There is a difference between grants and scholarships. Scholarships are usually merit based and may be awarded for things such as academic ability, athletic ability, or GPA. Grants are need based and a family’s financial situation is usually taken into consideration. As stated under the “Scholarships” tab on this site, if you are a college student or prospective college student then I strongly suggest that you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA). Filling out the FAFSA helps to determine a student’s eligibility for need-based federal financial aid for college. This financial aid can come in the form of grants, scholarships, work-study or loans, all of which have the potential to help pay for college.
Applying for both State and Federal Grants
I will also suggest applying for grants through the Department of Education’s website which offers both, state and federal government grants. Grants can also be received through your college, career school, or a private or nonprofit organization. Many of the organizations that I highlighted under the “Scholarships” tab on this site will also provide grant opportunities.
Federal Grants Reservered for Minority Serving Institutions
Listed below are a few federal government grants for minority serving institutions that can be applied to STEM curriculum’s. This can be helpful for individuals that are looking for specific grants for their institution. It can also be helpful for prospective students that wish to attend institutions that are actively applying for these grants or may have received rewards in the past. Also listed below are a few prominent minority serving private organizations that also offer grant opportunities.
American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities – Title III Part A and Part F Programs: This program helps eligible institutions of higher education increase their self-sufficiency by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability of eligible institutions.
Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program: This program provides grants and related assistance to Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders and low-income individuals.
Career and Technical Education – Grants to Native Americans and Alaska Natives: NACTEP provides grants to federally recognized Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Alaska Native entities and eligible BIE-funded schools to improve career and technical education programs that are consistent with the purposes of the Perkins Act and that benefit Native Americans and Alaskan Natives.
Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program – Title V: The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program provides grants to assist HSIs to expand educational opportunities for, and improve the attainment of, Hispanic students. These grants also enable HSIs to expand and enhance their academic offerings, program quality, and institutional stability.
Hispanic-Serving Institutions – Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics and Articulation Programs: The purpose of the Hispanic-Serving Institutions – Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (HSI STEM) and Articulation Programs is to: (1) increase the number of Hispanic and other low-income students attaining degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; and (2) to develop model transfer and articulation agreements between two-year and four-year institutions in such fields.
Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program: The goal of the program is to provide low-cost capital to finance improvements to the infrastructure of the nation’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Specifically, the program provides HBCUs with access to capital financing or refinancing for the repair, renovation, and construction of classrooms, libraries, laboratories, dormitories, instructional equipment, and research instrumentation. The program’s authorizing statute caps the total amount of loans and accrued interest available through the program at $1.1 billion. However, the program can exceed $1.1 billion if Congress provides for the program to do so in an appropriation bill.
Indian Education Professional Development Grants: The program is designed to prepare and train Indians to serve as teachers and school administrators. Professional development grants are awarded to: increase the number of qualified individuals in professions that serve American Indians; provide training to qualified American Indians to become teachers, administrators, teacher aides, social workers, and ancillary education personnel; and improve the skills of those qualified American Indians who already serve in these capacities. Individuals trained under this program must perform work related to their training and that benefits Indian people or repay the assistance received.
Master’s Degree Programs at Predominantly Black Institutions: With the enactment of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008, five Predominantly Black Institutions are eligible to receive funding to improve graduate education opportunities at the master’s level in mathematics, engineering, physical or natural sciences, computer science, information technology, nursing, allied health or other scientific disciplines where African American students are underrepresented.
Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program: This program assists predominantly minority institutions in effecting long-range improvement in science and engineering education programs and increasing the flow of underrepresented ethnic minorities, particularly minority women, into science and engineering careers.
Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program: This program provides grants and related assistance to Native American-serving, nontribal institutions to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals.
OCTAE: The programs and grants managed by the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education support a wide range of activities that help prepare young people and adults for further education and successful careers. These investments total approximately $1.9 billion annually.
Predominantly Black Institutions Program – Competitive Grants: The purpose of the Predominantly Black Institutions Competitive Grant Program is to support Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) to establish or strengthen programs in STEM and other areas.
Title III Part A Programs – Strengthening Institution: The program helps eligible IHEs to become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability of eligible institutions.
Title III Part B, Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program: Title III-B authorizes the Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) program award grants to eligible institutions to assist them in strengthening their academic, administrative, and fiscal capabilities.
Upward Bound Math-Science: The Upward Bound Math and Science program is designed to strengthen the math and science skills of participating students. The goal of the program is to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel in math and science and to encourage them to pursue post secondary degrees in math and science, and ultimately careers in the math and science profession.
Private Organizations
Association on American-Indian Affairs
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
