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General

CBC Spouses Essay Contest

Offered by Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

The CBC Spouses Essay Contest is varies (amount not published by the sponsor), scholarship from Congressional Black Caucus Foundation for high school seniors across the United States. The sponsor does not publish a minimum GPA. The deadline is Annually, late March (applications open early January). It is a one-time award.

Award amountVaries (amount not published by the sponsor)
DeadlineAnnually, late March (applications open early January)
SponsorCongressional Black Caucus Foundation
Minimum GPANone published by the sponsor
Who can applyHigh school seniors
LocationNational
Race requirementBlack students only
RenewableNo
Essay requiredYes
Official pagecbcfinc.org
Last verified

About the CBC Spouses Essay Contest

The CBC Spouses Essay Contest is open to qualified African American and Black high school juniors and seniors. It is one of the few Congressional Black Caucus Foundation awards aimed at students who have not yet started college, and it runs on the foundation's common early-January to late-March cycle through the CBCF scholarship portal.

Black students only. The sponsor's own eligibility criteria specifically name Black or African American students.

Who is eligible

To apply for the CBC Spouses Essay Contest, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation requires that you meet all of the following:

  • Be a qualified African American or Black high school junior or senior
  • Submit an essay through the CBCF scholarship portal
  • Not be an immediate relative of a Congressional Black Caucus Member

These are the requirements as published by the sponsor. Always confirm on the official page before applying, since sponsors update criteria between cycles.

Cycle status. The 2026 cycle ran January 5 to March 27, 2026 and has closed.

How to apply

  1. Open the official Congressional Black Caucus Foundation page and read the current criteria in full.
  2. Confirm you meet every requirement listed above before starting.
  3. Draft the required essay early and have someone read it.
  4. Gather supporting documents, which typically include transcripts and recommendations.
  5. Submit before Annually, late March (applications open early January). Sponsors rarely accept late applications.

Go to the official application at cbcfinc.academicworks.com →

CBC Spouses Essay Contest: common questions

What is the CBC Spouses Essay Contest?

The CBC Spouses Essay Contest is a scholarship worth Varies (amount not published by the sponsor) from Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. The CBC Spouses Essay Contest is open to qualified African American and Black high school juniors and seniors. It is one of the few Congressional Black Caucus Foundation awards aimed at students who have not yet started college, and it runs on the foundation's common early-January to late-March cycle through the CBCF scholarship portal.

Who is eligible for the CBC Spouses Essay Contest?

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation requires that applicants be a qualified African American or Black high school junior or senior, along with 2 further requirements: submit an essay through the CBCF scholarship portal; not be an immediate relative of a Congressional Black Caucus Member. The sponsor's own eligibility criteria specifically name Black or African American students.

What is the deadline for the CBC Spouses Essay Contest?

This award does not have a fixed published deadline. Its usual cycle is: Annually, late March (applications open early January). The 2026 cycle ran January 5 to March 27, 2026 and has closed.

Is there a GPA requirement for the CBC Spouses Essay Contest?

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation does not publish a minimum GPA for this award. That usually means applications are assessed holistically, with essays, financial need, recommendations, and community involvement weighed alongside grades.

Is the CBC Spouses Essay Contest only for Black students?

Yes. Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's own eligibility criteria specifically name Black or African American students.

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