Scholarships for Underrepresented Students
Our office supports students from all backgrounds. This page offers information on scholarship opportunities for non-traditional and underrepresented students. We have highlighted a few scholarships and fellowships below, but there are more to be found on the various resources listed below. Additionally, be sure to also check out our database, which includes over 80 scholarships and fellowships.
Featured Scholarships and Fellowships
Summer Health Professions Education Program
Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) is a free summer program for students to explore their interests in medicine, dentistry, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, public health, and more. The program takes place at our 12 partner institutions and offers students a chance to develop competencies for becoming successful applicants to health profession programs, plan academic journeys, get clinical exposure, and network.
Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers
The Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) addresses the lack of diversity in the nation’s teaching faculties by recruiting outstanding students of color and other scholars committed to diversity, counseling them through the graduate school application process, and advocating for sufficient funding for advanced study. IRT graduates have enjoyed remarkable success securing jobs as K-12 teachers, counselors and principals, as well as professors, university administrators and leaders.
Leadership Alliance
The Leadership Alliance started as a partnership of 23 institutions that came together in 1992 to develop underrepresented students into outstanding leaders and role models in academia, business and the public sector. Today, this consortium has grown to more than 30 institutions and private industry who have provided research and networking experiences to over 4,000 young scholars. A variety of programs (summer, symposiums, etc.) are available for application.
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Every year, The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans supports thirty New Americans, immigrants or the children of immigrants, who are pursuing graduate school in the United States. Each Fellowship supports one to two years of graduate study in any field and in any advanced degree-granting program in the United States. Each award is for up to $25,000 in stipend support (not to exceed $40,000), as well as 50 percent of required tuition and fees, up to $20,000 per year, for one to two years. The first year of Fellowship funding cannot be deferred.
PPIA (Public Policy and International Affairs Program)
The Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) is a not-for-profit organization that has been supporting efforts to increase diversity in graduate studies in public policy and international affairs, and public service for over 40 years. Each year, PPIA seeks out high-potential undergraduate students from universities across the country to participate in an intensive seven-week Junior Summer Institute (JSI) before their senior year. During their program, fellows are equipped with the knowledge and skills
APIA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The APIA Scholarship is our largest scholarship program, open to Asian American and Asian American Native Pacific Islander undergraduate students attending any U.S. accredited university or college. Scholarship amounts range from $2,500 one-year awards to $20,000 multi-year awards. APIA Scholars has a special focus on supporting AANHPI students who live at or below the poverty line; are in the first generation of their family to attend college; are representative of the APIA community’s diversity, (geographically and ethnically}, especially those ethnicities that have been underrepresented on college campuses due to limited access and opportunity. Strong applicants would also have an emphasis on community service and leadership.
Other Resources
Non-US Citizen Opportunities
This document provides a list of opportunities available to Non-US Citizens. Specific citizenship or nationality requirements are highlighted in pink. For example, some scholarships are for specific nationalities while others require eligibility to work in the US.
Harvard's Act on a Dream Scholarship Search
The Act on a Dream program believes that every student has the right to pursue higher education, regardless of their immigration status. To help in this endeavor, they have a database which lists opportunities for undocumented students. It may also be useful for international students. This database lists scholarships available for undocumented students, but may also be useful for other international students.
Diversity and Inclusion of Underrepresented Populations in Fellowships
This fellowship database, hosted by Florida State University, lists scholarships and fellowships for minority/underrepresented students. You can search within the following categories: Minority Racial / Ethnic Backgrounds, LGBTQ+, Women, Ability, Veterans, Non-Traditional Family Backgrounds, and Citizenship and Nationality.
EduMed Scholarships and Resources for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
This online guide showcases 20 scholarship opportunities (including many in the healthcare field) that can make all the difference in affording college. EduMed has also provided a list of valuable academic and career resources that Asian American and Pacific Islander students can use to maximize their success during and after college.
EduMed Accessing the American Dream: Pursuing College as an Undocumented Student
This guide provides key resources and strategies undocumented students can use to to overcome roadblocks that can make attending and affording college more challenging.
Dear Future Colleague
This resource matches historically underrepresented students with peer mentors to assist in their application process for nationally competitive awards and applications to law school. The mission of DFC is "to journey alongside our peers today, with the hope that our futures will be intertwined as professional colleagues."