Scholarships •

April 4, 2023

Complete guide to the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship

The Thurgood Marshall Scholarship offers many opportunities to the Black college community.

Logo of Thurgood Marshall scholarship

This guide will tell you everything there is to know about the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship, including the eligibility requirements, how to apply, and how much money you can get to pay for college.

We’ll also cover some other scholarship opportunities you may be eligible for.

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What is the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship?

The Thurgood Marshall Scholarship was established in 1987 in honor of Thurgood Marshall, a civil rights activist and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. He was the first African American to serve on the Court.

The scholarship is the nation’s largest that focuses on the Black college community. The Thurgood Marshall College Fund offers multiple scholarship opportunities. The average award available is $3,100 per semester. 

Thurgood Marshall

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How to apply for the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship

This section will tell you how you can apply for the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship and all of the eligibility requirements.

Eligibility requirements

Before you apply for the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship, make sure you meet the eligibility requirements: 

  • Be a full-time or part-time student at an accredited historically Black college or university or predominantly Black institution

  • Have a GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4 point scale

  • Show financial need

  • Show leadership capabilities

  • Be a US citizen or legal permanent resident

The application

You can apply for the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship through the fund’s website. We’ll break it down.

  • Page 1: Create an account

  • Page 2: Select scholarship opportunities to apply for

  • Page 3: Demographic information

  • Page 4: Education information

  • Page 5: Personality questionnaire

  • Page 6: Video question - How will your education benefit you, your family, and the community?

  • Page 7: Essay

  • Page 8: Letter of recommendation

Your essay and video question are your opportunities to show your personality and explain why you deserve the scholarship, so make sure to put in the effort to make them good responses.

Important dates to remember

Some important dates to remember include:

  • Applications open: January/February

  • Applications close: April/May

  • Recipients selected: April - June

  • Awards distributed: July

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Other scholarships like the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship

If you’re looking to pay for college, there are many other scholarship opportunities available. You might be interested in these alternatives.

Mos can help you get started applying for both government financial aid and scholarships, like the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship. Join us now.

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