This scholarship program provides awards of up to $5,000 to outstanding minority students to encourage their selection of accounting as a major and their ultimate entry into the profession. These awards are funded by the AICPA Foundation from monies contributed by the AICPA, its members, public accounting firms, and others. The program has been in existence for more than 20 years and has awarded more than $6 million in scholarships.

Scholarships are awarded each July for the following academic year. For the 2006-2007 academic year, scholarships totaling $406,000 were awarded to 127 students. For a listing of the scholarship recipients for 2006, click here.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q:    What are the eligibility requirements?
A:    All applicants must be an AICPA student affiliate member. Click here for an application and additional information.

The eligibility requirements differ by academic level as follows:

Undergraduate Students Must Be:

• A declared accounting major with an overall and accounting grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.3 on a four point scale.
• A minority student who has satisfactorily completed at least 30 semester hours, or 45 quarter hours, equivalent college work including at least six (6) semester hours in accounting.
• Enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student (12 semester hours or equivalent) unless you are completing your final semester of study, at a four-year or upper division institution. Students who will be attending a four-year school for the first time must include an acceptance letter from the school.

Graduate Students Must Be:

• A minority student who is enrolled in the final year of a five-year accounting program or an undergraduate accounting major who is presently accepted or enrolled in a master-level accounting; business administration, finance or taxation program, or who had any undergraduate major and is presently accepted in a master-level accounting program.
• Enrolled as a full-time graduate student (nine semester hours or equivalent), unless you are completing your final semester of study.

Q:    What is the deadline for the scholarship program?
A:    All application materials must be received by the AICPA by June 1 for the academic year beginning September of that year.

Q:    What materials are required for the minority scholarship program?
A:    Applicants must complete an AICPA Scholarships for Minority Students application and Financial Aid Worksheet, which is included with the application form. Also, applicants must submit an official academic transcript which must contain their spring semester grades for the academic year in progress. In addition, applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from either a faculty member or a CPA.

Q:    What schools are eligible?
A:    Regionally-accredited four-year institutions.

Q:    Are you still eligible if you are transferring from a 2-year school to a 4-year school?
A:    Yes, but you must include a copy of an acceptance letter to a four-year school and the financial aid officer at the school you will be attending must complete the Financial Aid Worksheet.

Q:    Are part-time students eligible?
A:    No, you must be a full time student.

Q:    Under the AICPA minority scholarships program, who are considered minorities?
A:    For the purpose of this program, the AICPA defines minority students as those of Black, Native American/Alaskan Native, or Pacific Island races, or of Hispanic ethnic origin. All applicants must be U.S. citizens.

Q:    How can application forms be obtained?
A:    Click here to download an application in Adobe PDF format. Click here for simple instructions on one-time downloading of Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free, easy-to-use piece of software one must have to view and print PDF documents. Be sure to bookmark this page first for easy return.