Milken Institute HBCU Fellowship Program 2025-2026
- Omran Aburayya
- Sep 1
- 3 min read
If you’re an ambitious sophomore enrolled at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), here’s your chance to join a transformative program bridging academia and asset management. The Milken Institute HBCU Fellowship Program is now open for the 2025–2026 cohort—and it could be your launchpad into the finance world. Here's everything you need to know.
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Program Name: Milken Institute HBCU Strategic Initiative & Fellowship Program
Level: Undergraduate — specifically targets sophomore students
Target Group: Academically competitive students from select HBCUs
Location: Virtual curriculum with in-person networking events (U.S. based among participating institutions)
Fields of Focus: Finance, capital markets, asset management, economic development, including buy-side asset management, private equity, hedge funds, venture capital, and FinTech
Program Duration: Eight-course (or eight-week) structured curriculum, upgraded to multi-year support including summer practicums
Application Deadline: Not specified publicly—interested students are encouraged to apply early
📚 Program Overview
Launched in early 2023, the Milken Institute HBCU Fellowship Program is part of the Institute’s Inclusive Capitalism initiative. It equips high-potential sophomores from HBCUs with an eight-course finance curriculum, delivered in partnership with ViableEDU, covering foundational and advanced topics such as capital markets, asset management, FinTech, and economic development .
The program’s objectives are threefold:
Recruit and cultivate academically competitive students from HBCUs, directing them toward internships and careers with top-tier asset management firms.
Provide tailored training—both academic and professional—to develop financial acumen and career readiness.
Connect fellows with industry leaders, alumni, experts, and alumni networks to build a robust foundation for future leadership in asset management.
In 2025, the program expanded from a one-year fellowship to a multi-year commitment, offering summer practicums and extended mentorship with the explicit goal of helping Fellows secure full-time employment in the asset management industry .
🎁 Program Benefits
Comprehensive Financial Education: The eight-course/eight-week curriculum from ViableEDU provides foundational and advanced knowledge in finance and asset management.
Professional Development: Workshops, simulations, and networking opportunities designed to improve leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills .
Networking Access: Exclusive engagement with Milken Institute convenings, industry executives, innovators, and policymakers .
Mentorship: One-on-one guidance from seasoned professionals in finance to support career planning and trajectory.
Alumni Network: Connection to a growing cohort of HBCU alumni and Milken Institute fellows, fostering a community of driven, like-minded individuals.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Enrollment at an HBCU as a sophomore undergraduate student
Demonstrated ambition, drive, and vision to impact the financial sector
Academically competitive—equipped to engage rigorously with the curriculum
📝 Application Procedure
Access the application: Visit the Milken Institute’s HBCU Fellowship program page
Submit required materials:
Completed application form
Cover letter
Current resume
Submit early to remain competitive—competition is selective and deadline unspecified.
Await notification regarding selection—those chosen will join the 2025–2026 cohort and proceed through the multi-year curriculum and practicum stages.
💡 Why This Matters
The HBCU Fellowship Program isn’t just an educational experience—it’s a strategic bridge into a historically exclusive industry. Asset management firms have seen limited representation from women- and diverse-owned firms, controlling only 1.4% of over $82 trillion, with just 0.1% growth in the past decade .
HBCUs produce 25% of all STEM bachelor’s degrees and 14% of African American engineering degrees, highlighting their critical role in cultivating future leaders—but the pipeline into finance and asset management has been sparse. This program plugs that gap by offering training, access, and pathways that otherwise remain limited .
🚀 Final Thoughts
The Milken Institute HBCU Fellowship Program 2025–2026 presents a unique blend of academic, professional, and network-driven opportunities to help emerging leaders from HBCUs break into asset management. With its expanded multi-year framework, summer internships, elite curriculum, and mentorship, this program is more than a fellowship—it’s a launchpad.
