UNCF STEM Scholars Program 2027: Up to $25,000 for Black Students in STEM (Deadline March 23)

The UNCF STEM Scholars Program is one of the biggest STEM scholarships in the country for Black students: up to $25,000 in tiered scholarship support over your undergraduate years, plus mentoring and internship funding. The 2027 deadline is March 23, 2027, and 100 awards are available. Run by the United Negro College Fund with support from the Fund II Foundation, the program identifies high-achieving African American high school students determined to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Here is the full breakdown — plus the other UNCF scholarships you should apply for at the same time.

Quick answer: The Fund II Foundation UNCF STEM Scholars Program offers up to $25,000 in tiered scholarship support to African American high school students pursuing STEM degrees, with 100 awards available and a deadline of March 23, 2027. Scholars also get professional mentoring and access to internship funding, including stipends of up to $5,000. You apply through the UNCF scholarship portal, and you must file the FAFSA to demonstrate financial need. The UNCF General Scholarship (deadline March 31, 2027) and the UNCF/FedEx Scholarship (up to $4,000 a year, reopening March 2027) are worth applying for alongside it.

What Does the UNCF STEM Scholars Program Pay?

• Up to $25,000 total in tiered scholarship support across your undergraduate STEM degree.
• Professional mentoring throughout college from STEM professionals.
• Internship funding, including stipends of up to $5,000 to support summer internships.
• 100 awards available in the 2027 cycle, according to the program's scholarship listing.

The support is tiered — the amount you receive depends on your year in school and your continued progress in a STEM major — so the full $25,000 is earned across your degree, not in a single payment.

Who Is Eligible for UNCF STEM Scholars?

• African American high school students who are determined to pursue a career in a STEM field.
• Planning to enroll in an accredited U.S. college or university as a full-time undergraduate in a STEM degree program.
• Financial need: You must apply for federal student aid through the FAFSA to confirm citizenship and demonstrate financial need. See our 2027–28 FAFSA guide.
• Strong academics: The program targets high-achieving students — keep your grades, coursework, and any STEM activities front and center in your application.

Apply through the UNCF application portal at uncf.org/scholarships. Never pay to apply for a scholarship — the real UNCF application is free, and anyone charging a fee is running a scam.

Three More UNCF Scholarships to Apply For

UNCF runs dozens of scholarships through one portal. These three pair well with a STEM Scholars application:

• UNCF General Scholarship — deadline March 31, 2027. Need-based, for students enrolled full time at one of the 36 UNCF member institutions. Minimum 2.50 GPA, FAFSA required, and no essay. It opens April 27, 2026, and closes March 31, 2027. Bachelor's, graduate, doctoral, and professional students can apply.
• UNCF/FedEx Scholarship Program — up to $4,000 a year, renewable. Need-based, for graduating high school seniors and first-year undergraduates attending a UNCF member institution or another HBCU. Requires a minimum 3.0 GPA, a completed FAFSA, one essay, one recommendation, and a transcript. Expected to reopen in March 2027, with an expected deadline around May 2027.
• UNCF Toyota Scholars Program — up to $7,500. For high-achieving students at HBCUs, combining scholarships with professional development, a summit, and a student leadership conference.

UNCF's own advice is blunt: you will not be considered unless you complete every step, including all essays and required documents. Do not start an application at 11:30 p.m. on deadline night.

Read Also: How to Complete the 2027–28 FAFSA Step by Step
Read Also: How to Write a Scholarship Essay That Wins in 2027

How to Make Your UNCF Application Stand Out

1. File the FAFSA early. Every UNCF need-based award requires it, and the FAFSA is also how your citizenship and need are confirmed.
2. Show your STEM commitment: science fair projects, coding clubs, robotics, math competitions, research — concrete evidence beats a generic statement of interest.
3. Line up a recommender now. The FedEx award needs one recommendation; ask a STEM teacher who knows your work, and give them at least three weeks.
4. Apply to several UNCF awards at once. One UNCF portal account gives you access to the General Scholarship, STEM Scholars, and dozens of named funds — use it.
5. Watch the March deadlines: STEM Scholars closes March 23, 2027, and the General Scholarship closes March 31, 2027. Put both on your calendar today.

Other STEM Scholarships With Winter and Spring Deadlines

• Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship — up to $40,000 for students pursuing computer science, deadline January 5, 2027, 3:00 p.m. CT. See our Amazon guide.
• Regeneron Science Talent Search — $2,000 to $250,000 for high school seniors; the 2027 cycle closed November 5, 2026, and the 2028 cycle opens June 1, 2027.
• APIA Scholars Scholarship — $2,500 to $20,000, deadline January 15, 2027. See our APIA guide.

For a full calendar, see our scholarships with deadlines from November 2026 to March 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the UNCF STEM Scholars Program worth?
Up to $25,000 in tiered scholarship support over your undergraduate years, plus professional mentoring and internship funding with stipends of up to $5,000.

When is the UNCF STEM Scholars deadline?
March 23, 2027. Apply through the UNCF scholarship portal at uncf.org/scholarships.

Who can apply for UNCF STEM Scholars?
African American high school students planning to pursue a STEM degree at an accredited U.S. college, with demonstrated financial need through the FAFSA.

Do I need to file the FAFSA for UNCF scholarships?
Yes. UNCF requires a FAFSA to confirm citizenship and demonstrate financial need for its need-based awards, including STEM Scholars and the General Scholarship.

What is the UNCF General Scholarship deadline?
March 31, 2027. It is need-based, requires a minimum 2.50 GPA and full-time enrollment at one of the 36 UNCF member institutions, and requires no essay.

Can I apply for more than one UNCF scholarship?
Yes. UNCF encourages students to apply for multiple awards through the same portal — including STEM Scholars, the General Scholarship, and the FedEx and Toyota programs.

Related: Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship 2027 · How to Complete the 2027–28 FAFSA · How to Spot Scholarship Scams

Sources: United Negro College Fund (uncf.org/scholarships); Scholarships.com UNCF STEM Scholars Program listing; College Board BigFuture UNCF General Scholarship listing; Scholarships360 UNCF/FedEx Scholarship listing. Deadlines and award amounts can change — always confirm the current cycle on the official UNCF website before applying. Warning: never pay to apply for a scholarship — legitimate scholarships are free to enter.