Scholarships and Grants for Black Women Going Back to School (2026)

Key Takeaways

In this section, we sum up the most important points of this guide in one line each.

• File the 2027-28 FAFSA first; it’s open now and is the first step for Pell and many state and college grants.
• The Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 for 2026-27, and there’s no age limit.
• UNCF awards more than $62 million in scholarships a year to students at over 600 schools.
• The Jeannette Rankin National Scholar Grant (women 35+) is open until February 12, 2027.
• Soroptimist Live Your Dream (for women who support their families) closes November 15, 2026.
• Sorority and professional-group scholarships often have spring deadlines, so plan now for 2027.
• Some awards are for Black students; others, like Rankin and Soroptimist, are open to all eligible women.

What Will This Guide to Scholarships for Black Women Cover?

Going back to school as a Black woman often means balancing work, family and bills at the same time. The good news: Black women returning to school may qualify for a mix of federal and state grants, scholarships for Black students, and broader awards for women, adult learners and students with financial need. Each program has its own rules, and some need a separate application.

This guide covers the scholarships and grants Black women going back to school can apply for in 2026 and 2027: federal and state grants, UNCF and TMCF scholarships, sorority foundations, awards for women over 35, field-specific scholarships, and how to find more. Each award lists who it’s for and where its deadline stands as of October 22, 2026, and we note which awards are for Black students and which are open to all eligible women. If you’re a mom, also read my guide to grants for single moms.

Which Scholarships and Grants Can Black Women Going Back to School Get?

In this section, we compare the main options side by side, with each deadline’s status as of October 22, 2026.

Pell, Rankin and Soroptimist aren’t limited to Black women, and TMCF says its scholarships are awarded without regard to race; they’re included because they fit many women going back to school. Amounts and deadlines change every year, so always confirm on each organization’s website before you apply.

What Free Money Should Black Women Apply for First?

Start with grants, because they’re the biggest source of free money and one form covers most of them. In this section, we explain why the FAFSA comes first.

Filing the FAFSA is the first step for the Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and many state and college grants. It doesn’t automatically qualify you for every grant or scholarship: some awards need a separate application, some states use their own forms, and each program has its own rules and deadlines. Many scholarships also ask for your Student Aid Index (SAI) or a financial aid offer. The 2027-28 FAFSA opened in late September 2026, so you can file now for next school year. My step-by-step FAFSA guide walks you through it.

Grants matter even more because of debt. In an analysis published in 2021, AAUW’s Deeper in Debt report found that Black women owed an average of $41,466 in undergraduate loans one year after graduating, compared with $33,851 for white women. These are 2021 figures, not 2026 averages, but the lesson holds: every dollar of grants and scholarships you find first is a dollar you don’t borrow. See how grants and loans compare.

How Much Is the Pell Grant in 2026-27?

The Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year for 2026-27, and you don’t pay it back. In this section, we cover the basics.

Traditional Pell eligibility is for undergraduates who haven’t earned a bachelor’s or professional degree, show financial need on the FAFSA and meet other federal rules. Since July 1, 2026, students in approved short workforce programs may also qualify for Workforce Pell under separate rules, even with a bachelor’s degree (but not with a graduate degree). Age alone never rules you out. Your award depends on your SAI, cost of attendance and enrollment, so not everyone gets the maximum, and part-time students usually get less. In 2019-20, 40 percent of undergraduates received a Pell Grant, according to federal NCES data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Read my Pell Grant guide for the full rules, and check your state’s grants too.

What Are the Best Scholarships for Black Women Going Back to School?

Several national organizations fund scholarships for Black students, and many are open to adults. In this section, we cover the biggest ones and how they work.

How Do UNCF Scholarships Work?

UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) is one of the largest private scholarship providers for students of color. It awards more than $62 million in scholarships a year to students at more than 600 schools, so it isn’t only for HBCU students.

Each UNCF program has its own rules, application and deadline, which you find through the UNCF scholarships page. Some programs are only for UNCF member colleges or HBCUs, while others are open to students at other accredited schools. A few are designed for students at two-year colleges or in certificate programs, which can suit women going back to school. For example, the UNCF Associates Scholars program has supported students at accredited two-year colleges or UNCF-approved certificate programs with at least a 2.25 GPA; check whether it’s open for the current cycle. Read each program’s rules, finish every part of the application, and check back often, because new programs open throughout the year.

What Is the Thurgood Marshall College Fund?

TMCF supports students at its member schools, which include public HBCUs, and at other eligible colleges. It reports awarding more than $20 million to over 2,000 students in 2023-24. TMCF says its scholarships are awarded without regard to race, so eligibility depends on each award’s school, program and other rules.

According to TMCF’s scholarship page, you create one account in the TMCF portal and complete a general application, then check your dashboard for scholarships you’ve been matched with and submit any extra materials each one asks for. You can only have one account, you may be considered for one TMCF scholarship per academic year, and most awards are one-time and competitive. Deadlines are firm, so check the open scholarships list regularly.

Can You Get a Sorority Scholarship if You’re Not a Member?

Often, yes. In this section, we explain how sorority foundations give scholarships.

• Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation (AKA EAF): offers merit and financial need scholarships for undergraduates and graduate students, and some don’t require membership (check each award). Undergraduates must be full time and at least in their second year, with a 2.5 GPA for need-based awards or 3.0 for merit awards. Deadlines and rules differ by award: the foundation’s page lists April 15 for its undergraduate merit and financial need awards and August 15 for graduate awards, with no year shown. Check the current listings for the 2027 cycle before you apply.
• Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta and The Links, Incorporated: many awards are given by local chapters, so amounts and deadlines vary by city.

How Do You Find Local Chapter Scholarships?

Search the chapter name plus your city (for example, “Delta Sigma Theta [your city] scholarship”), and ask your college’s financial aid office which local groups give awards. Local awards are worth adding to your search, but eligibility may be limited by location, school, community involvement or field of study, so check the criteria before you apply.

Which Scholarships Fit Black Women Over 35 or Supporting a Family?

These awards are open to all eligible women, not only Black women, but they fit adult learners well. In this section, we list the main ones and their full eligibility rules.

Jeannette Rankin National Scholar Grant

It is up to $3,000 a year, renewable for up to five years, for women 35 and older with financial need who are working toward vocational training or a first associate or bachelor’s degree at an accredited nonprofit school. The 2026-27 application opened October 5, 2026 and closes February 12, 2027, so it’s open now. Learn more on the Rankin Foundation site.

Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award

It is a competitive awards that start at $1,000 at the club level and can reach $16,000 in total. You must be the primary financial support for yourself and your dependents, show financial need, and be enrolled in or accepted to a vocational or skills training program or an undergraduate degree; other rules apply, so read the full eligibility list first. Applications run August 1 to November 15, so the 2026 window is still open.

UNCF two-year and certificate awards

Some UNCF programs target students at two-year colleges or in certificate programs. Check the list for one that matches your school.

For more ideas, see my guides to grants for women over 40 and the best scholarship websites.

Which Scholarships Help Black Women in Nursing, Healthcare and Business?

Many professional associations give scholarships to Black women in their field. In this section, we cover a few to start with.

• National Black Nurses Association (NBNA): you must be an NBNA member (membership has a cost) enrolled in an LPN, ADN, BSN, master’s or doctoral nursing program, with at least one full school year left. NBNA says its scholarships “start at $1,000”, and amounts vary. When we checked on October 22, 2026, NBNA’s page still showed the 2025-26 cycle, with a deadline of March 15, 2026 (one line on the page also shows an older 2025 date), and the next cycle wasn’t posted. Confirm the current dates with NBNA before you apply.
• NURSE Corps Scholarship Program: pays tuition, eligible fees and a monthly stipend for nursing students, in return for working at an eligible health facility with a critical nurse shortage after you graduate.
• National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship: supports students in certain primary care fields in return for working at an approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area for at least two years (up to four, depending on support).
• Business and STEM groups: the National Black MBA Association and the National Society of Black Engineers also offer scholarships. Check each group’s site for eligibility, amounts and dates.

NURSE Corps and NHSC are service contracts, not just free money, so read the contract carefully and check HRSA’s website for the next cycle.

If you’re choosing a healthcare path, read my guide to healthcare grants for women and see which certificate programs lead to jobs fastest.

“Don’t wait for the perfect scholarship. Add local awards to your list too, as long as you fit the rules. Five $1,000 awards add up just like one big one.”

Elera Rowan, founder of Elera Rowan

Do Scholarships for Black Students Really Go Unclaimed?

You may have seen claims that huge amounts of scholarship money for Black students go unclaimed each year. In this section, we explain what’s true.

There’s no official source that tracks unclaimed private scholarships, so treat big numbers with care. What is certain is that federal grants like Pell only reach students who file the FAFSA. Read more about unclaimed Pell Grants. The practical takeaway: file the FAFSA every year and include smaller and local awards you qualify for, not just the famous ones.

Which Scholarships Should You Check First?

The right starting point depends on your situation. In this section, we match common situations to the awards to check first.

• Need-based aid: file the FAFSA and review your school’s financial aid offer.
• Scholarships for Black students: search UNCF and individual awards that match your college and program.
• Age 35 or older: check the Rankin grant if you meet its education, financial need and school rules.
• Supporting your family: read Soroptimist’s full eligibility rules before you start.
• Studying nursing: check NBNA’s current application and membership rules.
• Open to a service contract: compare NURSE Corps and NHSC, including the work commitment.

How Do You Apply for Scholarships as a Black Woman Going Back to School?

A simple plan helps you apply to more awards in less time. In this section, we give you the steps.

1. File the 2027-28 FAFSA now, so you’re considered for Pell and state grants first.
2. Get your documents ready: transcripts, your FAFSA summary and a short personal story. Here’s how to get your transcripts.
3. Apply to the open awards now: Soroptimist (by November 15, 2026) and the Rankin grant (by February 12, 2027).
4. Set up your UNCF and TMCF accounts and check them every month for new awards.
5. Ask your college and local groups: financial aid offices, churches, sorority chapters and community foundations.
6. Track every deadline in one list with each award’s essay, reference and document needs, and adapt your essay to each award’s instructions.

Not sure what to say when you call a scholarship office? Use these call scripts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships for Black Women

In this section, we answer the questions women search most about scholarships and grants for Black women going back to school.

Are There Grants Specifically for Black Women?

Most grants, like Pell and state grants, are based on financial need, not race, and start with the FAFSA. Scholarships from groups like UNCF and sorority foundations are where most awards for Black students are. Many Black women combine both.

What Are the Best Scholarships for Black Women Going Back to School?

Good places to start are UNCF, the AKA Educational Advancement Foundation and NBNA for nurses. TMCF and adult-friendly awards like the Jeannette Rankin grant and Soroptimist Live Your Dream are open to eligible students of any race. Local awards are worth checking as well.

Are There Scholarships for Black Women Over 40?

Yes. Many scholarships don’t set an upper age limit, though rules vary, and the Jeannette Rankin grant is only for women 35 and older. Soroptimist Live Your Dream is also popular with older students who support their families. See more scholarships for adults over 40.

Do I Have to Attend an HBCU to Get a UNCF Scholarship?

No. Some UNCF scholarships are only for member colleges or HBCUs, but others are open to students at other accredited schools. Read each program’s rules before you apply.

Can Black Women Get Scholarships for Graduate School?

Yes. AKA EAF has graduate merit and financial need scholarships, NBNA covers master’s and doctoral nursing students, and many professional groups fund graduate study. Pell Grants generally don’t cover graduate study, so graduate students rely more on scholarships, school aid and loans.

Are There Scholarships for Black Moms Going Back to School?

Yes. Soroptimist Live Your Dream is for women who are the primary financial support for their families, and many single moms qualify for Pell and state grants. My single moms guide has more options.

Do Scholarships Require Full-Time Enrollment?

Some do and some don’t. AKA EAF requires full-time enrollment, while many other awards and the Pell Grant allow part-time students. Check the rules for each award.

Can I Get Scholarships if I Already Have Some College Credits?

Yes. Many scholarships welcome returning and transfer students, but check each award’s rules on transfer students and class year. Request your transcripts early so your old credits count.

Do Scholarships Affect My Pell Grant?

Scholarships can affect your overall aid package, but not every scholarship reduces your Pell Grant. For 2026-27, a federal rule generally makes students ineligible for Pell if non-federal grants and scholarships equal or exceed their full cost of attendance, with limited exceptions. Tell your financial aid office about every award so it can apply the rules. Learn more about Pell vs scholarships.

Where Can I Get Help Applying for Scholarships?

Your college’s financial aid office can help with grants and school awards. For step-by-step help and deadline reminders from women who’ve done it, join the Elera Rowan Community. It’s free to join right now.

What Should You Do Next?

Black women going back to school may qualify for more aid than they expect, and applying early gives you the most options. In this section, we give you three simple next steps.

1. File your 2027-28 FAFSA so you’re considered for Pell and state grants.
2. Run the free asset scan if you have savings: check my assets free.
3. Join the Elera Rowan Community while it’s free, so you have deadline reminders and community support: join the community free.

For the full list of options, see my guide to grants for women going back to school. Amounts and deadlines change every year, so always confirm the details on each organization’s official website before you apply.

For more options, read my guide to Hispanic scholarships for women going back to school.