It is important to celebrate your family’s heritage and culture. The good news is that many organizations want to celebrate this, too!  We rounded up eight different scholarships that aim to honor cultural backgrounds and ethnicities. Prizes top out at $5,000. Find all the details on these scholarships below. 

Mark A. Jefferson Teaching Scholarship

How to Apply: Complete the online application, including an essay of 400–600 words that explains how you plan to make a positive impact on the world through your career as an educator.
Eligibility: Open to African American male students who are aspiring educators with a minimum 2.8 GPA
Amount: One winner of $1,393 and one winner of $1,392
Deadline: January 14, 2026
Website: https://bold.org/scholarships/mark-jefferson-teaching-scholarship/

Mohamed Magdi Taha Memorial Scholarship

How to Apply: Complete the online application, including an essay of 400–600 words that explains what you plan to do with your voice to help build your own community.
Eligibility: Open to Black undergraduate students who are interested in studying STEM or the arts
Amount: $2,600
Deadline: February 1, 2026
Website: https://bold.org/scholarships/mohamed-magdi-taha-memorial-scholarship/

HSF Scholar Program

How to Apply: Complete the online application, including letters of recommendation and an essay that reflects your personal experiences and goals.
Eligibility: Open to students planning to enroll full-time at an eligible school/university who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents (or DACA) that identify as being of Hispanic heritage; must also submit the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms
Amount: Awards range from $500 to $5,000
Deadline: February 15, 2026
Website: https://www.hsf.net/scholarship

Catching the Dream Scholarship

How to Apply: Complete the application, including proof of your American Indian tribe affiliation, three letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, official transcripts, and a 5-page essay explaining your goals in life, college plans, and career plans.
Eligibility: Must be a Native American Indian student who is ¼ or more degree American Indian and an enrolled member of a U.S. tribe, attending a college or university on a full-time basis seeking a BA or higher, with financial need demonstrated
Amount: Awards of $500 to $5,000 per year
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Website: https://catchingthedream.org/

SWNAF Scholarship

How to Apply: Complete the online application, including proof of tribal enrollment, your transcript, a recommendation letter, and a 2–5-page essay about your background, your personal and educational journeys, your future goals in education, and your plans for life after earning your degree.
Eligibility: Must be a college-bound high school senior and an enrolled member of a U.S. Federally Recognized American Indian Tribe or a lineal descendant
Amount: Varies
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Website: https://swnaf.org/apply-for-a-scholarship.html  

Friends of Hubbell Native American Scholarship

How to Apply: Write a one-page essay describing your educational and career goals and how they relate to the Navajo, Hopi, Acoma, Laguna, Zuni, or Southern Ute Nation, and include a certificate of enrollment from your educational institution, a transcript, and your tribal enrollment certificate.
Eligibility: Must be enrolled in a four-year college, university, or graduate program, entering your junior/senior year or graduate program in fall semester 2026 or spring semester 2027, with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and must be a member of the Navajo, Hopi, Acoma, Laguna, Zuni, or Southern Ute Nation; must also demonstrate financial need
Amount: Up to $3,000
Deadline: June 12, 2026
Website: https://friendsofhubbell.org/scholarships/apply-for-scholarships/

Chasing Dreams Scholarship

How to Apply: Complete the online application, including an essay submission that addresses how your cultural background informs your educational journey and/or professional goals and how your graduate degree will help you make an impact in your field.
Eligibility: Open to international graduate students with Chinese citizenship admitted to, or enrolled in, a full-time degree program at a U.S. or Canadian school that MPOWER supports
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Website: https://www.iefa.org/scholarships/3688/Chasing_Dreams_Scholarship

Michael J. Doyle and Tom Brady Scholarship

How to Apply: Submit a current resume, your transcript, and an essay between 1,200 and 1,500 words on “What does your Irish Heritage mean to you?”
Eligibility: Must be a high school senior in good academic standing and related to a member of the Philadelphia Irish Society
Amount: Two winners of $2,000
Deadline: August 5, 2026
Website: https://www.theirishsociety.com/scholarship  

Please note, most scholarship recipients receive $2,500 or less, and only 0.1% of undergraduate students receive $25,000 or more in scholarship funds. Scholarships are one of many sources of funding for college, including savings, current income, and federal and private loans. To learn about the variety of ways to pay for college, visit our Paying for College webpage.