Detroit based scholarships
Last revised 22 January 2010
This page lists college or university scholarships intended for or particularly well suited for Detroit residents. Consult your high school counselor or college financial aid office for other possibilities. Email DetroitCollegePromise@gmail.com or call us at 248/646-3269 to report any additions or changes.
General sources of information:
● Detroit Community Scholarship Initiative list - English, Spanish
● Paying for College in Michigan - link
● Nationwide list of scholarships from Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard - link
● Information from Michigan State University libraries - link
● Scholarships for African-Americans - #1; #2
● PowerPoint presentation (via YouTube) by Ron Wilson of EduGuide - link
Scholarship Search sites
● Fast Web: scholarship matching and college search service; also has information on jobs and internships, financial aid, and student life.
● Mach 25: scholarship search tool that allows students to find scholarships that match their personal profiles or by keyword; also has information on admission criteria, campus life, programs and degrees, and financial aid.
Although many scholarship search sites list thousands or scholarships, our experience is that your chance of actually getting any scholarship money from them is low. We recommend searching the list below, or contacting the financial aid office of the college you are attending.
1. The Detroit College Promise
Program began with the graduating class of 2009 at Cody High School in Detroit
Number of scholarships: ~ 350 offered for class of 2010, 400 offered for class of 2011 (we plan to offer scholarships to all DPS graduates within a few years)
Scholarship details: Up to $250 per semester ($500 per year) towards the balance due for tuition and mandatory fees, if needed, after application of any FAFSA related grants. The award is for 4 years at Cody or Douglass, and 1 year elsewhere. Over time, we plan to increase the award.
Major requirements:
● Attend a DPS high school and reside in Detroit continuously from either (a) the first week of 9th grade through graduation, or (b) September 2010 through graduation.
● Apply by December 1 of their senior year, and before attending college, complete our scholarship acceptance form and send us their college’s financial aid letter
● The number of scholarships offered at each school is listed on our News page, or click here
See Frequently Asked Questions for more information
2. Coleman A Young Foundation
Program has been operating since 1986, currently 38 awardees (10 per year)
Number of scholarships: about 10 per year
Scholarship details: $5000/year for 4 years, not restricted to Michigan colleges / universities, also intensive mentoring program
Major requirements:
● Student has overcome significant hardship
● Student likely would be unable to go to college otherwise
Click here for more information
3. Detroit Compact
Program has been operating since 1990, currently ~ 125 new awardees per year
Number of scholarships: unlimited
Scholarship details: tuition and mandatory fees to designated universities, varies for other institutions
Major requirements for universities:
● Detroit Public School students only
● ACT/SAT results of 21 / 990 or better in reading and math only and cumulative (from 9th grade) 3.0 GPA for public college and university scholarship
● 95% attendance in high school
● For community colleges, need ACT of 18 and 2.5 GPA
Click here or here for more information, here for the application or call Chiquita Lawler at 313/596-0318.
4. Detroit Economic Club Scholarship
Number of scholarships: up to 2 per year
Scholarship details: $2000 per year, renewable
Major requirements:
● High school senior in public or private high school in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb County
● Nominated by high school counselor
Click here for more information
5. Detroit Tigers Willie Horton Scholarship
Number of scholarships: 1 per year
Scholarship details: Up to $5000, not renewable
Major requirements:
● Graduating senior at Northwestern High School in Detroit
Click here for more information
6. Doss (Lawrence P.) Scholarship
Number of scholarships: 5 per year
Scholarship details: Up to $5,000 per year for 4 years
Major requirements:
● Graduating senior from Detroit Public Schools
● Pursuing a career in accounting, finance, management or business
● Acceptable evidence of community service.
● Financial need
● A commitment to return to Detroit for a minimum of four years following graduation.
● A commitment to become a
mentor to later Doss scholarship recipients.
Click here for more
information
7. Ewald Foundation (H. T.) Scholarship
Number of scholarships: 2 to 18 per year
Scholarship details: $500 to $3500 per year for 4 years
Major requirements:
● Graduating senior residing in metropolitan Detroit area
● Financial need
● Based on overall scholarship record (top half of class), character
● Recommended by principal or assistant principal
● A commitment to return to Detroit for a minimum of four years following graduation.
● A commitment to become a
mentor to later Doss scholarship recipients.
Click here for more
information
8. FIRST Scholarships
Number of scholarships: varies
Scholarship details: Scholarships are awarded to students planning to pursue science and technology degrees at 2 or 4 year universities. Details vary by university and program. Usually requires participation in FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) or FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC).
Click here for more information.
9. Foster care related grants
Students in foster care on or after their 14th birthday or who were adopted from foster care on or after their 16th birthday may be eligible for an Education and Training Voucher of up to $5,000 to assist with college or vocational training expenses.
Click here for more information, or contact Lutheran Social Services of Michigan at 877/660-6388.
10. Ordonez Family Scholarship
Number of scholarships: 1 per year
Scholarship details: Up to $2500 per year, renewable
Major requirements:
● Attended a southwest Detroit high school for their entire secondary education
Click here for more information
11. Otis M. Smith Scholarship
Number of scholarships: 4 per year
Scholarship details: Up to $3000, nonrenewable
Major requirements:
● Single mother
● Resident of Wayne, Oakland or Macomb County
● Attend or will attend Wayne State University, University of Michigan (any campus) or Catholic University Law School in Washington, D.C.
Click here for more information
12. Rosa Parks Scholarship
Program began in 1980
Number of scholarships: 40 per year
Scholarship details: $2000 per year
Major requirements:
● Be a senior attending a public or private Michigan High School
● GPA of 2.5 or above
● Complete an application form and essay
Click here for more information
13. Rose (Jalen) Foundation
Number of scholarships: 5 year
Scholarship details: $2500 per year for 4 years
Major requirements:
● Graduating senior residing in Detroit
● Financial need
● Good standing, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 or higher
Click here for more information
14. State of Michigan Tuition Incentive Program
Number of scholarships: unlimited
Scholarship details: Scholarship is provided in two phases. Phase I provides tuition and mandatory fee charges for students enrolled in a participating associate degree or certificate program in Michigan. Phase II provides up to $2,000 in tuition for students enrolled in a 4-year program at a Michigan college or university.
Major requirements:
● Must have had Medicaid coverage for 24 months out of a 36-month consecutive period
● The Michigan Department of Human Services identifies qualified students as early as 6th grade and notifies them of eligibility.
● The FAFSA is encouraged but not necessary
Click here for more information
15. Steve Smith Scholarship
Number of scholarships: 1 per year
Scholarship details: Up to $10,000 per year for 4 years
Major requirements:
● Graduating senior from Detroit Pershing High School
● Must attend Michigan State University
Click here for more information
16. United Negro College Fund
Number of scholarships: unlimited
Scholarship details: The UNCF is dedicated to promoting higher education for African American students, offering scholarships and internships at about 900 institutions. A variety of scholarships are listed on the website, each with its own criteria.
Click here for more information.
17. University of Michigan-Dearborn Opportunity Scholarship
Number of Scholarships: 12 for full tuition, unlimited for partial tuition
Scholarship details: partial tuition recipients-$2000 renewable for up to 4 years; full tuition scholarships also include select fees
Major Requirements:
● GPA of 3.0
● Enrollment in a public or charter high school in school districts with an economic disadvantaged status
● U.S. citizen or permanent resident; Michigan residency
Click here for more information
18. Virgil K. Lobring Scholarship
Number of scholarships: 1 per year
Scholarship details: Up to $1500, not renewable
Major requirements:
● Graduating senior at Southwestern High School in Detroit
● Show leadership and academic achievement
● Demonstrate greatest improvement from freshman year, according to committee
Click here for more information
19. Wade H. McCree, Jr. Incentive Scholarship Program
Program has been running since 1986
Scholarship details: students who show academic success in 8th grade are pre-selected in the 9th grade. Provides tuition for 32 credit hours for each of four years (eight semesters maximum). Scholarship recipients must enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours each fall and winter semester of the four year award.
Requirements for pre-selection:
● 3.0 GPA or better at the middle school level
● Completion of 6th, 7th and 8th grade in DPS Schools
● Recommendation by middle school principal and counselor
● Excellent reading and mathematics scores on the Metropolitan Achievement Test
● Students and their parents must sign an agreement which states that they will meet the performance standards of the scholarship program delineated in the Student/Parent Contract.
Requirements for scholarship:
● 3.0 GPA or better at the high school level
● 21 or higher on ACT
● Admission to a Michigan public university 4-year college
● Financial need is not a factor
● Attendance at the Fall orientation for parents and students
Click here for more information and forms (each university has its own website)
20. Wayne County Vision Fund Scholarship
Number of scholarships: 64 students received the scholarship in 2009
Scholarship details: County Executive Robert Ficano provides $500 to seniors from high schools in Wayne County who will attend a 2- or 4-year college, university, or trade school.
Major requirements:
● Must be enrolled at a high school in Wayne County
● Must have a 3.0 grade point average
Students should contact their local high school principle to obtain the scholarship application. Click here for more information.
End of Detroit based scholarship listings