Support for College: Scholarships & Resources for LGBTQIA+ Students
Paying for college can be challenging for all students, but it’s particularly burdensome for people in the LGBTQIA+ community. You may feel the need to turn to student loans, but there are many scholarship opportunities available to help you pay for college and keep yourself out of debt. To help you get started, this guide features some of the top scholarships for which you may qualify and application tips to help you land them.
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Scholarships and Grants for LGBTQIA+ Students
Finding ways to pay for college can be challenging for students in the LGBTQ+ community. Research by the Williams Institute at UCLA found that 35% of LGBTQ people between 18 and 40 have federal student loans, compared to 23% of their non-LGBTQ peers.
Compared to student loans, scholarships are one of the best ways to cover school expenses since they don’t have to be paid back. While some scholarships are awarded based on financial need, the eligibility criteria may also include academic achievements and community service. Below is our list of top scholarships and opportunities for LGBTQ+ students.
LGBTQ+ STEM Scholarship
Each year, study.com awards a scholarship to a LGBTQ+ student, with a mission to make earning a college degree more accessible for students. LGBTQ+ students who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree and have been accepted to an accredited institution in the US are eligible to apply.
Amount: $1,000
Out to Innovate Scholarship
Out to Innovate awards scholarships to LGBTQ+ students pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). The mission of this scholarship is to honor students who support a creative educational community and encourage diversity in the STEM workforce. Students who apply must have a declared STEM major and a minimum 2.75 GPA.
Amount: $2,000
Women in Medicine LGBTQ+ Leadership Scholarship
This group aims to help women elevate their journey to medical school in an inclusive educational environment. It offers two annual scholarships to support female and gender-expansive medical students enrolled in medical school in the US or Canada. Applicants must show they have actively contributed their leadership in the LGBTQ community.
Amount: $5,000
Live Out Loud Young Trailblazers Scholarship
The Young Trailblazers Scholarship from Live Out Loud, a non-profit for teens, provides financial support to LGBTQ+ students with financial needs. This scholarship can be used to cover any funds related to education expenses at an accredited institution. The Young Trailblazers Scholarship is specifically for LGBTQ+ students who are New York state residents.
Amount: $5,000
Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award
This scholarship is presented by The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists to honor the work of Leroy F. Aarons. The scholarship is for students who are pursuing a career in journalism and are committed to fair and accurate coverage of LGBTQ+ issues. Current graduate or undergraduate students are eligible.
Amount: $5,000
Gamma Mu Scholarship Program
The Gamma Mu Foundation aims to make a positive difference in the lives of the LGBTQ+ community and accomplish this in part through grants and scholarships. The Gamma Mu Scholarship is specifically for gay men under 35 with priority given to men who have overcome discrimination and are first-generation college students.
Amount: $2,500-$5,000
Tang Scholarship
Asian or Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ students qualify for this award from The Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The goal of the scholarship — named for its benefactor, Edward C. Tang — is to help LGBTQ+ students achieve their educational pursuits and dreams without shame. Students must be high school graduates in specific Bay Area counties in California.
Amount: Up to $15,000
Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship
The Stonewall Community Foundation offers many scholarships for students, including the Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship. This scholarship was created to encourage and support lesbians in their pursuit of a college degree. The Traub-Dicker scholarship doesn’t have any GPA requirement, and students must plan to attend a US college or university to qualify.
Amount: $4,000
National Rainbow College Fund Scholarship
The National Rainbow College Fund Scholarship is for LGBTQ+ students who live in California and have a demonstrated financial need. This scholarship can be used for education-related expenses including tuition, books, or fees. The goal of the National Rainbow College Fund Scholarship is to transform the lives of LGBTQ+ students.
Amount: $2,500
Prism Foundation Scholarships
The Prism Foundation provides scholarships with the goal of empowering outstanding students who make a positive impact on Asian/Pacific Islander and LGBTQ+ communities. The scholarship is for students who are attending a college, university, or trade school and have been active within the API or LGBTQ+ communities.
Amount: $1,000-$5,000
The Keys to Landing Your Scholarship
Now that you know some of the scholarships out there, it’s time to come up with a strategy to make your application stand out. Similar to when you submitted a stellar application to get into college, applying for scholarships requires some diligence. To help you stand out, here’s some advice to earn your scholarship.
Key #1: Do Your Research
Finding out about the organization issuing a scholarship is just as important as learning about the scholarship itself. The more you know, the more opportunities you have to illustrate why you’re the right choice. Many organizations prioritize students who have done community work in certain areas, so always find out the mission of the organization before applying.
Key #2: Follow Directions
After filling out multiple college applications, you may feel like an expert — but don’t rush through any scholarship forms. Not following the directions on a scholarship application or leaving something out can actually disqualify you from receiving an award. Don’t let minor errors get in the way of securing college funding.
Key #3: Apply for Smaller Scholarships
Obviously, bigger awards are the most attractive since they cover a lot of your college expenses, but don’t overlook smaller scholarships for which you might qualify. Smaller scholarships often have fewer applicants, so winning them may be easier. And, at the end of the day, those smaller amounts can really add up.
Key #4: Apply Early
Working on your scholarship applications early can help alleviate stress and ensure you’ve included everything you need. Even if a scholarship has no set deadline and applications are evaluated on a rolling basis, it’s a good idea to get yours in as soon as you can while still ensuring it’s complete and accurate.
Key #5: Highlight Your Strengths
Even if you’re applying to a scholarship specifically for students in the LGBTQ+ community, highlighting your academic or leadership strengths will demonstrate why you’re the best candidate. Many of the scholarships on our list prioritize students who have helped the LGBTQ+ community, so be sure to detail that work on your application.
Essential Funding Resources for LGBTQIA+ Students
While scholarships are an excellent way to help fund your education, there’s more to financially preparing for school than applying for scholarships. From paying for textbooks to creating a budget, there are many things you should consider before starting your college journey. We’ve outlined some of the best financial resources for LGBTQ+ students below.
Top Scholarships for Students of Medical & Health Programs
Even though choosing scholarships specifically for the LGBTQ+ community may increase your chances of getting one, you don’t have to limit yourself. This guide from EduMed shows the top scholarships for healthcare students.
Burden of LGBTQ Student Loan Debt
People in the LGBTQ+ community take on more student loan debt than other individuals. This article discusses the burden of student loan debt for this community and provides resources for finding funding.
Chegg
Every student knows that tuition isn’t the only expense when it comes to earning your college education. Chegg is a great way to save money, since you can buy used textbooks and rent textbooks at a lower cost.
How to Lower Student Loan Payments
This episode of the Queer Money Podcast tackles several ways to lower student loan payments. While this can be a great resource for those close to graduation, it’s also beneficial for younger students to know.
LGBTQ+ Financial Planning Guide
Nerdwallet is a trusted source for personal finance tips and advice. This guide discusses the unique financial and legal challenges people in the LGBTQ+ community face and how you can navigate them.
Paying for College as an LGBTQ+ Student
Investopedia is another trusted financial source with plenty of tools to help you. This guide details the options that LGBTQ+ students have regarding paying for school and tackling student loan debt after graduation.
The Essential FAFSA Checklist for College Students
Federal financial aid is another way to pay for your education. To see if you qualify, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and this checklist can help you get started.
