The Archive
Scholarships and Funding
Money is one of the biggest walls between students and science. These are real programs, picked because they actually show up for students of color and students who are paying their own way.
Last checked October 2026 · Deadlines change every year, so always confirm on the official page
Chemistry and STEM
Money and recognition for students headed into science.
American Chemical Society
ACS Scholars Program
Who: Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian students studying chemistry or a chemistry-related field, with financial need and a 3.0+ GPA.
What: Renewable scholarships of up to $5,000 a year, plus ACS mentoring.
When: Deadlines shift year to year, so check the page.
Official page
Barry Goldwater Scholarship Foundation
Goldwater Scholarship
Who: Sophomores and juniors planning research careers in the natural sciences, math, or engineering.
What: One of the biggest undergraduate science awards. You apply through your campus, which nominates you.
When: Opens in early September. The national deadline is the last Friday in January, and campus deadlines come earlier.
Official page
National Institutes of Health
NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program
Who: Students with exceptional financial need (certified by your financial aid office) and a 3.3+ GPA or top 5% of their class.
What: Up to $20,000 a year for school and living costs, plus paid summer research at NIH.
When: Check the page for the current cycle.
Official page
NOBCChE
NOBCChE National Conference Travel Grant
Who: Full-time students attending the NOBCChE National Conference.
What: Covers conference registration and your hotel. The conference itself is one of the best rooms you can be in as a Black chemist!
Official page
By community
Scholarships built for students of color and students from communities school wasn't built for.
United Negro College Fund
UNCF Scholarships
Who: Mostly Black students, with lots of programs. Each one has its own rules.
What: One portal, many scholarships, including STEM ones.
Official page
TMCF
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Who: Students at TMCF member schools, including public HBCUs.
What: Fill out one general application and the portal matches you to the scholarships you qualify for.
Official page
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
HSF Scholarship
Who: Hispanic students who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients, with a 2.5+ GPA in college.
What: $500 to $5,000, based on need. You'll need your FAFSA done.
When: The 2026 cycle ran January 5 to February 15, so expect early in the year.
Official page
American Indian Science and Engineering Society
AISES Scholarships
Who: Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and First Nations students in STEM. AISES membership is free for students.
What: Several scholarships from $1,000 to $5,000+, including ones open to any STEM major.
When: Opens December 15 and closes April 30.
Official page
Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund
APIA Scholars
Who: Asian American and Pacific Islander students.
What: Scholarships plus leadership support. Sign up on their site to get notified when it opens.
Official page
U.S. Department of State
Gilman Scholarship
Who: Undergrads with high financial need who want to study or intern abroad.
What: Makes going abroad possible for students who usually get left out of it.
When: The fall 2026 round closed October 1. Watch for the next round.
Official page
Paid summer research
Get paid to do research for a summer. These count, and they look great on grad school applications!
The Leadership Alliance
Leadership Alliance SR-EIP
Who: Undergrads with a 3.0+ GPA who are interested in a PhD or MD-PhD and have finished at least two semesters.
What: 8 to 10 weeks of research at a partner university, with a stipend, travel, and housing covered.
When: Applications are usually due in early February.
Official page
Amgen Foundation
Amgen Scholars
Who: U.S. undergrads interested in science and biotech research.
What: A paid summer in a lab at a top research university, plus seminars and a symposium.
When: U.S. applications for summer 2027 open November 1.
Official page
If you're at UNC Chapel Hill
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