5 Ways to Improve Scholarship Visibility for Underrepresented Students

Scholarships are one of the most powerful tools colleges and universities have to promote equity, access, and persistence. But underrepresented students—first-gen, low-income, BIPOC, and adult learners—often don’t apply for scholarships, even when they qualify.

Why?

Research suggests it’s a mix of awareness gaps, application barriers, and limited trust in institutional processes (Lumina Foundation). The good news is that these barriers are solvable with intentional scholarship promotion strategies.

This post explores five high-impact tactics to help your institution connect with underrepresented students and ensure your scholarships reach the students they were designed to support.

Collaborate with Student Support Offices

Offices dedicated to student support, such as Multicultural Affairs, First-Year Experience, and Student Success Centers, maintain close relationships with various student communities. Partnering with these offices can amplify scholarship promotion efforts.

Collaborative Initiatives:



• Host Informational Sessions: Organize workshops or “Scholarship Info & Snacks” events tailored to specific student communities.
• Co-Develop Communication Materials: Create targeted email campaigns jointly signed by financial aid and student support offices.
• Leverage Peer Networks: Feature diverse student ambassadors in social media promotions.
• Include Support Office Leaders: Engage staff from these offices directly in scholarship review or outreach processes.

Why it works: Student support offices have built-in trust with student populations who may feel overlooked by traditional institutional communications. A collaborative approach signals belonging, connection, and support.

Offer Scholarships with Broad and Inclusive Criteria

Many scholarships unintentionally exclude qualified students due to narrow eligibility requirements.

For example:

• GPA cutoffs may disqualify students whose academic performance has improved dramatically over time.
• “Leadership” language may miss students who support family members, work full-time, or lead in less traditional ways.
• Complex application requirements (e.g., essays, recommendations, separate portals) can deter students with limited support systems.

Consider revising your criteria to:

• Emphasize potential and persistence
• Allow alternate forms of leadership or service
• Remove redundant or high-barrier requirements

Why it works: Equity-focused eligibility opens the door for students whose talent and grit don’t always show up on a transcript.

Share Stories That Reflect a Range of Student Experiences

Students are more likely to apply for a scholarship when they see someone like themselves receiving it. This isn’t just marketing—it’s validation.

Be intentional about showcasing:

• First-generation students
• Adult learners or student parents
• BIPOC students across majors and interests
• Those with nontraditional paths to college

Use quotes, short videos, and photos (with permission) to feature these stories on:

• Scholarship landing pages
• Social media channels
• Faculty newsletters and Canvas/Blackboard announcements

Example quote:

“When I got this scholarship, I stopped worrying about how to pay for childcare and started focusing on graduating. I never thought I’d be a college student at 32, but now I’m getting my degree—and showing my kids what’s possible.” — Jordan, scholarship recipient

Why it works: Authentic representation builds trust and motivation. You’re not just awarding aid—you’re shaping student identities.

Embed Scholarship Promotion in Onboarding and Advising

Don’t wait until mid-semester to tell students about scholarships. Build awareness into the student journey from day one.

Try:

• Including scholarship info during orientation
• Training advisors to ask, “Have you applied for institutional scholarships yet?”
• Adding scholarship links and deadlines to advising dashboards
• Offering scholarship overview sessions during class visits or welcome events

Also consider outreach through student success coaches, TRIO programs, or peer mentors—anyone already working closely with the students you want to reach.

Why it works: Students are more likely to act when scholarship information is integrated into familiar, high-trust moments.

Simplify the Application Process

Application complexity is one of the biggest barriers to access. According to National College Attainment Network, poorly designed scholarship processes can dissuade students who already face significant time and stress constraints.

Use a centralized platform like AwardSpring to:

• Create one common application for all eligible awards
• Auto-match students to relevant opportunities
• Minimize duplication (e.g., re-entering personal or academic info)
• Allow mobile access for students applying on the go

Bonus tip: Offer short, optional scholarship navigation workshops or “application check-ins” via Zoom.

Why it works: Fewer clicks = more completions. The easier it is to apply, the more inclusive your process becomes.

Final Thoughts: Equity Starts with Access

If your goal is to reach more underrepresented students with scholarship support, visibility and design matter just as much as funding levels.

By partnering across campus, telling diverse stories, and simplifying access, your institution can transform scholarships into a truly equitable student success tool.

AwardSpring helps financial aid and scholarship leaders deliver a more inclusive and efficient experience—so no deserving student is left out because they didn’t know, didn’t feel welcome, or couldn’t navigate the system.

Explore how AwardSpring supports equity in scholarship access