Rust College, Benedict College, and Bennett College recognize students’ academic records as strong indicators of college success vs. test scores. They are backing that belief with their money and offering students scholarships ranging from tuition and fees to full-ride scholarships.
These HBCUs are among the ranks of hundreds of colleges across the nation that made the decision years ago to get rid of the test score requirement. They determine admission and scholarship offers based on a student’s GPA, community service, and extracurricular activities.
GPAs are a five time stronger indicator of college success than test scores according to researchers at the University of Chicago Consortium of Research.
Rust College
Rust College is located in Holly Springs, Mississippi just 35 minutes from Memphis, Tennessee and led by Dr. Ivy Taylor. She is Rust’s first female president in its over 150 year history and she was the first African-American mayor of San Antonio, Texas. They have a variety of majors in the Divisions of Education, Humanities, Science and Mathematics, and Social Sciences.
The full cost of attendance is $14,200.00 including tuition, fees, room, board and books.
Rust College Scholarship Criteria:
| Scholarship | GPA Requirements | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Honor’s Track | 3.5 or higher | Tuition, fees, room, board, & books |
| Presidential | 3.25 – 3.49 | $12,000 |
| Academic Dean | 3.0 – 3.24 | $10,000 |
Benedict College
Benedict College is located in Columbia, South Carolina and was voted the 2019 HBCU of the Year. It is ranked in the Top 10 Smaller HBCUs for its STEM program and is one of the top producers of African- American biology, physical sciences, and engineering technologies degree holders.
The full cost of tuition is $22,780 including tuition, fees, room and board.
Benedict College Scholarship Criteria:
| Scholarship | GPA Requirements | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Trustee | 4.0 or higher | $20,480 |
| President | 3.5 – 3.99 | $14,280 |
Bennett College
Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina is home of the Bennett Belles. One of only two all-female HBCUs, they have a long history of education and activism. In the 1960’s they were an integral part of the Civil Rights lunch counter sit-ins that resulted in Woolworth lunch counters be integrated.
Ranked #15 on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges for Black Students list; Bennett continues their legacy of innovation with a state-of-the-art production studio and various majors in the departments of STEM, humanities, Social and Behavioral Science, Business, Economics, and Entrepreneurship, Curriculum and Instruction, Journalism and Media Studies, and Social Work.
The full cost of attendance is $27,127 including tuition, fees, room and board.
Bennett College Scholarship Criteria:
| Scholarship | GPA Requirements | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Trustee | 4.0 or higher | $20,480 |
| President | 3.5 – 3.99 | $14,280 |
NOTE: The scholarships listed are subject to change based on the guidelines of each respective college. Contact the colleges for details.
This article was originally published February 2nd, 2021 on Hbcuinfominute.com
