Focus on the terms and conditions of each scholarship. Many scholarships have additional requirements aside from being of African descent. These include academic, gender, and industry-specific standards that must be met for award eligibility. For example, a scholarship could require you to be an African-American female with at least a 2.5 grade point average and who's currently enrolled in an art history program. Consider tailoring your academic focus to get the full benefit from the available scholarships.
Locate applicable internal funding options. Your school may have access to internal funding sources that supply African-American scholarships. Alumni associations and community partnerships are examples of these sources. While it's well publicized that historically black institutions such as Howard University and Morehouse College offer scholarships, don't overlook funding possibilities at other universities.
Search the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) for scholarship options. This organization supplies scholarship funding to historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) and also awards individual scholarships to African-American students. Fill out a general scholarship application at the UNCF website if you are enrolled at a school supported by the UNCF to receive additional support and consideration.
Find applicable scholarships offered by both private and public institutions. Many organizations such as the American Red Cross and Coca-Cola offer scholarship assistance to African-American college students. Asking about funding can lead to the discovery of "hidden" scholarship opportunities. For example, contacting your current employer or civic group about assistance could lead to needed aid. Other organizations such as the Black Alliance for Educational Options provide listings of African-American scholarship sources.
Search for industry specific scholarships. These types of scholarships vary in frequency, amount and eligibility requirements. For example, the National Association of Black Journalists offers assistance to prospective black journalists, while the HP Scholars Programs supports African-American engineering students. Visit your financial aid office for a list of applicable scholarship opportunities.