Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship – Guidelines To Apply

The Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship provides financial aid to exceptional undergraduate students who meet the eligibility criteria, demonstrate financial need, and attend Bethune-Cookman University, Edward Waters College, Florida A&M University, or Florida Memorial University. Each participating institution determines its application processes, deadlines, and eligibility criteria.

Florida Resident Benefits

Florida resident students have the opportunity to advance their academic ambitions through the Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship Program, created by the Florida Department of Education. This scholarship is designed to support students facing financial challenges in pursuing higher education, with the ultimate goal of fostering the development of a well-educated society in Florida.

Scholarship Objectives

The primary aim of the Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship is to assist Florida residents in overcoming financial barriers to higher education. By offering necessary financial aid, the scholarship promotes academic excellence and contributes to the development of the state by preparing educated individuals for a productive society.

New York Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship

The NYAC Scholarship Committee and the New York Alumnae Deltas, Inc. also offer a Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship for students of African descent living in Manhattan, from the east river to the Hudson River and south of 155th Street. This scholarship supports high school seniors through four years of college as they pursue a baccalaureate degree.

Eligibility for the New York Scholarship

To be considered for the New York Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship, applicants must:

– Be of African descent.
– Reside within the specified service area in Manhattan.
– Be high school seniors with a minimum average of 80.
– Participate in non-academic activities, volunteer work, have a part-time job, or be active in a community organization.
– Be accepted into a Baccalaureate Degree program at a registered institution by the fall semester of 2022 (proof required).

Scholarship Amount

The Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship awards up to $3,000 annually, renewable for up to eight semesters (12 quarters) over six years, or until the student earns a baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first. Students in college-preparatory instruction or needing additional time for required testing programs, as well as those in five-year degree programs, may receive assistance for up to 10 semesters or 15 quarters. Renewal candidates must maintain a minimum institutional cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and earn 12 credit hours per term for each award received during the academic year.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

– Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, as defined by their postsecondary institution.
– Not have previously earned a baccalaureate degree.
– Enroll at Bethune-Cookman University, Edward Waters College, Florida A&M University, or Florida Memorial University as a degree-seeking undergraduate student for at least 12 credit hours per term.
– Not owe a refund or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory repayment arrangements have been made.
– Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent, toward a high school diploma.

Application Process

Eligible candidates can apply for the Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship through the financial aid offices at the participating institutions. Applications must be submitted with all required materials by the spring deadline annually. Detailed information and application forms are available on the Florida Department of Education’s website. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.