For the past 30 years, BISA has been operating a successful scholarship program targeted for inner-city and financially needy young black high school women to attend colleges and universities across America. First criterion for selection is financial need, second, they demonstrate potential for academic growth and leadership and third, they are able to provide some clues about their career goals. BISA's scholarship assistance program is clearly targeted for disenfranchised and economically disadvantaged young black women, beginning in the year they graduate from high school and continuing for 2 to 4 years of undergraduate education. BISA has had 96 graduates from its scholarship support program and will support 18 continuing students during the 2011-2012 school year
BISA's supportive services (hands-on-approach) are provided for each student over the entire two or four years of undergraduate study. These Services include: financial support, books, transportation, tutoring, mentoring, counseling (students and parents), networking among distinguished black women, on-site-visits, BISA's books and calendars of distinguished black women, and monthly contacts by assigned BISA member. Each student is provided a (1) 800 number for easy access to BISA on a 24-hour basis.
In 1995, BISA joined the Combined Federal Campaign and expanded its scholarship program to serve residents by initiating resident-partnership programs on campuses at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. BISA currently administers a $395,000 National Scholarship Program that helps to support 40 to 50 eligible students over a four-year time span.