Scholarships for September at UNCF

Check out these UNCF scholarships and internships currently open for applications, and complete your application before the deadlines. Look at some of the opportunities UNCF offers high school and college students that can help you get to and through college. Visit UNCF.org/Scholarships any time to see what’s open.

Remember: Complete all steps for the applications!
You will not be considered for a scholarship, internship or program until you submit all the information and essays the application requires.

2026-2027 Lincoln Financial Scholars Program
The Lincoln Financial Scholars program provides college students with professional development and scholarship assistance to help prepare them for internships and early career opportunities. Each eligible student will be awarded a one-time, scholarship award of up to $3,000. Closes Sept. 1.

2026-2027 MCTS Legacy Scholarship Program
The Mobile County Training School (MCTS) Legacy Scholarship Program will provide 10 need-based scholarships of up to $3,500 to attendees and/or descendants of individuals who attended the Mobile County Training School. Closes Sept. 1.

2026-2027 Lowe’s Trailblazer Scholarship
The UNCF Lowe’s Trailblazer Scholarship is your chance to level up! This one-time, need-based scholarship awards up to $4,250 to selected students at HBCUs in North Carolina. This opportunity is available for students who will be rising juniors in the Fall of 2026 and are graduating in December 2027 or May of 2028 from a listed accredited UNCF-Member institution in the state of North Carolina or HBCU in the state of North Carolina. Closes Sept. 2.

2026-2027 Stephen Francis McNally Scholarship Fund
The Stephen Francis McNally scholarship is designed to provide recurring, need based scholarships to help students whose individual circumstances make completion of college seem impossible. Applicants must be undergraduate students currently enrolled full-time at any UNCF-Member institution or accredited HBCU. Closes Sept. 4.

2026-2027 The Ford Philanthropy Scholarship Program
The Ford Philanthropy Scholarship Program is open to junior or senior undergraduate students enrolled full-time and attending any UNCF-Member Institution accredited HBCU majoring in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Data Science. Closes Sept. 4.

2026-2027 WE Communications Scholarship
Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, Inc.’s very generous “WE Communications Scholarship” is a need-based program that will fund students who are permanent residents of the states of Washington and Oregon who are enrolled at any accredited four-year college or university in the U.S. during the 2026-2027 school year. Eligible candidates must be interested in pursing a career in Communications. Closes Sept. 5.

2026-2027 Catherine W. Pierce Scholarship
The Catherine W. Pierce Scholarship was established to support students who are majoring in disciplines within the Arts. Mrs. Pierce had a great interest in helping deserving students who are pursuing disciplines within The Arts and Art History (excluding performing Arts). The award amount is up to $3,400.00 for the 2026-2027 school year. Eligible applicants must be enrolled full-time at any U.S. accredited 4-year institution for the 2026-2027 and pursuing a degree in Art, Art History or Art Studies. Closes Sept. 10.

2026-2027 Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Scholarship
To honor and commemorate the 2018 bicentennial of the birth of Frederick Douglass, a scholarship program was established in support of students attending accredited historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States. The program awards two (2) $10,000 scholarships each year to exceptional HBCU seniors (one female and one male) who have demonstrated high academic achievement, strong leadership skills, commitment to community service and unmet financial need. Closes Sept. 10.

2026-2027 Gayle & Tom Benson Endowed UNCF Scholarship Fund
The Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation is providing need-based scholarships up to $5,000 to students enrolled full-time at any accredited four-year institution. The Gayle & Tom Benson Endowed UNCF Scholarship is only for residents of the state of Louisiana. Closes Sept. 11.

2026-2027 Quilt Scholarship Program
Quilt Endowed Scholarship Program was established by Bowie and Helen Duncan in partnership with UNCF to provide a one-time, need-based scholarship to students pursuing major in the field of Education. Selected recipients will receive a one-time, need-based scholarship award in Fall 2026. Closes Sept. 14.

2026-2027 International Association of Minister’s Wives & Widows- Scholarship Program
The Minister’s Wives and Widows-UNCF Scholarship Program was established by The International Association of Minister’s Wives and Minister’s Widows to provide a one-time, need-based scholarship to deserving students enrolled full-time at an accredited four-year HBCU in the U.S. Closes Sept. 16.

2026-2027 AT&T/ The NETwork BICP – Lewis Latimer Scholarship
AT&T / The NETwork BICP – Lewis Latimer Scholarship is directed towards candidates in the targeted STEAM fields at any accredited four-year college or university or historically Black college and university (HBCU) during the 2026-27 year. This program seeks to encourage students to pursue a career within one of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) related disciplines) fields. The selected recipients will receive a one-time need-based award up to $2,000. Closes Sept. 21.

2026-2027 Michael Jackson Scholarship
The Michael Jackson Endowed Scholarship is open to students at UNCF member institutions who are Communications and Performing Arts Majors during the 2026-27 school year. The scholarship will provide an award up to $4,000 depending on the financial need of the student as determined by the Financial Aid Administrator of University or College that the selected student attends. Closes Sept. 30.

2026-2027 Wm. Wrigley Foundation Scholarship
The William Wrigley Foundation Scholarship is designated for students at UNCF member schools majoring in Chemistry, Economics, Engineering (chemical, mechanical or industrial), Marketing, Finance, Business, Accounting, Computer Science. The scholarship will provide a one-time award up to $5,000 depending on the financial need of the student as verified by the attending University or College. Closes Sept. 30.

Get a head start on these opportunities

2026-2027 Stephen K. Keiser STEM Scholarship
The Stephen K. Keiser STEM Scholarship is open to current college juniors or seniors majoring in STEM or STEM-related degree programs at a UNCF Member Institution or accredited HBCU based in the U.S. Preference will be given to students enrolled at any accredited UNCF Member Institution. Closes Oct. 7.