The AICPA Scholarship Award for Minority Accounting Students is part of the AICPA Legacy Scholarships. Students interested in being considered for more than one AICPA Legacy Scholarship need to complete only one application — applicants will be evaluated for all awards for which they are eligible in the program. All applications must be completed and submitted by the deadline to be considered.

This award provides financial assistance to outstanding minority students to encourage their pursuit of accounting as a major and their ultimate entry into the profession.

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Scholarship payments are sent directly to the student’s financial aid office to be used towards payment of tuition and expenses directly related to obtaining a degree. This award is renewable; however, renewals are neither automatic nor guaranteed. Students who wish to renew their scholarship award must reapply the following year.

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Program Background

The AICPA 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.

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Funding is provided by 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

An eligible applicant must be/have:

• 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 end of spring 2023.
• 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 2023-24 academic year; fall 2023 and spring 2024. (Note: Students graduating upon completion of fall 2023 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.
• Some financial need (i.e., not receiving a full or partial scholarship(s) and/or grant(s) that combined cover and/or exceed one’s educational expenses).
• Enrolled in a business and/or accounting program that is regionally, nationally or internationally accredited for the full 2023-24 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.
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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.

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• Willingness to remain engaged with the AICPA and to provide feedback for the development of this and other programs by the Association.

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