NACME Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering

Description
**What NACME does**
NACME (National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering) funds and administers scholarships and related support for underrepresented minority students pursuing engineering and computer science. The organization distributes more than $5 million in scholarships each year through corporate programs and by administering funds from foundations, government agencies, family endowments, and willed gifts. NACME also facilitates professional development and pipeline-building activities that prepare scholars for STEM careers and employer hiring needs.

Key takeaways:
- NACME awards and administers scholarships exceeding $5 million annually.
- Support comes from corporate partners and third‑party endowments or gifts.
- Emphasis on academic support and career readiness for engineering and computer science students.

Eligibility
**Who qualifies**
To qualify for NACME-administered scholarships, applicants must meet specific academic and residency criteria. Eligible candidates include high school seniors applying to engineering or computer science programs, students within one year of high school graduation, community college students intending to transfer to a NACME Partner Institution, or students already matriculating in engineering or computer science at a NACME Partner Institution. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must meet the minimum GPA required by each individual scholarship. NACME’s mission targets students who self-identify as Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic American, or Native/American Indian.

Key takeaways:
- Eligible applicant types: high school seniors, recent grads, community college transfer-intenders, or current NACME partner students.
- Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Must meet each scholarship’s minimum GPA.
- NACME targets Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic American, and Native/American Indian students.

Award Value
**Sample scholarship amounts**
NACME administers a mix of awards that vary by sponsor, scholarship, and year. Examples of recent awards include the National Virtual Bridge (NVB) 2024 award of $500 and several corporate scholar awards (APTIV, Deloitte, Phillips 66) listed at $5,000 for 2025. Overall funding levels depend on the sponsoring organization and the terms of the endowed or corporate program.

Key takeaways:
- NACME scholarship amounts vary by program and sponsor.
- Example awards: NVB 2024 — $500; APTIV, Deloitte, Phillips 66 Corporate Scholars 2025 — $5,000 each.
- Total annual scholarship distribution exceeds $5 million.

Application Process
**Using the NACME Common Application**
NACME uses a Common Application to match qualified candidates with multiple scholarships and opportunities. Applicants should complete the Common Application, then follow the checklist under “My Scholarships” to finish required tasks: view the Common Application, complete current tasks, and upload required documents such as GPA confirmation, profile image, and resume. When an application’s status changes from “In-Progress” to “Pending Approval,” all required steps have been completed and the application is awaiting review.

Key takeaways:
- Start by completing the NACME Common Application.
- Required uploads typically include GPA confirmation, profile image, and resume.
- Monitor “My Scholarships” for current tasks and status updates.
- “Pending Approval” indicates a completed application awaiting review.

History and Administration of the Award
**How NACME manages scholarships**
NACME operates both as a direct scholarship funder and as an administrator for scholarships funded by other entities—corporations, foundations, government agencies, family endowments, and willed gifts. Through partnerships with higher-education institutions and industry sponsors, NACME helps create talent pipelines and increases representation of underrepresented minorities in engineering and computer science. The organization is widely recognized as one of the largest providers and administrators of college scholarships for underrepresented engineering students in the U.S.

Key takeaways:
- NACME administers scholarships for a variety of funders in addition to corporate-sponsored programs.
- Partnerships span higher education, industry, and philanthropic sources.
- NACME plays a central role in building diverse STEM pipelines and is a major scholarship provider for underrepresented engineering students.