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2023 List of Scholarships and Career Resources for Underrepresented Students

In our pursuit of a more equitable profession, we are providing a list of resources for prospective students of color. It is our hope that the list of resources below will help students of color who aspire to become architects find networks and opportunities that help them to achieve their goals.

The following list is not all-inclusive, so if you would like for us to add others, please do not hesitate to contact us to add them.

Fellowships and Scholarships

 

American Indian Science and Engineering Society Scholarships

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) helps students move forward in their educational journeys by providing a wide range of programs and scholarship opportunities for American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Indigenous peoples of Canada. To apply, you must be an AISES member.

Deadline to Apply:  Varies by Scholarship

AIA Chicago Foundation Diversity Scholarship

AIA Chicago Foundation Diversity Scholarship Initiative, managed by the AIA Chicago Foundation, is an opportunity to attract and retain diverse, talented young professionals in Chicago and recognizes the value of new and unique voices in the profession. One $10,000 graduate scholarship and one $10,000 undergraduate scholarship are awarded each year.

Applications accepted through May 12, 2023

American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)

AIAS has a great list of scholarships and fellowship opportunities for students.

Deadline to Apply:  Varies by Scholarship

American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Worldstudio Scholarships

AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships benefit minority and economically disadvantaged students who are studying photography, illustration, and design disciplines in colleges and universities in the United States. Scholarships are awarded annually to encourage social and environmental responsibility and cultural awareness in the next generation of artists and designers.

Deadline to Apply:  April 7, 2023

Association for Women in Architecture Scholarship

The Association for Women in Architecture Foundation offers annual cash awards to women students studying Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban and/or Land Planning, Interior Design, or Environmental Design leading to a college degree.

Applicants must be residents of California or attending a California school, and must be enrolled in one of the qualifying majors for the current school term. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 18 units in their major by the application due date.

Deadline to Apply: April 25, 2023

CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship was established to provide financial assistance to African-American or Black students who are pursuing a degree in the visual arts. 

This award is for full-time African-American or Black students pursuing a degree in visual arts including, but not limited to, architecture, ceramics, drawing, fashion, graphic design, illustration, interior design, painting, photography, sketching, video production and other decorative arts.

Deadline to Apply: April 14, 2023

CINTAS Foundation Fellowship in Architecture & Design

Candidates in the fields of architectural design, interior design, urban design and urban planning may submit applications for the CINTAS Foundation Fellowship in Architecture. For the purpose of historical value and documentation, architectural award recipients are encouraged to submit architectural drawings (i.e., representative samples of their work) to be added to the CINTAS Fellows Collection after the grant period. To be eligible, applicants must have either Cuban citizenship or direct lineage. 

Eligibility for this fellowship: Creative artists of Cuban citizenship or direct lineage (having a Cuban parent or grandparent). Applicants engaged in research, students, or performing artists are not eligible to apply for CINTAS Fellowships. 

Deadline to Apply: May 1, 2023

College Raptor Scholarship

To help students take a thoughtful approach to the college decision process and pay for college, College Raptor is awarding a $2,500 scholarship.

For eligibility, applicants must:

  • Be legal residents of the United States, District of Columbia, or a U.S. Territory.
  • Be age 16 or older.
  • Be enrolled (or enroll no later than the fall of 2023) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher learning (college, university or trade school).

Deadline to Apply: March 31, 2023

Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program

The Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program is open to underrepresented, low-income and first-generation college-bound students. Students must be pursuing an undergraduate degree full-time in transportation, math, science, engineering, architecture, environmental design, PreMed, psychology, Spanish language/literature. The applicant does not have to be a U.S. citizen but must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and proof of attending college beginning in the fall semester. Recommendation by a faculty member is optional but highly suggested.

Deadline to Apply: March 14, 2023

Hip Hop Architecture Scholarship Fund

Michael Ford’s $10,000 Hip Hop Architecture Scholarship awards $2,500 per year for four years, totaling $10,000 to a minority high school senior who accepted into a 4 year college or university to study architecture. Recipients will be contacted to reapply for the scholarship when entering graduate school.

Deadline to Apply: April 14, 2023

Houzz Scholarship Program

Houzz offers four different architecture scholarships—Women in Architecture, Residential Design, Sustainable Residential Design, and Residential Construction Management—each for $2,500. Scholarships are open to current undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in interior design, architecture, landscape architecture, architectural engineering, or construction management programs.

Deadline to Apply: March 31, 2023

SmithGroup Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Scholarship Program

We have created the SmithGroup Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Scholarship Program to support and mentor students from historically underrepresented demographics in architecture, interior design, planning, landscape architecture and engineering.  The program’s mission is to provide these students with the opportunity to attain their professional goals while advancing the architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) industry and improving the built environment.

Deadline to Apply: October 30, 2023

Networks and Organizations

400 FORWARD

Launched in 2017 when the 400th living African American woman achieved licensure, 400 Forward aims to boost the next generation of African American women architects—who currently make up only 0.2 percent of all licensed architects—through exposure to architecture, mentorship, and financial assistance

ArchiteXX

A non-profit organization for Gender Equity in architecture transforming the profession by bridging the academy and practice. We are a Cross-Generational group of academics and practitioners, and our organization is dedicated to the advancement of all women-identified, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and allied individuals.

Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation.

The Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation (BWAF) is an advocacy group committed to changing the culture of the building industry for women working in architecture, landscape, engineering, and construction—market sectors where only about 17 percent of the leaders are women. Founded in 2002 by Willis, a pioneering woman in the field, the New York-based nonprofit advances the recognition of women’s contributions to architecture through grants and research and supports current professionals and students through educational and social initiatives.

Black Females in Architecture

Black Females in Architecture (BFA) is a network and enterprise founded to increase the visibility of black and black mixed heritage females within the architectural industry and other built environment fields. In so doing, BFA actively addresses issues of inequality and diversity within the industry

BFA supports its growing membership through the provision of a support network within which members benefit from shared knowledge, advice, guidance, access to the personal networks of fellow members, job opportunities, and much more.

Black Interior Designers Network

The Black Interior Designers Network’s mission is to promote diversity and inclusion within the interior design industry by highlighting designers of color and supporting black designers with business development opportunities and resources to help Black designers thrive.

Female Design Council

With the mission of establishing a strong support network for female and female-identifying design professionals—through events, exhibitions, discussions, programming, business development opportunities, and community outreach with industry partners.

National Organization of Minority Architects

Founded in 1971 by 12 African-American architects, who met at the national AIA Convention in Detroit that year and recognized the need to help foster the development of minority architects, NOMA showcases the work of Black architects through its publications and conferences. This national group relies on the strength of its local chapters for advocacy, community outreach, and professional development.

Organization of Black Designers

The Organization of Black Designers is a national professional organization of interior, industrial/product, architectural, fashion, UX, UI and graphic designers dedicated to promoting the visibility, empowerment, education and interaction of its membership and the understanding and value that diverse design perspectives contribute to world culture and commerce.

The Designer’s Workshop

Associate interior designer at Rockwell Group Kamille Glenn founded the Designer’s Workshop as a collective to unite people of color in any 3D-design disciplines, including architecture and design, and to shine a light on this underrepresented population through connectivity and collaboration.

 

Resources 

Best Colleges
Many organizations and schools offer college scholarships for Black and African American students. Learn about the top scholarships for these learners.

Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Resources for African American Students

This resource is for African American Students, and it details information about different types of financial assistance available to African American students, including historically Black university scholarships, field-specific scholarships, and scholarships for women.

College Scholarships For Minorities

Student-Specific Scholarships support individual groups of college students like women and minorities.

45+ College Scholarships for Minority Students

Published by Purdue University Global, this resource shares 45+ financial aid scholarships for future and current students as well as potential graduate students to supplement the cost of education or professional development endeavors. Information on where to find scholarships and grants is supplied. Also highlighted within the resource are opportunities dedicated to specific demographics such as African Americans, Asian Americans, Latino Students, Native Americans, and much more. The featured scholarships are current and are provided by trusted organizations. The resource will constantly be updated to ensure students can apply to the most accurate scholarships available.


Contact us at info@acsa-arch.org to add your Scholarship, Organization, or Resource for Underrepresented students to this page.