There are many low-income students in America who think that, due to their financial situation, college is simply a pipe dream. However, Thomas Jefferson wrote “…that the children of the poor must be thus educated at common expense” over 100 years ago and Americans businesses and organizations still take this to heart. There are national scholarships set aside specifically to give children of low income families a chance to gain an education.
One of the biggest boasts to education was the Gates Millennium scholarships set up by Bill and Melinda Gates. These are aimed at helping low-income students – particularly those of African American, Hispanic American, Native American/Alaskan Native, and Asian Pacific Islander American descent – achieve their educational dreams. These are primarily undergraduate scholarships, but students who complete their degree and wish to further their education may ask for assistance to graduate school as well, if they plan to major in one of the following fields: Education, Engineering, Library Science, Mathematics, Public Health or Science.
To be eligible for a Gates Millennium scholarship, the student must be a U.S. citizen, have a 3.3 grade point average (on a scale of 4.0), be planning to enter an accredited U.S. college full-time, meet Federal Pell Grant eligibility (to determine need), and show leadership abilities through involvement in extracurricular activities.
Another place offering scholarships to low income students is Google. Their Google Scholarship Fund helps both undergraduate and graduate Hispanic students wishing to obtain a degree in either Computer Science or Computer Engineering. Students wishing to apply for this scholarship must be a U.S. citizen, must be a full-time student in their junior or senior year in college, and maintain a 3.5 grade point average.
Abercrombie & Fitch, in conjunction with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), has set aside supplemental scholarships for African American students of low income families. This scholarship award is $3,000 and is for first year students enrolled at a four year, accredited college. It can be awarded annually to qualifying students for up to four years.
Another supplemental scholarship is the Unmet Need Scholarship Program offered by Sallie Mae. Like the Abercrombie & Fitch scholarship, this is meant to fill a small amount of tuition not covered by other scholarships, loans, and grants. The award range is $1,000 to $3,800 and is available for students of families with a combined income of less than $30,000. Students wishing to apply must be U.S. citizens, enrolled full-time at an accredited institution, and have at least a 2.5 grade point average.
Students attending law or medical school can also receive low income scholarships. The American Bar Association offers a scholarship called the Legal Opportunity Scholarship fund to students attending an ABA accredited law school. Students must report their family income to make sure the students with the greatest need are awarded the scholarships.
Medical students may apply for the National Medial Fellowships Need Based Scholarship Program. This scholarship is available to first and second year medical students who can demonstrate a need. They must submit both their income, that of their parents, and that of their spouse (if married). The scholarship ranges from $500 up to $10,000 depending on need.
