Introduction
The world of higher education is changing. As more students seek degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), institutions are looking for ways to diversify their student bodies. This means that opportunities exist for underrepresented students to receive scholarships or grants that can help them fund their education. Underrepresented students include minority groups such as African Americans, Native Americans and Latinos/Hispanics who have been historically underrepresented in STEM fields.
Scholarships for Underrepresented Students in Higher Education.
Scholarships for underrepresented students in higher education are available, and they can help you fund your education.
Scholarships for underrepresented students are a great way to fund your education, whether it’s a bachelor’s degree or graduate school. Many scholarships are available for a variety of majors, including STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) as well as non-STEM fields such as social sciences or arts. Scholarships can also be used toward master’s degrees after earning an undergraduate degree.
What is an Underrepresented Student?
- Underrepresented student: A minority group member, first-generation college student and/or single parent.
- Minority group member: A person who is a member of a racial or ethnic group that has been historically underrepresented in higher education (e.g., African American/Black; American Indian/Alaska Native; Asian American/Pacific Islander; Hispanic/Latino).
- First-generation college student: A person whose parents have not completed a four-year degree at an accredited institution of higher education.
If you are unsure if you would qualify as an underrepresented student, please contact the admission office for more information about applying for this scholarship program.
What are the Benefits of Earning a College Degree?
What are the Benefits of Earning a College Degree?
- Better job opportunities. A college degree is an important factor in determining your ability to get hired and earn higher wages. According to research by Georgetown University, “The unemployment rate for college graduates who have been actively seeking work but unable to find it was 2.9 percent in December 2017.” In addition, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), “Between 2015 and 2016, median annual earnings for full-time workers with bachelor’s degrees increased from $45,500 to $48,000.”
- Higher wages over time compared with those without degrees: According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), workers with only high school diplomas earned about $25 per hour on average in 2017–about $4 less than those with some college education but no degree; $7 less than those who graduated from college but didn’t go any further; and $9 less than those who earned graduate or professional degrees.[3]
Scholarships exist for underrepresented students.
Scholarships exist for underrepresented students. Underrepresented students are members of minority groups who have been historically left out of higher education, such as African American, Hispanic and Native American students. There are many scholarships available to these individuals that can help ease their financial burden when pursuing higher education.
In addition to traditional academic merit-based scholarships (such as those offered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation or NMSC), there are also non-traditional options like those offered by the United Negro College Fund or UNCF; The Hispanic Scholarship Fund or HSF; The Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Foundation (APIASF) and others like them!
Conclusion
If you are an underrepresented student and are looking for scholarships, the best thing to do is to search online. There are many websites that can help you find scholarships for minorities and other groups of people who may not have access to them otherwise. You can also contact your school’s financial aid office if there aren’t any scholarships listed on these sites or elsewhere online.
