NCRF and Fifth Third Bank bring Dallas Black College Expo to Paul Quinn College

National College Resources Foundation will host its 9th annual Dallas Black College Expo on Oct. 17 at Paul Quinn College in Dallas, with Fifth Third Bank as presenter. The free event will connect students with more than 50 colleges, scholarship access and possible same-day admissions during Texas Free College Application Week.

Why it matters: - The free expo gives students direct access to college admissions, scholarships and career resources in one place. - Hosting the event at Paul Quinn College, Dallas’ only HBCU, adds a campus experience tied to Black higher education and student opportunity. - The event lands during Texas Free College Application Week, which can lower the cost of applying to public colleges for Texas residents.

What happened: - National College Resources Foundation will host the 9th Annual Dallas Black College Expo, presented by Fifth Third Bank, on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. - The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Paul Quinn College, 3837 Simpson Stuart Road, Dallas. - The expo is open to high school juniors and seniors, college transfer students, adult learners and their families. - The event is free and open to the public.

The details: - More than 50 colleges are expected to participate, including HBCUs, along with certificate programs and trade schools. - Students can access scholarship information, career resources and next-step guidance for higher education. - Some participating institutions will offer on-the-spot admissions, application fee waivers and scholarships. - Students seeking same-day admission or scholarship review should bring multiple copies of transcripts and ACT or SAT scores. - College transfer students should bring transcripts from every college they have attended. - The expo includes seminars on financial aid, careers, student-athlete planning and college success. - Featured sessions include “How To Find Money for College,” “Money Making Careers,” “411 For the Student Athlete,” and “How to Think and Grow Rich.” - Yo-Yo will lead “How to Get A's in English,” and actor and comedian London Brown will present “From Dreams 2 Realities.” - The day will end with a scholarship presentation, entertainment and cash prizes. - Fifth Third Bank is the presenting sponsor, with additional support from America’s Navy, Foundation Clothing, Casualty Actuarial Society and Columbia College of Chicago. - More information is available here or by calling 877-427-4100.

Between the lines: - The timing during Texas Free College Application Week could make the expo especially useful for students comparing application options and costs. - The same-day admissions and scholarship offers suggest NCRF is using the event as both a recruitment fair and a real-time enrollment pipeline. - Dr. Theresa Price, NCRF founder and CEO, said bringing the expo to a Dallas HBCU campus lets students experience the HBCU environment directly. - Price also said Fifth Third Bank’s commitment to HBCUs will help students and families experience HBCU culture and possible full-ride scholarships if they qualify. - NCRF says it has helped more than 800,000 students gain access to higher education and facilitated more than $5 billion in scholarships and grants since 1999.

What’s next: - NCRF is asking media outlets interested in coverage, interviews with Dr. Theresa Price or credentials to contact Melanie Eke Washington. - The organization continues promoting its broader mission through its College Expos and other student programs. - NCRF says its next focus remains expanding access to college, careers and workforce opportunities for underserved students.

The bottom line: - The Dallas Black College Expo is designed to turn college search day into an admissions and scholarship opportunity, all on a Dallas HBCU campus.