AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students

AICPA Foundation Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students

Amount: $2,500 - $10,000

Number of Recipients: 50

Sponsor: AICPA Foundation and participating state CPA societies

Program Background

The AICPA Foundation Minority Scholarship was created in 1969 with the purpose of increasing the representation of ethnically diverse CPA professionals. For more than four decades, this program has provided over $14.6 million in scholarships to over 8,000 accounting scholars.

Funding is provided by AICPA and the AICPA Foundation with additional contributions from the following organizations:

• New Jersey Society of CPAs
• New York Society of CPAs
• South Carolina Association of CPAs
• TXCPA Accounting Education Foundation
• Virgin Islands Society of CPAs

Requirements

An eligible applicant must be/have:

• Some financial need. Financial need will be assessed based on criteria outlined in the application. Applicants must not be receiving any full or partial scholarships or grants that cover or exceed all of their educational expenses.
• An ethnic minority in the accounting profession (including but not limited to: Black or African American; Hispanic or Latino; Native American; Pacific Islander; or Asian American).
• Pursuing an undergraduate or graduate-level degree in an accounting or accounting-related major. (Accounting-related shall be as determined by Sponsors in Sponsors’ sole discretion.).
• Planning to pursue the CPA licensure but not presently be a CPA.
• Completed at least 30 semester hours (or equivalent) of college coursework, including at least 6 semester hours (or equivalent) in accounting, by the end of spring 2025.
• Maintaining an overall and major GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
• Enrolled as a full-time undergraduate (12 semester hours or equivalent per semester) or a full-time graduate-level student (9 semester hours or equivalent per semester) for the full 2025-26 academic year; fall 2025 and spring 2026. (Note: Students graduating upon completion of fall 2025 are eligible to apply. Part-time students (at least 6 semester hours or equivalent per semester) currently employed to meet the CPA license work experience requirement are encouraged to apply. A letter of employment is required along with a letter of recommendation from an accounting professor)
• An AICPA Student Affiliate member (or have submitted a new member application). Apply online at no cost: www.thiswaytocpa.com/join-aicpa.
• A U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (Green Card holder).
• Enrolled in a business and/or accounting program that is regionally, nationally or internationally accredited for the full 2025-26 academic year. The program must be accepted by the state board of accountancy as meeting the educational requirements necessary for CPA licensure in the state you intend to become licensed OR in the state where your program is located.
  • Please visit ThisWayToCPA’s State & Territory Requirements or contact your state board of accountancy to confirm if your program meets the educational requirements necessary for CPA licensure.
• Willingness to remain engaged with the AICPA and to provide feedback for the development of this and other programs by the Association.

Note: The Association staff and their family members are not eligible to receive this scholarship.