Muslim Scholarships in United States – It’s not always easy to get a higher education in United States. The tuition cost, living expenses, book expenses can be quite overwhelming. That’s why many of the undergraduate students in United States apply for financial aid, especially grants and scholarships. These two are very popular because they are basically free money from the government, nonprofit foundations and organizations.
While there are some general scholarships and grants available, many students find it easier to get the scholarship for specific population based on gender, religion, etc. What about Muslim students? Is there any scholarship for Muslim students in United States?
Luckily there are some. Below are some of the possible scholarship opportunities available for Muslim students in United States:
Opportunities for Muslim Scholarships in United States
Here are some opportunities for Muslim scholarships in United States to consider:
Islamic Scholarship Fund
One of the best places to find financial aid for Muslim students is the Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF). There are scholarships available for many study fields, but the preferred ones would be the study fields related to the public policy, including social sciences, humanities, law and liberal arts.
There are three scholarship categories, including the ISF National Scholarship, ISF-Yaseen Foundation Scholarship, and also the Alumni Scholarship. The ISF National Scholarship is available for students with U.S. citizenship or permanent residence. Meanwhile, the ISF Yaseen Foundation scholarship is available for Muslim students in Belmont, California. Last but not least, there are Alumni scholarships for students in Los Angeles, Berkeley and Irvine based colleges that follows the University of California system.
The award amount differs based on various aspects, but typically the scholarship will grant you somewhere between $2,000 and $10,000.
King Faisal Foundation
The King Faisal foundation provide two categories of scholarship, including the King Faisal International Prize and King Faisal Foundation Scholarship programs. The programs are intended to cover educational cost for Muslim students in the field of Medicine Sciences, Islamic Studies, Service to Islam, Arabic Language and Literature.
Muslim Women’s Association
The Muslim Women’s Association provides scholarships for female Muslim students who find it hard to cover the cost of college due to their family’s low income. Only full-time students are eligible, they have to have good grades, take at least one Islamic Studies class, and have a limited income.
For every scholarship opportunities, you should prepare the required documents beforehand. For example, you may need to make a copy of your taxes or proof of income.
The Dr. Adawia Alousi Scholarship Fund
The Dr. Adawia Alousi Scholarship Fund is supported by the Center for Arab American Philanthropy, which aims to create vibrant communities through Arab American contributions. Each year, the scholarship provides up to $5,000 to several Muslim women who are studying science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) in college in the U.S. This scholarship can be renewed for up to four years. Students who need financial help are encouraged to apply.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you need to meet these requirements. You must be a high school senior, college student, or graduate student. You can be a U.S. citizen or from another country. Also, you need to have a minimum GPA of 3.4 and be interested in studying engineering, electrical engineering, biology, or math. You also need to be a Muslim woman.
To apply for this scholarship, you need to submit certain materials before the deadline. These include a 3-page essay, your academic transcript, a resume or CV, and letters of recommendation.
Here’s the information rewritten in paragraph form for junior high school students:
IMANA-FEF Combined Allied Health Professional Scholarship
This scholarship is a great opportunity for Muslim students starting a degree in Medical or Allied Health. Offered by The Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA), this scholarship awards $2,500 to one recipient. It is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients attending an accredited institution in the United States. The expected deadline to apply is March 2025.
The Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) promotes health and prevents disease in communities around the world. They achieve this through direct patient care, health programs, and advocacy. IMANA’s vision of positively impacting the health of humanity is evidenced by its integrated programs, with a major emphasis on global medical relief.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be a college or graduate student. You need to be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipient. You should be interested in studying medicine, healthcare, health administration, or therapy/rehabilitation. Additionally, you must be a Muslim.
To apply for this scholarship, you need to submit several materials before the deadline. These include an essay, your academic transcript, a resume or CV, letters of recommendation, and your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Student Aid Report.
Fadel Educational Foundation Annual Award Foundation
The Annual Award Program is from the Fadel Educational Foundation, Inc., and provides grants of varying amounts to deserving individuals who demonstrate both merit and financial need. This scholarship is open to college students who are non-incarcerated Muslim U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The expected deadline to apply is May 2025.
The Fadel Educational Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization that supports education for non-incarcerated Muslim U.S. citizens and permanent residents. They aim to help students achieve their educational goals and improve their futures.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be a college student who is a non-incarcerated Muslim U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Additionally, you need to demonstrate financial need. To apply for this scholarship, you need to submit your academic transcript and a letter of recommendation before the deadline.
Plainfield Muslim Women for Better Society Scholarship
The Plainfield Muslim Women for Better Society Scholarship is from the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). Each year, this scholarship awards $500 to five Muslim high school seniors from Plainfield or Indianapolis, Indiana.
To be eligible, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and have completed at least 20 hours of community service. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate a history of helping other students, such as mentoring or standing up against bullying. If you are a college-bound Muslim high school senior from Plainfield or Indianapolis who is passionate about helping others, we encourage you to apply! The expected deadline is June 2025.
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) aims to foster the development of the Muslim community, interfaith relations, civic engagement, and a better understanding of Islam. The founder was Dr. Shakir, who dedicated himself to education and working with inner-city youth. He introduced students to Islam and the Arabic language and created this scholarship fund to support freshmen students in their first year of higher education.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be a high school senior with a minimum GPA of 3.5. You also need to be a Muslim and live in either Plainfield or Indianapolis, Indiana. Additionally, you must have completed at least 20 hours of community service and have a history of helping other students. To apply for this scholarship, you need to submit letters of recommendation before the deadline.
See Also : Scholarships for Adult Students
Summary
For further information on this matter, we highly recommend you to contact your community leaders in your local Muslim communities. Believe me, these communities are more than willing to help Muslim students in achieving their dreams through education. Even if they have little or no resource to help you directly, it is often that the community leaders can connect you to those that can help you.
The religion of Islam always puts education as one of the most important task of a Muslim, therefore, we highly encourage you to pursue the best education that you can. Being educated will surely improve your life, making you a better person, and help your community. That said, stay down to earth and don’t forget to pray for the best. We hope you get that Muslim Scholarships in United States!
References:
- The King Faisal Foundation – http://www.kff.com/
- Islamic Scholarship Fund – http://islamicscholarshipfund.org/
- Image: islamicommentary.org
