadlines, and processes.

Solution: Book a meeting with your advisor to walk through the steps and clarify what support is available.

Resources for Minority Doctoral Students

Pursuing a doctorate degree takes a high level of dedication, commitment, and finances. Minority students will be faced not only with the financial aspects of getting a PhD but also with other obstacles to overcome as they work to earn their degree.

These resources provide a helping hand:

• AAUW Fellowships & Grants: Women-focused graduate funding, helping connect students to mentors.
• APAGS Diversity Guide – 100+ pages of tips for ethnic minority graduate students.
• Cornell Dissertation Guide – Comprehensive manual for the dissertation writing process, from planning to revision.
• A Guide to PhD Success: How to Thrive During Doctoral Studies – An online guide that highlights key factors and tips to consider that will help you survive—and even thrive—in graduate school.
• Higher Education Recruitment Consortium – A nonprofit consortium of more than 700 colleges and universities, hospitals, research labs, government agencies, and for-profit and nonprofit agencies committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the higher education workforce.
• HigherEdJobs – A major resource for higher education career information and job recruitment in academia, this listing from thousands of colleges and universities shows hundreds of thousands of open positions annually.
• How to Fund Your Doctoral Degree: Advice from a Financing Coach – Written by a financing coach at Capella University, this article provides a step-by-step plan for funding your doctoral degree program.
• Lavontria Miché Aaron’s Comprehensive Doctoral Resource List – A first-generation PhD student at John Hopkins University, Lavontria Miché Aaron has shared her curated resources to help other students and aspiring students who are members of minority ethnic groups. The list spans scholarships, internships, fellowships, graduate application fee waivers, travel grants, and mentors.
• myIDP Science Careers Individual Development Plan – This free career-planning tool is designed primarily for PhD students and graduates in STEM-related fields. Users can pinpoint their skills, values, and interests and review a list of career paths with predictions on which may be the best fit.
• The PhD Project – The PhD Project is committed to helping doctoral candidates through their journey. That includes providing them resources where they can access scholarships and other opportunities to cover their educational costs.
• PhD Project Corporate and University Partners – Connect with 1,500+ underrepresented minority faculty and doctoral students, as well as thousands of underrepresented minority professionals who attended the PhD Project annual conference.
• Postdoc Jobs – Connects thousands of university professors, government agencies, research institutions, and companies for successfully recruiting postdoctoral fellows and researchers. This is a major platform for postdoc recruitment worldwide.

First-Hand Experience: Interview with a Minority Doctoral Student

Q: Did you have a mentor or role model who helped advise you throughout your doctorate degree journey? What is your advice to doctoral students looking for a mentor?

A: I am happy and excited to promote my advisor Dr. Scott Sheridan, professor and chair of the department of geography at Kent State University, who is my academic role model/hero and has changed my education to prepare me to become a professional. My most important advice to upcoming graduate students is to choose an advisor who wants to promote your ideas. This gives inspiration in a difficult time and provides scope to do research in your own space and freedom. You’ll also want to look for a person who is communicative and supportive.

Q: What piece of advice would you offer incoming minority doctoral students to help them stand out on their admission and scholarship applications?

A: The U.S. carries a very high standard of education and research worldwide. Build on your experience to make yourself valuable in the competitive market. Consult with prospective faculty before applying to any program. And most importantly, bring a fresh mind for working hard.

Q: As a minority doctorate graduate, did you ever feel stereotyped or feel a lack of academic and peer support while obtaining your degree?

A: When I came here, I had a lot of educational and technical shortfalls, which is common for those from developing countries. However, the U.S. educational system trained me well, filled the gaps, and provided financial and academic support.

Q: Did you feel there was a collaborative environment with other students or faculty? How did you personally help foster that?

A: The U.S. higher education system is the perfect collaborative environment to promote your ideas. I got much support in my research, which would have been utterly impossible if I hadn’t had collaborative support from the school and related professionals in my field. 

Q: What do you wish you had done to better prepare yourself and help you succeed in grad school?

A: I wish I had more technical knowledge before coming to graduate school. I wish I could have adapted faster to the nature of research. I wish I didn’t procrastinate in my studies. I wish I had gotten every assignment done on time, which would have reduced my struggle.

Q: What were some of your personal struggles and obstacles you had to overcome as a minority doctorate student?

A: Being an international student, language and adapting to the American accent were obstacles for me. However, I do not think or feel at any time that I had an issue or problem with being a minority student. I had been treated equally at all times during my education by my teachers, mentors, and my fellow colleagues. In some cases, I got more help or support than most students.

Q: As someone who is currently working and teaching, do you think there are a lot of diverse staff and educators in your specific field? What do you think could improve?

A: As I am an instructor, mostly teaching American students, I always feel honored and happy. Many of my own methods, which I learned from my country’s education system, are helpful and memorable to my students. They like the way I approach my teaching. However, new-generation kids are more device dependent, which is not appropriate sometimes. Sometimes I feel kids need to remember to show respect to their mentors.