Visa Black Scholars and Jobs Program

FAQs

The Program

What is the Visa Black Scholars & Jobs Program?

The Visa Black Scholars and Jobs Program is a needs-based scholarship program, providing up to $20,000/year, designed for eligible college-bound Black and African American students in the United States.

Scholars will receive mentorship from Visa employees and have opportunities to grow their key technical, professional and leadership skills. Scholarship recipients who have met program expectations and job requirements will be invited to participate in Visa’s summer internship experience and join Visa full-time after graduation.

Why did Visa create the program?

Aligned to Visa’s commitment to an inclusive and diverse environment that supports the development and advancement of all, the establishment of The Visa Black Scholars and Jobs Program is an important step in making a long-term investment in Black and African American students, and growing representation at the company.

What is Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s (TMCF) involvement/role?

Visa is partnering with Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) to attract, source and select the recipients of the Visa Scholars & Jobs program scholarship.

When is the application deadline?

Application deadline is Monday, January 10, 2022, at 11:59 PM EST.

Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply?

The program is open to:

  • Black and African American high school seniors who are applying or intend to enroll in a full-time four-year undergraduate degree, starting in Fall 2022, at any accredited college or university in the U.S.
  • Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have an intention to pursue studies in Technology or Business with an expected graduation date between December 2025 and May 2026.
    • Example Technology majors include: Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Science, Networking, Cybersecurity, or related majors.
    • Example Business majors include: HR, Finance, Marketing, Sales, International Business, or related majors.
  • Students must also possess a minimum of 3.0 GPA in high school and demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the program.
Are the scholarships renewable?

Scholars who continue to meet the criteria, remain in good standing and maintain full-time status and a minimum of 3.0 GPA in university will be eligible for annual scholarship renewals.

Do students have to enroll in TMCF member schools to be eligible for this scholarship?

The program is open to all universities in the United States, both public and private. Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled or intending to enroll as a full-time student in a four-year accredited college or university in the U.S are eligible for participation.

May I apply to the Visa Black Scholars & Jobs Program if I am a freshman in college?

No, this program is limited to current high school senior students and not open to students currently in college. However, if you are interested in opportunities at Visa, please visit visa.com/students to review current opportunities for college students and new grads.

May I apply if my plans are to attend a two-year college first and then transfer to a four-year university?

The program is only open to eligible high school seniors who plan to attend a four-year college or university. The scholarship is not available to students applying to community colleges.

I am undecided on my area of study/major, can I still apply?

Scholars must demonstrate an interest in pursuing Technology or Business majors to be considered for the program, and eventually a full-time job offer at Visa.

  • Example Technology majors include Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Science, Networking, Cybersecurity, or related majors.
  • Example Business majors include HR, Finance, Marketing, Sales, International Business, or related majors.
Are international students on F1 visas eligible to apply?

No. United States citizens and permanent residents who meet all other eligibility requirements are eligible to apply.

Is there a GPA requirement?

Yes. Students must possess a minimum of 3.0 GPA in high school to be eligible. Post-acceptance into the program, scholars will need to maintain 3.0 GPA to be eligible for scholarship renewals.

Can I keep my scholarship if I switch majors or transfer to another university?

The scholarship follows the selected scholars. Scholars must continue to pursue a full-time undergraduate degree in any of the Technology or Business majors outlined above.

What does the selection process entail?
The selection process aims to assess all eligibility requirements and critical skills that will enable your success in the program.

Programmatic

If I’m accepted, what will my experience look like?

Scholars will receive mentorship from Visa employees, have opportunities to grow their key technical, professional and leadership skills, take advantage of year-round training, and be invited to attend a Scholar Summit at Visa Headquarters in Northern California in Spring 2023.

Can scholars intern at Visa?

Scholars will have the opportunity to apply for an internship with Visa starting as early as the summer of their sophomore year.

Is the internship paid, and if so, how much?

Yes, the summer internship is paid. The amount is based on your internship location and will be shared with the student when an offer is made.

If I am selected for this program, is interning with or accepting a full-time offer at Visa a condition of receiving the scholarship?

No. While we hope you will want to join Visa, any internships that you apply for or full-time positions you are offered are optional. Program activities and events that take place while you are on scholarship are required.

More Information

Who can I contact with questions?

For more information about the Visa Black Scholars & Jobs Program, please contact [email protected].

Where can I learn more about the program and Visa?