Support for College: Scholarships & Resources for LGBTQIA+ Students

Paying for college can be challenging for all students, but for those in the LGBTQIA+ community, it’s particularly burdensome. Research by the Williams Institute and UCLA found that 35% of LGBTQ people between 18 and 40 have federal student loans, compared to 23% of their non-LGBTQ counterparts. All told, students in this population have federal student loans totaling over $93.2 billion.

So why does student loan debt seem to disproportionally impact LGBTQIA+ students? The Center for LBTQ Advancement & Research points to struggles with family support, mental health barriers, and discrimination as key factors.

However, despite these challenges, help is available if you are an LGBTQIA+ student pursuing your degree. Many scholarship opportunities are specifically available to help you pay for college and lessen your dependence on student loans. And to help you find these resources without spending days buried in internet exploration, we’ve compiled this guide featuring 40 scholarships you may qualify for, as well as application tips to help you land them. So, get ready to start clicking some links, because here’s the resource you need to help you fund college through scholarships that are specifically available to you.

40 Scholarships for LGBTQIA+ Students

Let’s jump right in: Below is our big list of 40 scholarship offered to LGBTQIA+ students — and often to their allies. Whether they’re available through your school, community organizations, or associations for students in specific degree programs, these are the kinds of awards you can search out and apply for if you’re considering college. Use this list as your launchpad to identify opportunities for free money to fund your future education.

Healthcare-Related Scholarships for LGBTQ Students

LGBTQ+ STEM Scholarship from Study.com

• Amount: $1,000
• Who’s Eligible: LGBTQ+ undergraduate and graduate students earning a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degree can apply for this scholarship. Applicants must be currently enrolled in, or accepted to, a STEM program and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Deadline: May 1
• Apply here

Out to Innovate™ Scholarships

• Amount: $2,000
• Who’s Eligible: This scholarship is for LGBTQ+ students who are enrolled in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degree program. Applicants must have at least two years of post-high school education and a minimum GPA of 2.75.
• Deadline: June 4
• Apply here

General College Scholarships for LGBTQ Students

Acorn Equality Fund Scholarships

• Amount: $1,000 to $4,000
• Who’s Eligible: These scholarships are available to LGBT students and allies. The awards are provided based on academic performance, advocacy, financial need, and volunteer activities.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

Adolph Y. Bremerman, Jr. Scholarships for Oakland Unified School District Graduates

• Amount: Up to $12,000
• Who’s Eligible: LGBT+ graduates from a high school in California’s Oakland Unified School District can use this award for their college or university expenses.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

Better Brothers Los Angeles Scholarship

• Amount: $500 to $5,000
• Who’s Eligible: This scholarship is for Black LGBTQ+ students enrolled in colleges and universities, as well as vocational schools or licensing programs.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

Follansbee-Hansen Scholarship

• Amount: $2,000
• Who’s Eligible: Members of the LGBTQ+ community who live in the Sacramento, California area can receive this award. Students must be enrolled in an accredited vocational school, college, university, or technical school.
• Deadline: May 31
• Apply here

Gamma Mu Foundation Scholarships

• Amount: $1,000 to $2,500
• Who’s Eligible: This scholarship is for LGBT students who have been admitted into an accredited university, college, or vocational school in the fall or spring semesters.
• Deadline: March 31
• Apply here

Grand Valley State University Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center Scholarships

• Amount: Up to $3,000
• Who’s Eligible: Grand Valley State University offers scholarships to LGBT undergraduate and graduate students.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

Greater Seattle Business Association Scholarships

• Amount: $2,500 to $7,400
• Who’s Eligible: LGBTQ+ students who live in Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, or Oregon can apply for this award, as well as allies and those who have LGBTQ+ family members. Applicants should have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Deadline: Second Friday of January
• Apply here

Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award

• Amount: Up to $5,000
• Who’s Eligible: Offered by the Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, this award is for LGBTQ+ students who plan to pursue a career in journalism and further the mission of the organization.
• Deadline: May 19
• Apply here

LIVE OUT LOUD Young Trailblazers Scholarship

• Amount: $5,000
• Who’s Eligible: LGBTQ+ high school seniors from the New York, Connecticut, or New Jersey area can receive this scholarship. Applicants should be planning to enroll in a college, university, technical school, or vocational school.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

Malyon Smith Scholarship Research Award

• Amount: Up to $1,000
• Who’s Eligible: This award is for psychology graduate students who are conducting LGBT-related research.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

Markowski-Leach Scholarship

• Amount: $2,500
• Who’s Eligible: California-based LGBTQ students who attend the following schools are eligible for this award: Stanford University; the University of California, Berkeley; San Francisco State University; the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco; and the University of California, San Francisco.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

New York Ramblers Scholarship

• Amount: $2,500
• Who’s Eligible: LGBTQI athletes who attend a college or university in the United States are eligible to receive this award.
• Deadline: May 1
• Apply here

Northern Michigan University NMU ALLIES Scholarship

• Amount: $500
• Who’s Eligible: Provided by Northern Michigan University, this scholarship is for LGBTQ allies who are involved in activities on campus to help the community.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

Out for Education Scholarship

• Amount: $1,000 to $10,000
• Who’s Eligible: This scholarship is awarded to LGBTQIA+ students attending school in the Houston area. Applicants must have at least a 2.75 grade point average to be considered.
• Deadline: Feb. 28
• Apply here

Pearl Berlin Scholarship

• Amount: $1,000 to $3,000
• Who’s Eligible: North Carolina LGBTQ residents who serve the community can receive this scholarship. Applicants must be graduating high school students living in Alamance, Guilford, Rockingham, Randolph, or Forsyth counties.
• Deadline: Feb. 24
• Apply here

PFLAG Cape Cod Anne Toran Scholarship Application

• Amount: $2,500
• Who’s Eligible: Cape Cod, Massachusetts area LGBTQ+ students and allies who demonstrate advocacy and support for the community can receive this award.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

PFLAG Denver Scholarship Program

• Amount: Up to $2,500
• Who’s Eligible: LGBTQIA+ students and allies in Denver are eligible for this scholarship. Students should demonstrate academic excellence and advocacy.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

PFLAG Detroit Scholarship

• Amount: $500
• Who’s Eligible: Students in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties in Michigan of all gender identities and sexual orientations can receive this award. Applicants should demonstrate support of the LGBT community.
• Deadline: May 30
• Apply here

PFLAG Greensboro Carter Stroupe Memorial Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $2,000
• Who’s Eligible: This scholarship is for LGBTQ+ and allied students who serve the community. Applicants should live in Guilford, Rockingham, Randolph, or Alamance Counties in North Carolina.
• Deadline: April 15
• Apply here

PFLAG Hartford Helen and Bob Brill Scholarship

• Amount: $1,500
• Who’s Eligible: This scholarship is for LGBTQ+ residents in Connecticut, as well as allies of the community. Applicants must demonstrate how they’re active in the LGBTQ+ community.
• Deadline: July 1
• Apply here

PFLAG Columbia-Howard County Scholarship for Outstanding LGBTQ+ and Allied Students

• Amount: $2,000
• Who’s Eligible: This scholarship is for Maryland residents who are LGBTQ+ or an ally of the community.
• Deadline: May 31
• Apply here

PFLAG Jacksonville Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $2,000
• Who’s Eligible: This award is for LGBTQ+ and allies who attend schools in Clay, Nassau, Baker, Putnam, St. Johns, and Duval counties in Florida. Full- and part-time students are eligible to apply.
• Deadline: June 1
• Apply here

PFLAG Long Beach Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $2,500
• Who’s Eligible: Students in the greater Long Beach, California area who are LGBTQIA, as well as allies and family members of the community, can receive this scholarship.
• Deadline: May 5
• Apply here

PFLAG New Orleans Scholarship

• Amount: $1,000 to $10,000
• Who’s Eligible: This scholarship is for LGBTQ+ students in Louisiana.
• Deadline: Feb. 1
• Apply here

PFLAG San Diego County Scholarship Portfolio

• Amount: $2,000
• Who’s Eligible: LGBTQ+ high school seniors accepted to an undergraduate program, and current undergraduate and graduate students, can receive these scholarships. Applicants should be residents of San Diego County, California and demonstrate academic achievement and financial need to be considered.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

PFLAG Sauk Valley Scholarship

• Amount: $500
• Who’s Eligible: LGBT students in the Sauk Valley, Illinois area who are active in the community are eligible for this scholarship. Allies are also considered if they’re involved in advocating for the LGBT community.
• Deadline: April 1
• Apply here

PFLAG South Orange County Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $2,500
• Who’s Eligible: LGBTQI residents of South Orange County attending college or vocational school can receive this scholarship. Allies are also encouraged to apply.
• Deadline: May 6
• Apply here

PFund Scholarship

• Amount: 1,000 to $12,000
• Who’s Eligible: This scholarship is offered to LGBTQ+ students who are either from Iowa, South Dakota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, or Minnesota, or are from different locations and attending schools in those states.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

PG&E PrideNetwork Employee Resource Group

• Amount: $6,000
• Who’s Eligible: The PG&E PrideNetwork employee resource group provides this scholarship to students of all sexual orientations and gender identities. This scholarship is open to students in all majors, and there is no minimum GPA required to be considered.
• Deadline: May 2
• Apply here

POINT Foundation BIPOC Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $1,500
• Who’s Eligible: This award is for LGBTQ students who are members of Black, Indigenous, or People of Color communities. Students must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a two- or four-year college at least part time.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

Prism Foundation Scholarships

• Amount: $1,000 to $5,000
• Who’s Eligible: This award is for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities who are making an impact for the Asian and Pacific Islander, and LGBTQIA+ communities. Students attending a two- or four-year college can be considered for this scholarship.
• Deadline: June 30
• Apply here

Sandy Lane Scholarship

• Amount: $1,000
• Who’s Eligible: LGBTQ students and allies who promote a positive image of the community can win this award. Applicants must live in Towns, Union, Fannin, Gilmer, White, or Lumpkin counties in Georgia to be eligible.
• Deadline: April 15
• Apply here

The Alexander Foundation Scholarships

• Amount: $300 to $3,000
• Who’s Eligible: These awards are for LGBTQ+ students who are Colorado residents. Students must attend a college or university in the state.
• Deadline: TBD
• Apply here

The Aritzia Scholarship

• Amount: $5,000
• Who’s Eligible: LGBTQIA students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program can receive this scholarship. Applicants must submit transcripts, a recommendation letter, and three short essays to be considered. To be considered, students must study, plan to work in, or demonstrate a commitment to the fields of fashion design, retail management, mental health, or social justice advocacy.
• Deadline: May 5
• Apply here

The Kenneth W. Payne Student Prize

• Amount: $500
• Who’s Eligible: Offered by the Association for Queer Anthropology, this scholarship is provided to graduate and undergraduate students of any sexual orientation or gender identity doing anthropological work related to an LGTBQ+ subject.
• Deadline: June 1
• Apply here

The Tang Scholarship

• Amount: $60,000
• Who’s Eligible: Provided by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, this scholarship is for Asian or Pacific Islander LGTBQ+ students. Students must reside in the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Napa, Sonoma, or Solano counties) and demonstrate academic excellence and financial hardship.
• Deadline: April 30
• Apply here

Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship

• Amount: $4,000
• Who’s Eligible: This scholarship is for lesbians in undergraduate or graduate degree programs. Winners of the award are chosen based on academic excellence, as well as leadership abilities, public service participation, and commitment to the LGBTQ community.
• Deadline: Spring
• Apply here

Wayne State University CFPCA LGBT Endowed Scholarship

• Amount: $500
• Who’s Eligible: Wayne State University provides this scholarship to LGBT students enrolled in a major offered by the College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts. Applicants must demonstrate their involvement in the community, including participation in LGBT organizations.
• Deadline: Feb. 1
• Apply here

10 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Winning

Now that you know what kinds of scholarships are out there, it’s time to come up with a strategy to make your application stand out. Just as you submitted a stellar application to get into college, your goal is to impress the selection committees from the organizations offering these scholarships. The following tips can help.

Tip #1 – Follow Directions

After filling out multiple college applications, you may feel like you have the gist of what scholarship applications will require, so you don’t have to pay close attention to the directions. That would be a mistake. Not following the directions of a scholarship application to the letter can actually disqualify you from consideration. Be sure to read the application carefully and follow all directions carefully.

Tip #2 – 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 about where the scholarship comes from, the more opportunities you have to illustrate why you’re a good candidate. The information you find allows you to tailor your responses to the people who will be reading the applications, so you have a greater chance of making a connection.

Tip #3 – Apply for Scholarships with More Intensive Application Processes

This may sound counterintuitive, but to increase your chances of winning scholarships, it’s a good strategy to apply for awards that have a challenging application process. This may be more time consuming, but it will drastically reduce the number of people you’re competing against. Also, going through a more rigorous application process demonstrates how dedicated you are to being considered for the scholarship.

Tip #4 – Apply for Smaller Scholarships

Obviously, bigger awards are considered the most attractive since they cover more of your college expenses; but don’t overlook the smaller scholarships you qualify for. In fact, smaller scholarships often have fewer applicants, so winning them may be easier — and the smaller amounts can really add up. As a result, applying for a combination of large and small scholarships is a good strategy.

Tip #5 – Pay Attention to Detail

Are you on track to meet your scholarship application due dates? Have you written the type of essay the organization is asking for? Have you included all information you’ve been asked to supply? This kind of attention to detail can mean the difference between winning a scholarship and being disqualified, so be sure that you check and double check your application to ensure it’s complete and submitted on time.

Tip #6 – Focus on Highlighting Your Strengths

Highlighting your strengths on your scholarship application will demonstrate why you’re the best person to win an award. Do you have leadership experience? Are you strong in a certain academic area? Can you use your application to demonstrate your talent for persuasive communication? Whatever your strengths are, be sure to use and show them!

Tip #7 – Share Your Passions, Interests, and Goals

Another thing you want to show the scholarship committee is the depth of your passions and how these interests fit into your goals for college and beyond. Show the organization that you’ve thought through what you want to do with your education and career, and how the scholarship can contribute to these plans.

Tip #8 – Use Your Best References

Really think about who you want to ask for references to ensure that not only do you get glowing reviews, but also that they’re relevant to a specific scholarship. Whether you’re being evaluated based on academic performance in a certain subject or leadership experience, choose people who can best speak to those qualifications.

Tip #9 – Submit Your Application Early

Working on your scholarship applications early can help alleviate stress and ensure you’ve included everything necessary. Also, 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.

Tip #10 – Express Your Gratitude

We know it’s good etiquette to thank someone who has interviewed us for a job or internship. The same is true for scholarships. When you send a thank you note to the organization offering an award, this type of gratitude helps make your application stand out from the rest. And while you’re expressing your gratitude, don’t forget to thank the people who wrote recommendations for you as well.

Resources for LGBTQIA+ Students

Do you want more information on how to pay for your education? Or tips on getting the most out of your college experience? Are you looking for advice for your upcoming job search? We’ve put together the following list of resources to help you navigate these issues.

• 10 Tips for LGBTQ College Students to Thrive in Their First Year: Campus Pride offers tips to help LGBTQ students adjust to college life.
• Blogs – GLSEN: The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network’s blog includes various topics about LGBTQ people in college, including stories shared by students.
• Burden of LGBTQ Student Loan Debt: The Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement and Research discusses the unique challenges students in the community face when paying for college and how to tackle them.
• Campus Pride Career Connect: This page on Campus Pride’s website includes access to jobs and internships, as well as mentoring services to help LGBTQ students succeed.
• Experiences of LGBT People in Fraternities & Sororities: From 1960 to 2007: Campus Pride provides this look at how LGBTQ+ students have navigated Greek life on college campuses.
• How to Have Fun and Stay Safe If You’re Newly Out in College: LGBTQ students get advice on how to live as an out member of the community.
• How to Lower Student Loan Payments: In this episode of the Queer Money podcast, you’ll learn expert advice on how to tackle student loan debt.
• How to Obtain a FAFSA Dependency Override for LGBTQ College Students: This article from Campus Pride details how LGBTQ students can apply for financial aid as an independent when they’re not receiving support from their family.
• Job Searching While LGBTQ: How to Find a Truly Inclusive Place to Work: The University of Missouri offers advice on how people in the LGBTQ community can find an inclusive workplace. This article includes tips on researching companies and asking the right questions during a job interview.
• LGBTQ Students: Authentic and Daring to Be Free: In this podcast from Ohio State University, the challenges of the LGBTQ community on college campuses are discussed.
• LGBTQ Students – Columbia CCE: This website features advice from Columbia University’s Center for Career Education to help LGBTQ students find a job.
• Paying for College as an LGBTQ+ Student: This site details the options that LGBTQ+ students have for paying for education, as well as tackling student loan debt after graduation.
• Plan the Path’s 9 Tips for LGBTQIA+ Students at College: This webpage includes tips on how LGBTQIA+ students can thrive in college.
• ProGayJobs: This job board features listings from organizations committed to hiring and developing LGBTQ+ workers and providing a safe work environment for them.
• Queer in College: Hosted by Jesse Tompkins, this podcast covers a variety of topics related to the LGBTQ+ college experience.