Planning for an HBCU? Start Your Scholarship Search Before December

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Six universities offer places to begin, but families should check application cycles and act before priority deadlines.

For students considering a historically Black college or university, the scholarship search should begin before the acceptance letter arrives. Admission applications, financial aid forms and scholarship applications can follow different timelines. Some opportunities require students to receive admission before they can access scholarship applications. As Lansing prepares for the December 11 HBCU Initiative, families can start gathering documents and exploring opportunities at the six participating universities.

Southern University and A&M College

The Southern University System Foundation lists its 2027–2028 scholarship application window as November 1, 2026, through January 5, 2027. The application closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on January 5. Required materials include a résumé, applicable academic records, an essay of 500 words or fewer about the importance of HBCUs, and up to three recommendation letters. Students considering the Baton Rouge campus should review the Foundation’s official application information and confirm which individual awards apply to their campus and enrollment status.

Prairie View A&M University

Prairie View A&M University lists applications for spring, summer and fall 2027 as open. Its admissions page identifies December 1 as the fall scholarship-priority deadline and states that accompanying documents must arrive by the deadline. Its financial aid page separately lists January 15, 2027, as the priority deadline for the 2027–2028 FAFSA. Students should review the admissions deadlines and financial aid information, while confirming the separate 2027–2028 general scholarship application window because some scholarship pages still display earlier cycles.

Central State University

Central State University’s Honors College scholarship process begins with applications to both the university and the Honors College. Accepted students then receive an invitation to apply for available Honors scholarships. The published requirements list a December 1 FAFSA deadline and a January 15 scholarship application deadline, but the page does not clearly identify the entering class year. Students should begin reviewing the official Honors scholarship requirements and confirm the dates for fall 2027 before relying on them.

Grambling State University

Grambling State University’s admissions FAQ lists December 1 as the priority deadline for academic scholarship consideration. The page says qualifying students are automatically recommended for scholarship offers and that ACT or SAT testing must occur before December 1. However, the FAQ does not identify a specific application cycle, so these details require confirmation for fall 2027. Students should review the official admissions FAQ and verify current requirements while preparing their admission materials.

Wilberforce University

Wilberforce University’s scholarship page describes awards based on academic achievement and other eligibility factors. However, the page currently labels the scholarship information as applying to 2025–2026. Families should treat those amounts and requirements as information to investigate rather than confirmed offers for fall 2027. Students can review the official scholarship page and request the current award list, application instructions and deadlines.

Norfolk State University

Norfolk State University’s scholarship page directs students to Scholarship Universe for scholarship matching. The page states that students need MYNSU credentials to begin the process. It does not clearly identify an application cycle or deadline for that announcement. Students should review the official scholarship information, confirm when they can access the portal and check the requirements for each opportunity.

Prepare Now, Bring Questions in December

Families can begin preparing a folder with transcripts, a student résumé, recommendation contacts and any available ACT or SAT scores. They should keep separate notes for admission deadlines, scholarship deadlines and FAFSA priority dates. The HBCU Initiative takes place December 11, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Alfreda Schmidt Community Center in Lansing, bringing students and families together with college representatives, alumni and Divine Nine members. Come ready with questions, but complete applications with earlier deadlines before the event.

Scholarship availability, eligibility and deadlines remain subject to university confirmation.