Finding good college scholarships for transgender students is considerably easier now than in the past. The Williams Institute reports that there are over 700,000 transgender individuals currently living in the United States who have taken some steps to transition from one gender to another. Our society is slowly becoming more accepting of transgender people, thanks in part to celebrities like Chaz Bono, Laverne Cox, Alexis Arquette, and most recently Caitlyn Jenner.
However, there are still significant obstacles placed in the pathway of transgender students wishing to attend higher education. In fact, only 10% of American colleges have a trans-inclusive statement against discrimination. There’s some good news though because scholarship and grant funding is becoming abundant to minimize the stress of tuition costs. Remove the barriers to reaching your full academic potential by checking out the following 25 scholarships accepting of transgender students.
1. Audria M. Edwards Scholarship
Deadline: May 1st
Annually, Peacock in the Park Productions offers the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship for $1,000 to one lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) student who has resided in Oregon or select counties of Washington for at least one year. Qualified applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate degree at an accredited U.S. institution, be actively involved in volunteer work, show academic potential to succeed, submit two letters of recommendation, and write a one-page essay highlighting any difficult circumstances they’ve overcome.
Contact
Audria M. Edwards Scholarship
P.O. Box 8854
Portland, OR 97207
info@peacockinthepark.com
2. Bobby Griffith Memorial Scholarship Fund
Deadline: February 9th
Sponsored by the Horizons Foundation in honor of a gay youth who committed suicide in 1983, the Bobby Griffith Memorial Scholarship Fund will award $5,000 each year to LGBTQ high school seniors residing in Contra Costa County of California. Eligible candidates of all gender identities must plan to graduate this spring, be accepted at an accredited post-secondary institution in America, maintain good academic standing, show leadership potential, and be involved in service to the LGBTQ community.
Contact
Bobby Griffith Memorial Scholarship Fund
550 Montgomery Street Suite 700
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 398-2333
fbuchting@horizonsfoundation.org
3. Carter Stroupe Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: March 15th
Administered through PFLAG Greensboro, the Carter Stroupe Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually for $1,000 to self-identified LGBT students and straight allies who are residing within North Carolina’s Guilford, Rockingham, Randolph, or Alamance counties. For consideration, applicants must be applying or attending an accredited college, be pursuing an undergraduate degree, have demonstrated service with the LGBT community, show academic promise on an official transcript, and submit two letters of reference.
Contact
Carter Stroupe Memorial Scholarship
P.O. Box 4153
Greensboro, NC 27404
(336) 541-6754
csmscholarship@gmail.com
4. Colin Higgins Youth Courage Awards
Deadline: February 27th
Named in honor of an accomplished Hollywood screenwriter and director who passed away from an AIDS-related illness at 47, the Colin Higgins Youth Courage Awards are given annually for $10,000 apiece to remarkable young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students. Nominated candidates must demonstrate profound courage in silencing societal norms and overcoming bigotry based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Recipients will also be granted an all-expenses paid trip to New York or Los Angeles for the Creating Change Conference.
Contact
Colin Higgins Youth Courage Awards
1014 Torney Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94129
info@colinhiggins.org
5. David M. Charlebois Scholarship
Deadline: April 15th
Established in memory of the First Officer on American Airlines Flight 77 that hit the Pentagon on 9/11, the David M. Charlebois Scholarship is given for up to $6,000 by the National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) for aspiring lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) aviators. Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years old, already possess a private pilot certificate, be seeking advanced flight training or an aviation degree, show evidence of involvement in the LGBT community, and have a history of achievement.
Contact
David M. Charlebois Scholarship
P.O. Box 11313
Norfolk, VA 23517
(347) 762-6472
gregg.smith@ngpa.org
6. Deaf Queer Youth Scholarships
Deadline:
Each year, the DQRC provides $500 Deaf Queer Youth Scholarships to financially support self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, or queer students who are deaf or hard of hearing. To qualify, candidates must have U.S. citizenship, be out about their sexual identity, be under 25 years old, currently attend high school or college, maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.5, provide verification of college acceptance, and create an original written or video essay discussing how being both deaf and queer impacted their lives.
Contact
Deaf Queer Youth Scholarships
P.O. Box 14431
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 449-3674
scholarships@deafqueer.org
7. Dream Out Loud Scholarship Program
Deadline: Varies
For future artists in the LGBT community, the Dream Out Loud Scholarship Program is offered annually by the Family Pride Foundation to grant one $2,500 award to an undergraduate music, dance, theatre, fashion design, or film/TV major. Qualified candidates must be at least freshmen in an accredited arts-based curriculum, attend an accredited two or four-year college full-time, identify as LGBT, have U.S. citizenship, demonstrate financial need, and submit a portfolio or reel of their creative work samples.
Contact
Dream Out Loud Scholarship Program
(423) 834-8798
info@thefamilypridefoundation.org
8. Gene and John Athletic Fund Scholarship
Deadline: August 1st
Ranging in value from $2,500 to $5,000, the Gene and John Athletic Fund Scholarship is presented each year by the Stonewall Foundation for LGBTQ athletes who are continuing their education in college or actively pursuing a sports career professionally or recreationally. Eligible recipients must play high school or collegiate athletics, be active participants in an LGBTQ organization, have need for extra financial resources, be supported by two references, and write a 300-word personal statement of their athletic goals.
Contact
Gene and John Athletic Fund Scholarship
446 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 367-1155
grants@stonewallfoundation.org
9. George Choy Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: October 31st
Created by the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance in 1997, the George Choy Memorial Scholarship is designed to grant $1,000 each year to self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender students who have at least 25% of Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry. Applicants must currently attend school or live in one of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties, carry a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, be accepted into a post-secondary program, display community activism, and complete a personal phone interview.
Contact
George Choy Memorial Scholarship
P.O. Box 421884
San Francisco, CA 94142
(415) 398-2333
ty@gapa.org
10. Hammer-Miersma Scholarship Fund
Deadline: January 15th
Administered through the Pride Foundation, the Hammer-Miersma Scholarship Fund is available to award $1,500 annually to LGBTQ students currently enrolled in an accredited four-year program who have had adverse family experiences and a loss of financial support from their sexual or gender identity. Qualified individuals must have resided in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington for at least three months. Preference is given to students who demonstrate a commitment to equality and civil rights.
Contact
Hammer-Miersma Scholarship Fund
2014 East Madison Street Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 323-3318
scholarships@pridefoundation.org
11. Helen and Bob Brill Scholarship
Deadline: April 24th
In partnership with True Colors Inc., PFLAG Hartford distributes the Helen and Bob Brill Scholarship annually for at least $1,000 to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or straight ally students between 16 and 24 years old who are attending an accredited post-high school program. Eligible applicants must reside in Connecticut, be actively in the LGBTQ community, be graduating from high school by this July, be in good academic standing, and write a maximum 1,000-word personal essay.
Contact
Helen and Bob Brill Scholarship
P.O. Box 260733
Hartford, CT 06126
(860) 305-2743
pflaghartford@gmail.com
12. Kenneth W. Payne Student Prize
Deadline: June 1st
Through the Association for Queer Anthropology (AQA), the Kenneth W. Payne Student Prize is awarded each year for $500 to currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students who are majoring in anthropology at an accredited U.S. institution to better understand our society’s LGBT issues. Applicants don’t necessarily have to self-identify as LGBT, but they must be actively involved in research using anthropological theory to advance queer studies and show potential for positively contributing to scientific knowledge on sexuality.
Contact
Kenneth W. Payne Student Prize
2000 West University Avenue
Muncie, IN 47306
(765) 289-1241
rfphillips@bsu.edu
13. Laurel Hester Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: April 30th
Named in honor of the Ocean County Police Lieutenant who successfully fought county freeholders to leave her pension to her surviving domestic partner, the Laurel Hester Memorial Scholarship is presented for $2,000 to students who openly identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Qualified recipients must be graduating from high school, be accepted at an accredited college, be U.S. citizens or legal immigrants, possess a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, and complete the two required personal essays.
Contact
Laurel Hester Memorial Scholarship
One AT&T Way
Bedminster, NJ 07921
(571) 354-4525
info@leaguefoundation.org
14. Live Out Loud Educational Scholarship
Deadline: March 4th
Annually, the Live Out Loud Educational Scholarship is awarded for $5,000 to five outstanding LGBTQ youth living in the Tri-State area of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey who are pursuing an accredited two or four-year college degree. Eligible candidates must be graduating high school seniors, openly identify as LGBTQ, demonstrate past leadership in community service, maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.5, exhibit financial need, and participate in an individual interview in late March.
Contact
Live Out Loud Educational Scholarship
1500 Broadway 19th Floor
New York, NY 10036
(646) 519-3290
cardozie@liveoutloud.info
15. Messenger-Anderson Journalism Scholarship
Deadline: June 15th
For up to $10,000, the Messenger-Anderson Journalism Scholarship is granted by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) each year to self-identified undergraduate LGBT students who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism at an accredited four-year U.S. university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Selected members will be invited to participate in an eight-week summer writing internship program in Los Angeles, New York, or Washington DC with an additional $300 weekly stipend.
Contact
Messenger-Anderson Journalism Scholarship
1325 Massachusetts Avenue NW Suite 600
Washington, DC, 20005
(202) 639-6315
ngltf@ngltf.org
16. Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition
Deadline: May 15th
In remembrance of a Philadelphia attorney who died in 1996 from complications of AIDS, the Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition is held annually by the National LGBT Bar Association to award a $1,000 grand prize scholarship. Eligible lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex students who are enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school in America must write an original, unpublished maximum 25-page scholarly paper exploring a legal issue affecting the LGBT community today.
Contact
Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition
1875 I Street NW Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 637-7661
writingcompetition@lgbtbar.org
17. Out to Innovate Scholarships
Deadline: June 6th
Through the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP), the Out to Innovate Scholarships are granted annually for $5,000 to one undergraduate and one graduate LGBT student studying in a STEM-related field. To apply, candidates must have successfully completed at least two years of post-secondary education, attend an accredited U.S. college full-time, possess a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, and be an active support of organization promoting LGBT inclusion.
Contact
Out to Innovate Scholarships
P.O. Box 91803
Pasadena, CA 91109
(626) 791-7689
cb-board@noglstp.org
18. Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship
Deadline: June 15th
Created in 2009 by the National AIDS Memorial Grove in honor of a gay Cuban-American immigrant who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1994 after appearing on The Real World, the Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship is presented for $2,500 to $5,000 annually. Eligible LGBT students must be 27 years old or younger, be accepted at or enrolling in an accredited college, demonstrate active involvement in public service, and wish to pursue a career raising public awareness on the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Contact
Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship
P.O. Box 2270
San Francisco, CA 94126
(415) 765-0498
info@aidsmemorial.org
19. PFLAG National Scholarship Program
Deadline: April 30th
Ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 apiece, the Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) National Scholarship Program provides several awards to graduating high school seniors and recent graduates who self-identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or a straight ally. Qualified applicants must plan to attend an accredited U.S. university, be involved in service to the LGBT community, not be receiving full-tuition remission, and complete an application. PFLAG awards more than $75,000 in scholarships every year.
Contact
PFLAG National Scholarship Program
1828 L Street NW Suite 660
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 467-8180
info@pflag.org
Scholarship Link
20. Point Foundation Scholarships
Deadline: January 20th
Since 2001, the Point Foundation has granted numerous scholarships annually for $1,000 to $10,000 apiece for the next generation of LGBTQ leaders who demonstrate financial need to achieve their full academic and leadership potential in higher learning. Eligible candidates must be attending an accredited U.S. degree-granting school, be enrolled full-time as undergraduate or graduate students, maintain strong academic performance, show involvement in the LGBTQ community, and have potential for making a significant impact on society.
Contact
Point Foundation Scholarships
5055 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 501
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 933-1234
info@pointfoundation.org
21. Pride of the Rose Scholarship Fund
Deadline: July 31st
Through the Equity Foundation, the Pride of the Rose Scholarship Fund is available to distribute annual awards for $2,000 to $3,500 each for active members of the LGBT community in the Portland Quad-County area or Clark County, Washington, who are furthering their education beyond high school. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate significant financial need, carry a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, display a clear leadership potential, and have more than six months of activism experience.
Contact
Pride of the Rose Scholarship Fund
221 NW 2nd Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 231-5759 ext. 522
info@equityfoundation.org
22. Speak Out Against Prejudice Scholarship
Deadline: Varies
Sponsored by EducationAid.org, the Speak Out Against Prejudice Scholarship is bestowed for $5,000 annually upon one deserving self-identified gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (GLBT) student who is pursuing a career taking a stand against the negative stereotypes and stigmas associated with this community. All applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. institution, but priority is given to those studying majors like psychology, sociology, communications, political science, gender studies, or conflict resolution.
Contact
Speak Out Against Prejudice Scholarship
P.O. Box 740283
Atlanta, GA 30374
(888) 486-4722
info@educationaid.org
23. Team DC Student-Athlete Scholarship
Deadline: June 1st
In the amount of $2,000, the Team DC Student-Athlete Scholarship is awarded each year for a self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender student-athlete who has made positive contributions to their sport and enhanced perception of the LGBT community at large. The scholarship is only available for graduating high school seniors in the Washington, DC metro area who will be attending an accredited two or four-year college full-time this fall. Candidates should also show promising of serving as a positive role model in athletics.
Contact
Team DC Student-Athlete Scholarship
2910 Sycamore Street
Alexandria, VA 22305
scholarship@teamdc.org
24. Tom Steel Legal Rights Fellowship
Deadline: January 12th
Established by the Pride Law Fund, the Tom Steel Legal Rights Fellowship is presented annually to provide $30,000 to high-achieving law students attending their final year at an ABA-accredited school in the United States who self-identify as being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Selected fellows will be invited to work full-time for 12 months on a cutting-edge public interest project that further develops the legal rights of the LGBT community into the future.
Contact
Tom Steel Legal Rights Fellowship
P.O. Box 2602
San Francisco, CA 94126
(619) 516-8166
info@pridelawfund.org
25. Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship
Deadline: April 15th
Also granted by the Stonewall Foundation, the Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship (TDRS) is designed to provide $3,000 to three outstanding LGBTQ women-identified students who demonstrate a clear motivation to making a difference with their lives. To qualify, candidates must be planning to or currently attending an accredited U.S. college, have academic merit, be actively involved in community service, submit two recommendations, and write three 400-word essays highlighting their goals for helping the LGBTQ community.
Contact
Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship
446 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 367-1155
grants@stonewallfoundation.org
Scholarship Link
According to a survey from the National Center for Transgender Equality, 63% of transgender and gender non-conforming people have experienced serious acts of discrimination. Due to severe bullying and harassment, many transgender individuals fail to achieve their high school diploma. Of those making it to college, nearly 12% lose or are denied financial aid because of their gender identity. Luckily, you don’t have to become part of these statistics because there are several trans-friendly scholarships available to cover the financial burden of college. Consider applying for some of these great scholarships for transgender students to achieve your higher education goals and make strides for the LGBTQ community.
