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Scholarship &
Financial Aid

Applying for college money can feel like learning a new language. Below, we've broken down the basics — what kind of aid exists, how to apply, and a few facts about the schools and culture that shape this work.

Krewe of Pyros Scholarship Resources emblem — a gold fleur-de-lis on a black background with gold and burgundy ribbon accents

Need-Based vs. Merit-Based Awards

There are two broad categories of scholarships and grants:

  • Need-based financial aid — awarded strictly according to your family's demonstrated financial need.
  • Merit scholarships — awarded based on academic, athletic, or artistic achievement, or a connection to a particular group like a church, civic group, or krewe.

An essential first step for need-based aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Because many merit scholarships — including many of ours — also require a completed FAFSA on file, we recommend every applicant start there, regardless of which type of aid they're ultimately pursuing.

Application Tips

  • File the FAFSA as early as possible. Some aid is awarded first-come, first-served. The FAFSA opens each fall for the following academic year.
  • Apply broadly. Local and community-based scholarships — like ours — typically have far less competition than national awards, and they add up.
  • Read every requirement twice. Missing essays, letters, or transcripts are the most common reasons strong applicants get disqualified.
  • Keep a single folder with your transcripts, current resume, two to three recommendation letters, and a general personal statement you can adapt.
  • Watch deadlines for both the scholarship and the FAFSA — they are not the same date.
  • Ask. Many scholarship committees, including ours, are happy to answer eligibility questions before you apply.

What Is an HBCU?

A Historically Black College or University (HBCU) is an institution of higher education established before 1964 with the principal mission of educating Black Americans — most founded in the decades after the Civil War. There are just over 100 HBCUs in the United States today. Though they make up only a small share of the nation's colleges, they produce a disproportionate share of Black college graduates nationally, and an even larger share of Black graduates in STEM fields.

HBCUs of Louisiana

  • Dillard University (New Orleans) — founded 1869, Louisiana's first HBCU.
  • Xavier University of Louisiana (New Orleans) — founded 1925, the nation's only historically Black and Catholic university; a national leader in producing Black graduates in biomedical and physical sciences.
  • Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge) — founded 1880, home of the "Human Jukebox" marching band.
  • Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) — founded 1956.
  • Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) — founded 1964, a two-year institution.
  • Grambling State University — founded 1901 by Black farmers determined to bring higher education to north Louisiana.

HBCUs Serving the DMV

  • Washington, D.C.: Howard University, University of the District of Columbia
  • Maryland: Bowie State, Coppin State, Morgan State
  • Virginia: Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University

Fun Facts

  • Southern University's "Human Jukebox" has performed at multiple Super Bowls and presidential inaugurations.
  • Xavier University of Louisiana leads the nation in Black graduates who go on to earn degrees in the biomedical sciences.
  • Grambling State University was founded by a group of Black farmers in 1901 — a grassroots origin story for an institution that has produced NFL Hall of Famers and the Grammy-nominated "World Famed" Tiger Marching Band.
  • Many HBCU marching bands, drumlines, and majorette traditions share rhythmic DNA with New Orleans brass bands and bounce music — another thread tying Louisiana culture to the broader HBCU experience.

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