The Global Scholarship Handbook: Your Guide to Funding International Education

Scholarship distribution exhibits notable disparities across different racial and ethnic groups. While a significant percentage of Black students (88%) and American Indian/Alaska Native students (87%) receive grants, compared to White (74%) and Asian (66%) students, the average amount of grant aid can vary. Asian students, for instance, tend to receive a higher average annual amount of grant aid ($13, 840) than other groups.
Merit-based scholarships are often disproportionately awarded to White and Asian students, raising questions about fairness in resource allocation. Conversely, Black and Hispanic students frequently receive fewer merit-based awards, highlighting an ongoing disparity. Efforts are being made to address these inequities through specific programs designed to encourage applications from students of color and women in STEM fields, and educational campaigns to raise awareness about available scholarships.
Overall, only about 12.5% of college students receive any form of scholarship. The competitive nature of these awards means that most scholarship recipients receive less than $2, 500, with only a very small percentage qualifying for larger scholarships or full-ride scholarships. While White students may have a higher success rate in securing scholarships, a significant portion of need-based aid is distributed to minority students.
Many scholarships specifically target students based on their racial or ethnic background, aiming to promote diversity and provide financial assistance to underrepresented groups in higher education.