Best scholarships to help LGBTQ+ students pay for school in 2024

Michael Galvis

BLUEPRINT

Updated 4:26 a.m. UTC April 1, 2024

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LGBTQ+ students often face greater challenges than their straight and/or cisgender counterparts when obtaining a postsecondary education. They generally face higher rates of poverty and bullying and are also less likely to have a familial support system, according to the Williams Institute.

If you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, you can apply for scholarships that could help make college more affordable. You might even qualify for some of these awards if just your parents are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Here are some of the best scholarships for LGBTQ+ students in 2024, how to find them and alternative methods to pay for school.

Best scholarships for LGBTQ+ students

“The college search and selection process can be daunting for LGBTQ+ students and their parents. [S]tudents must grapple with myriad anti-LGBTQ+ laws that could prevent them from participating in campus sports and activities. These laws can also prevent some from accessing gender-affirming care.” Leslie Hall, director of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation

General LGBTQ+ scholarships

You’ll find many scholarships are available no matter where you live or what field you’re studying. While these awards might also be more competitive as a result, they can be a good way to start off your scholarship search.

What you should know

The onePULSE Foundation is a nonprofit organization that honors the 49 people killed in the Pulse nightclub tragedy in Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016. It offers both educational programs and scholarships, and it aims to open a memorial and museum to preserve the legacy of the victims.

This nonprofit founded the 49 Legacy Scholarships program, which awards students throughout the U.S. in a variety of academic fields with up to $10,000. Applicants are judged based on their personal story, financial need, academic record, community involvement, work experience, ability to demonstrate leadership and other factors.

Note that students of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome to apply. However, preference will be given to immediate family members of the 49 tragedy victims, survivors and first responders to the event.

What you should know

The LEAGUE Foundation originally began as a grass-roots organization supported by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender United Employees at AT&T (LEAGUE). Since then, it has grown into a scholarship fund that offers awards to graduating LGBTQ+ high school students across the U.S. as well as Canada.

There are four scholarships available through the LEAGUE Foundation, though you need only submit one application to be considered for each of them. These awards include the following:

Laurel Hester Memorial Scholarship
LEAGUE Foundation Scholarship
Matthew Shepard Memorial Scholarship
Tyler Clementi Memorial Scholarship

To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:

Openly self-identify as LGBTQ+Be a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant
Be graduating from high school in the same year you’re applying
Show proof of acceptance to an accredited higher-education institution in the U.S. or Canada
Submit two personal essays, two letters of recommendation and a list of ways you’ve been involved in your community

Applications are accepted each year from January to April, with awards decisions typically made in July.

What you should know

The Los Angeles LGBT Center offers five scholarships through its Youth Scholarship Program. Both LGBTQ+ students and allies are eligible so long as they’re pursuing a post-secondary education. These awards include the following:

Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo Media Scholarship: Students in undergraduate programs related to advertising, journalism, broadcasting and related fields could qualify for this award.
Edison International STEM Scholarship: Business, IT, engineering, mathematics, science and other STEM majors could qualify for this award.
The Felice Samuel Greene Scholarship: Graduating seniors pursuing a higher education are eligible for this award.
Pride in Tech Scholarship: This award is aimed at elevating LGBTQ+ students in programs related to computer science, software engineering, user experience (UX) and related fields. Students in a coding or programming bootcamp also qualify.
Rainbow Youth Scholarship: Graduating seniors enrolled in an accredited college or university can apply for this award.

At minimum, expect to be asked for two letters of recommendation and a copy of your college acceptance letter as part of the application process. While this year’s application window closed on April 15, 2023, you could consider applying for the 2024 award season.

What you should know

Point Foundation offers four college scholarships for LGBTQ+ students who will be earning a degree at an accredited U.S. school. Note that each of these awards requires a separate application and has its own deadline to apply.

Scholarship	Award amount	Application window	Qualifying applicants
BIPOC Scholarship	Up to $1,500 (for 1 academic term)	Feb. 15 to March 15	Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) who will be enrolling in a community college, four-year program or graduate program
Bumble and bumble Cosmetology Scholarship	$2,400 per semester or $4,800 per academic year	Nov. 3 to Jan. 9	Cosmetology students who qualify for the Community College Scholarship
Community College Scholarship	$2,400 per semester or $4,800 per academic year	Nov. 3 to Jan. 9	Students enrolled at a community college who plan to either receive their associate degree or transfer into a bachelor’s degree program within 2 years
Flagship Scholarship	Based on need (renewable for up to 4 years)	Oct. 26 to Dec. 21	High school seniors or college students who will be enrolling in an undergraduate, graduate or doctoral program

Location-specific LGBTQ+ scholarships

As you research scholarships, be sure not to overlook those that might be available specifically in your particular state or region. These scholarships generally have a much smaller pool of potential applicants, which could improve your odds of being selected for an award.

What you should know

Acorn Equality Fund awards scholarships to LGBTQ+ students and their allies. To be eligible, you must attend an accredited, higher education institution and reside in downstate Illinois (with the exception of select counties).

This nonprofit has six scholarship categories, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $4,000. These include the following:

Acorn Scholarship: Focused on academic need and community involvement
Central Illinois Friends Scholarship: Based on academics and public health efforts
Korty & Morton Scholarship: Based on community involvement and financial need
Luke Scholarship: Based on academic achievement and financial need
McKeon Scholarship: Focused on academic achievement, community involvement and political advocacy
Weber-Tucker Scholarship: Awards academic achievement and social or family hardships

As part of your application, you’ll submit two essays. The first should detail your qualifications for the particular scholarship you’re applying for, and the second should be an introduction of yourself to the committee.

Scholarship applications must be submitted by mail by Sept. 22, 2023. Applicants will be notified of award decisions in early November.

What you should know

Better Brothers Los Angeles (BBLA) strives to bring together the Black LGBTQ+ community. Based in Southern California, BBLA offers scholarships in amounts ranging from $500 to $5,000.

To qualify, you must be a Black LGBTQ+ student living in Los Angeles and be enrolled in an accredited degree, license or vocational program. Winners are asked to accept their awards at an annual ceremony. Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year will open in November 2023.

What you should know

The eQuality Scholarship Collaborative is composed of individuals and organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. It awards $6,000 scholarships to central and northern California students as well as medical students throughout California.

Four types of California students are eligible for these awards, including:

Graduating high school seniors or recent high school graduates
Oakland Unified School District graduates
Community college transfer students
Medical students

Note that you must be an LGBTQ+ student to qualify for the Adolph Y. Bremerman, Jr. Scholarship available to Oakland Unified School District graduates. However, eQuality’s other scholarships are open to all students of all sexual orientations and gender identities. eQuality also doesn’t require proof of U.S. citizenship to apply.

Applicants will be judged based on their demonstrable service to the LGBTQ+ community, leadership skills, high academic performance and hardship.

What you should know

Live Out Loud offers $5,000 scholarships to LGBTQ+ high school students in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. To be eligible, you must be a graduating high school senior who identifies as LGBTQ+ and who plans to attend a post-secondary program.

Applicants for the Young Trailblazers Scholarship will need to submit an online application as well as an essay and form responses. Two letters of recommendation are also required, which should illustrate how your commitment to the LGBTQ+ community or your potential ability to be a leader.

What you should know

The Markowski-Leach Scholarship fund was envisioned by Tom Markowski and Jim Leach, a gay couple who lived in San Francisco during the AIDS crisis that began in the 1980s. The two — who both passed away as a result of HIV — sought to provide financial assistance to LGBTQ+ people pursuing higher education in the San Francisco area. The scholarship fund was subsequently established as part of a bequest of the estate of Jim Leach.

Both undergraduate and graduate students who self-identify as LGBTQ+ could be eligible for this scholarship if they’ll be attending one of the following schools on a full-time basis:

San Francisco State University
Stanford University
University of California (UC), Berkeley
UC College of the Law, San Francisco
UC, San Francisco

As part of your application, you’ll be asked to show in what ways you are a high achiever in your academics, work or community service. Applicants of any discipline can apply.

What you should know

Peacock in the Park was founded in 1987 by Lady Elaine Peacock — drag entertainer, entrepreneur and Rose Empress XXIX of the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court, which is the oldest nonprofit LGBTQ+ organization in Oregon. Later that same year, Audria M. Edwards — an LGBTQ+ rights activist and supporter of Peacock in the Park — passed away. Subsequently, Peacock in the Park established the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund to honor her passion for continued education.

Today, Peacock Productions Inc. — incorporated in 1999 — continues to offer these scholarships for students who meet the following criteria:

Are LGBTQ+ or the child of an LGBTQ+ parent
Will attend an undergraduate program at an accredited institution in the coming school year
Have been a resident for at least one year in the state of Oregon or these select Washington counties: Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania and Wahkiakum

As part of the application process, you’ll mail in a one-page essay, two letters of recommendation and a transcript before the April 1 deadline. You’ll be judged based on your educational and career goals, ability to succeed in an educational program, challenges you’ve overcome and your ability to show how you’re a service-oriented leader or volunteer in your community.

What should you know

Founded in 1973, PFLAG comprises hundreds of chapters throughout the U.S. that are committed to supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Many of these chapters offer their own unique scholarship programs to support local LGBTQ+ students.

The PFLAG website lists several of these award opportunities, and you can also search for chapters in your local area to see what scholarships might be available to you.

What you should know

Established in Minneapolis in 1987, the PFUND Foundation supports LGBTQ+ people in upper Midwest states. It offers scholarships for LGBTQ+ students enrolled in a post-secondary institution, GED program or other educational program.

Only applicants from or attending a school in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin will be considered. Expect to submit short essays and two letters of recommendation as part of your application.

Applications typically open in mid-January each year.

What should you know

Students of all gender identities and sexual orientations who are residents of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon or Washington can submit an application to the Pride Foundation for consideration for over 60 scholarships. Awards are also available for straight allies of the LGBTQ+ community.

In addition to Pride Foundation’s residency requirement, you must be pursuing a post-secondary education. Priority will be given to LGBTQ+ students who demonstrate efforts to improve their community or fight injustice, have faced discrimination at home and/or have dealt with struggles in accessing education due to systematic barriers or discrimination.

Note that some scholarships might have additional eligibility requirements. Additionally, the scholarship fund doesn’t check citizenship status as part of the application process.

Discipline-specific LGBTQ+ scholarships

There are also several scholarships available to LGBTQ+ students who are pursuing specific majors and careers.

What you should know

Talent consulting firm Aronow.io offers a Pride in Diversity Scholarship for undergraduate LGBTQ+ students pursuing a career in a STEM-related field. For 2023, $2,500 will be awarded to an LGBTQ+ student who requires financial assistance due to discrimination, medical costs related to transitioning or other financial hardships.

Your application will require a video essay detailing your role in the LGBTQ+ and STEM communities as well as why you need financial assistance to pursue your education.

What you should know

The National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) helps LGBTQ+ students as well as allies overcome the cost barriers to a career in aviation with a variety of scholarship opportunities. These awards range up to $25,000.

You only need to submit one application to be considered for each scholarship for which you are eligible, and you don’t need to be a U.S. citizen to apply. However, you must be a member of the NGPA to qualify. Student memberships cost $25 per year.

What should you know

NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists offers two scholarships to student journalists with a demonstrable commitment to accurate reporting of the LGBTQ+ community. These awards include the following:

Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship: Provides up to $5,000 in tuition assistance to an LGBTQ+ undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a future career in journalism.
Kay Longcope Scholarship: Offers up to $3,000 in tuition assistance to an LGBTQ+ undergraduate or graduate student of color studying for a career in journalism.

When submitting your application, you’ll be asked to provide a resume, work samples, transcript and proof of attendance.

What should you know

Out to Innovate is an organization of STEM professionals and students that seeks to empower LGBTQ+ individuals in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Offered since 2011, Out to Innovate Scholarships help undergraduate and graduate students cover education or research costs in STEM programs. Reward amounts range from $2,000 up to $5,000.

Note that these awards are only available for the fall semester. To qualify, you must:

Self-identify as LGBTQ+
Have completed at least two years at an accredited U.S. college or university
Have declared a major in a STEM or STEM-related teaching field
Actively participate in and support groups and programs that promote the inclusion and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community
Maintain at least a 2.75 GPA
Not be under disciplinary action with your school

When applying, you’ll be asked to submit a personal statement as well as contact information for two individuals willing to write a letter of recommendation for you.

How to apply for LGBTQ+ scholarships

Researching and applying for scholarships might seem tedious. But the more work you put into reducing the cost of your higher education, the less debt you’ll need to worry about after graduation.

If you’re ready to apply for LGBTQ+ scholarships in particular, follow these steps:

1. Find scholarships geared toward LGBTQ+ students

There are a ton of scholarships out there for a wide variety of students, including awards designed specifically for members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as allies. Some common organizations that might offer these sorts of scholarships include:

Nonprofit organizations
Local and national businesses
Professional associations in certain fields

A good way to start your research is by searching scholarship databases, such as:

Note that scholarship deadlines vary by organization, so keep an eye out for award opportunities throughout the year.

2. Review scholarship requirements

As you research scholarships, be sure to carefully read through the requirements for each award to ensure you qualify and can provide any requested materials. To help you keep track of the awards you want to pursue, put together a document or spreadsheet that tracks important information, such as:

The name of the scholarship and the website
When you can apply and when award decisions are made
What materials you’ll need to apply (such as essays or letters of recommendation)
When you submitted your application
Contact information for the organization offering the scholarship

3. Gather application materials

As a general rule, have the following prepared to make the application process as smooth as possible:

Personal statement: This should be free of typos and grammatical errors and should reflect your leadership skills, community involvement and personal struggles as an LGBTQ+ person. Also be prepared to add information regarding financial hardship.
Two letters of recommendation: These should be from non-family members who can attest to your accomplishments. For example, you could ask a teacher, club leader, religious leader or community organizer if they’d be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you.
Transcripts: Depending on the scholarship, be prepared to provide a high school transcript as well as transcripts from any colleges or universities you’ve attended.
Record of volunteer hours: Most organizations offering scholarships will want to see proof of your volunteerism.
Proof of residency: This will be necessary if you’re applying for a location-specific scholarship.

Having each of these can help you apply for multiple scholarships at once with just a little tweaking.

4. Submit your application

Many organizations allow you to submit a scholarship application via an online form or by email. However, some might require you to mail in printed application materials.

Be sure to double-check your application for any errors before submitting it, as mistakes could lead to disqualification.

5. Await a decision and funds disbursement

Organizations will generally let you know when to expect an award decision. If you win a scholarship, don’t be afraid to reach out to the organization to get a timeline on when and how funds will be disbursed.

Scholarship awards are typically sent directly to the educational institution you’ll be attending. Generally, you’ll only be able to use the funds to cover tuition, fees, housing costs and other educational expenses. On occasion, you might find an organization that will send your award directly to you.

Other ways to pay for college

If you’re an LGBTQ+ student, scholarships aren’t the only way to fund your education. Here are some other ways to pay for college:

Other types of scholarships: LGBTQ+ scholarships aren’t the only kind of awards you might be eligible for. You can find scholarships for just about anything — for example, awards are available for specific disciplines, single parents, hobbyists and more. Think about what makes you unique, what you plan to major in and what career path you’re hoping to follow. Then, search for scholarships by those categories.
Grants: Like scholarships, grants don’t have to be repaid. To apply for federal grants — such as the Pell Grant — you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Many states also offer grants to college students.
Work-study programs: The Federal Work-Study Program helps students pay for a higher education with part-time work. The key benefit to a work-study program is that the money you make doesn’t affect your eligibility for federal aid. To apply, you’ll need to submit the FAFSA. The financial aid award letter you later receive from your school will detail if you qualify for the work-study program, and you can notify your school if you’d like to pursue it.
Federal student loans: If you need to borrow money to pay for school, it’s usually best to start with federal student loans. This is because these types of student loans come with federal protections, such as access to income-driven repayment plans and student loan forgiveness programs. To apply for federal student loans, you’ll need to complete the FAFSA.
Private student loan: After you’ve exhausted your scholarship, grant and federal student loan opportunities, private student loans can help fill any financial gaps left over. Keep in mind that these loans don’t come with the borrower protections that federal loans offer — repayment plans for private loans, for example, are often inflexible. Additionally, you’ll typically need good to excellent credit (or a creditworthy co-signer), verifiable income and a low debt-to-income ratio to qualify.

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Michael Galvis

BLUEPRINT

Michael Galvis is a personal finance writer whose work focuses on educating readers on personal loan and student loan products, and on managing their finances. He previously oversaw personal loan and debt content for LendingTree, a loan marketplace. His work has appeared on Business Insider, Forbes and Nasdaq, among others. His greatest financial weakness is the collectible trading card game Magic: The Gathering.

Ashley Harrison

BLUEPRINT

Ashley Harrison is a USA TODAY Blueprint loans and mortgages deputy editor who has worked in the online finance space since 2017. She’s passionate about creating helpful content that makes complicated financial topics easy to understand. She has previously worked at Forbes Advisor, Credible, LendingTree and Student Loan Hero. Her work has appeared on Fox Business and Yahoo. Ashley is also an artist and massive horror fan who had her short story “The Box” produced by the award-winning NoSleep Podcast. In her free time, she likes to draw, play video games, and hang out with her black cats, Salem and Binx.