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While most scholarships are accessible to men and women alike, these scholarships are focused on providing women the opportunity to earn their degrees. These scholarships may be focused on bringing women into a male-dominated field or they may exist to help women who had to leave school because they had a child. Statistics show that students who are parents have especially low rates of degree attainment and most student parents are women. Many STEM fields are currently suffering from a dearth of female leaders, and even simply female professionals. Whether this is caused by sexism or something else, the organizations providing these scholarships understand the importance of having varying viewpoints in a field, and so they strive to increase access to these degrees. While these women will still have challenges to face, they want to make sure that affording their degree is not one of them.

Ways to Help You Pay for Your College Tuition

Scholarships for Women and Women in STEM

Scholarships for women in science and technology fields come from a wide range of sources. Public and private employers seek to address two broad problems. First, the US rates lower than many other advanced nations in producing highly qualified science graduates at the college and post-graduate levels. Second, women have traditionally had fewer opportunities to study in STEM fields and national educational policy seeks to remedy that gap.

Women scholarships for science-focused studies are competitive, need-based, and sometimes specifically aimed at particular groups of female applicants. For example, some scholarships address women with gaps in their education, other awards seek to support women in subject areas of particularly low participation.

Typical qualifications include the minimum education of a high school diploma or applicants about to enter college. Most awards ask for high GPAs both for high school applicants and those enrolled in college or graduate programs. Competitive awards seek students with high scores on the ACT or SAT, and many programs ask for essays that demonstrate the applicant’s commitment to education and a career in a science discipline.

Science Scholarships for Women

STEM has a very specific meaning in the sciences. It stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The term science in the STEM grouping describes one of the classes of science study. In STEM, science refers to the natural sciences of biology, physics, chemistry, etc. Another grouping is social science, but that may be classed as humanities studies.

Science has some mixed categories such as biochemistry, nuclear physics, plant biology, and molecular biology. STEM seeks to reflect real-world applications of sciences such as the intersection of computer science and engineering, or computer engineering. Overall, students can qualify for science awards with college majors in physics, biology, and chemistry.

  • AWIS Kirsten R. Lorentzen Award
    Amount: $2,000
    Deadline: March 15
    Link: https://www.spsnational.org/scholarships/lorentzen

    Applicants must be female students, members of the Society of Physics Students national organization, and enrolled in an accredited institution. They must be in their second or third year, majoring in physics. Physics includes space physics, geophysics, and geoscience. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents. The award supports well-rounded students that have overcome personal obstacles.

  • Priscilla Carney Jones Scholarship
    Amount: $1,500 or more
    Deadline: May 1
    Link: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/funding-and-awards/awards/other/diversity/priscilla-carney-jones-scholarship.html

    This scholarship supports female students seeking degrees in chemistry or chemistry-related subjects. The award group prefers students that plan careers in research. Successful applicants will have a 3.25 GPA or higher, be US citizens, or permanent residents with demonstrated financial need.

  • AWG Minority Scholarship
    Amount: $6,000
    Deadline: June 30
    Link: http://awg.org/awards

    This Association of Women Geoscientists (AWG) scholarship supports minority, female students seeking degrees in the geosciences. The award provides financial aid and matches the student with a career mentor. Eligible applicants should be African American, Hispanic, or Native American. They must be full-time students pursuing a degree in the geosciences including geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and earth science.

  • BHW Group Women in STEM Academic Scholarship
    Amount: $3,000
    Deadline: April 15
    Link: https://thebhwgroup.com/scholarship

    Eligible applicants must be women. The program supports women who are pursuing an undergraduate or master's degree majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Applicants can be high school seniors, first year college students, or students up to graduate levels.

  • Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
    Amount: Up to $42,000
    Deadline: October 7
    Link: https://fosterscholars.noaa.gov/aboutscholarship.html#requirements

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers the Foster scholarship. The program provides support for master’s and doctoral degrees; it particularly encourages women and members of minority groups to apply. Eligible science fields include oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology; this can include ocean and coastal engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, and resource management disciplines.

  • National Medical Fellowship Scholarship Awards
    Amount: $2,000 to $7,500
    Deadline: Contact Organization

    These scholarships are available for female minority students who are attending an accredited medical school program in the United States. Students will need to show academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to serve underrepresented communities in their practice upon graduation. There are several scholarships administered by the same organization. This application will take a bit more documentation, especially in regard to financial aid information, than most.

Technology Scholarships for Women

In the STEM education program, technology covers a broad range of studies. Technology covers many of the traditional fields that have changed with the addition of computers, information systems, and electronic engineering. STEM is an interdisciplinary approach to education that integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into a cohesive design. Technology studies have emerged from innovation and invention. For example, engineering was applied to aerospace, computer development, and geospatial processes. In the process, traditional engineering grew into many specialties or sub-fields.

Technology is not a simple term; it has broad meanings and many uses. Nearly everyone agrees that technology includes topics such as computer programming, data analytics, and computer design. STEM intentionally blurs the distinctions between fields of science, and it integrates learning by stressing practical applications of STEM areas.

  • Michigan Council of Women in Technology
    Amount: $5,000
    Deadline: January 31
    Link: https://mcwt.org/

    This scholarship supports Michigan’s women students seeking degrees in computer science at a Michigan college or University. Students must be (or are about to be) enrolled in an accredited Michigan college or university studying in Information Technology or a related field. Listed fields include information systems, computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, computer information systems, digital forensics, and software engineering.

  • Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing and Design (WiSTEM2D)
    Amount: Varies
    Deadline: November 3
    Link: https://www.jnj.com/wistem2d-university-scholars

    This Johnson & Johnson scholarship supports female students seeking degrees in a wide range of technology disciplines. Eligible applicants can reside in any country and pursue studies toward a career in any area of physical science studies.

  • Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship
    Amount: $7,000
    Deadline: March 22
    Link: https://www.palantir.com/students/scholarship/wit-north-america/

    This scholarship supports active, full-time undergraduate students that identify as women. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited US, Canadian, or Mexican college or university. Applicants must be first year, sophomore, or junior students majoring in or planning to major in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) fields.

  • Center for Women in Technology-CWIT Scholars
    Amount: $5,000-$15,000 for in-state students & $10,000-$22,000 for out-of-state students $22,000 for out of state
    Deadline: January 15
    Link: https://cwit.umbc.edu/cwitscholars/

    This scholarship supports women students seeking degrees in technology, engineering, and information technology fields at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Eligible students may be from Maryland or other states, US citizens, or permanent residents.

Engineering Scholarships for Women

The field of engineering includes a wide range of fields of study and career practice; they include structural mechanical, electrical, aviation, and computer engineering. Engineering affects nearly everyone in the world. Nearly every human endeavor involves engineering, from transportation, clean water, food production, and the electronic marvels of the computer age. Women do not participate in the engineering professions in numbers that reflect their overall participation in the workforce. Governments, private companies, and other employers have invested millions of dollars to support higher participation by women.

Typical engineering scholarships for women require high GPAs, a solid base of math and science studies, and a commitment to engineering education, and a career in an engineering related field. While nearly every area of engineering seeks female candidates, the impact of computer engineering on the modern world puts special emphasis on this field of engineering among advocates for women’s engineering education.

  • Society of Women Engineers (Sophomore through Graduate)
    Amount: $3,000
    Deadline: February 14
    Link: https://swe.org/

    This scholarship supports women students seeking degrees in ABET-accredited engineering programs. The awards cover second year students through graduate study. The Society of Women Engineers is an advocacy group as well as an impactful resource for promoting increased female participation in engineering.

  • UPS Scholarship for Female Students
    Amount: $4,000
    Deadline: November 15
    Link: https://www.iise.org/Details.aspx?id=857

    This scholarship supports female students seeking degrees in industrial engineering. Students may be enrolled in any school or organization recognized by the IISE. Students must have a 3.40 GPA on a 4.0 scale and be active members of a student chapter of the IISE

  • Society of Women Engineers (First-Year Students)
    Amount: $3,000
    Deadline: May 1
    Link: https://scholarships.swe.org/applications/login.asp/

    This scholarship supports first-year female students in their first year of college. They must be seeking degrees in engineering, engineering technology, computer science, or computer engineering. Awards must go to students attending ABET-accredited programs and majoring in a qualifying engineering-based major course of study.

  • Women Techmakers
    Amount: Varies
    Deadline: TBA
    Link: https://developers.google.com/womentechmakers

    This scholarship supports women students seeking undergraduate, master’s, and PhD degrees in computer engineering and computer science.

  • Women in Aviation International Scholarship
    Amount: Varies
    Deadline: December 9
    Link: https://www.wai.org/education/scholarships

    The Women in Aviation scholarship program awarded more than $948,000 in 2019. Eligible applicants must be licensed pilots, members of the WIA, identify as female, and be enrolled in a community college, baccalaureate, or graduate engineering program in aviation and aerospace technology.

  • Society of Women Engineers - Re-Entry Scholarships
    Amount: Varies
    Deadline: Freshmen - May 1; Upper-classmen - February 14
    Link: https://scholarships.swe.org/applications/login.asp

    Students that have been out of school for a minimum of two years can apply for assistance. They must be willing to return on a full-time or part-time basis. This award has no minimum GPA. Students must declare as first year students or re-entry candidates.

Mathematics Scholarships for Women

Mathematics is a formal science and it forms the basis for nearly every STEM field of study. Mathematics involves more than tallying numbers. Logic and statistics are also math-based fields. Math studies at the bachelor’s and graduate levels seek to integrate mathematical concepts and thinking into a broader education. These majors support engineering, technology, and computer science studies and is a base for research disciplines that require statistics and analysis. Math is a necessary part of IT and data science curricula.

  • AAUW- Selected Professions Fellowship- Mathematics
    Amount: $18,000
    Deadline: December 1
    Link: https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/fellowships-grants/

    This scholarship supports female graduate and professional students seeking degrees in mathematics. They must also be citizens of the US or permanent residents. Applicants must be full-time students at an accredited US college or university. Selection criteria include professional promise, academic excellence, and financial need.

  • Gertrude M. Cox Scholarship, ASA
    Amount: $1,000
    Deadline: February 23
    Link: https://www.amstat.org/ASA/Your-Career/Awards/Gertrude-M-Cox-Scholarship.aspx

    The American Statistical Association Committee on Women in Statistics supports female students. The scholarship supports graduate level women students seeking degrees in statistics and related professions. The awards go to early stage master’s students and late stage PhD candidates.

  • Virginia Henlein Scholarships - Mathematics
    Amount: $2,000
    Deadline: May 15
    Link: https://www.heinleinsociety.org/category/educationnews/scholarships/

    This scholarship supports female students seeking degrees in mathematics, engineering, or physical science. Applicants must be full-time students enrolled at an accredited two-year, four-year, or graduate program. Mathematics is a named eligible major. Applicants may be residents of any country.

  • HENAAC Scholars Program
    Amount: Varies
    Deadline: April 1
    Link: https://greatmindsinstem.org/gmis-scholarship-application/gmis-scholarships/

    This scholarship program supports Hispanic, female students seeking degrees in math-related and STEM disciplines. Applicants of either gender can apply; applicants must maintain a 3.0 GPA. The program selects applicants with Hispanic heritage.

  • Great Minds in Stem
    Amount: Varies
    Deadline: Varies
    Link: https://greatmindsinstem.org/gmis-scholarship-application/gmis-scholarships/

    The GMIS group offers undergraduate and graduate scholarships for under-represented groups, including women. Eligible applicants will be graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, or graduate students from a traditionally under-served or underrepresented group in science, technology, engineering, or math.

  • Aysen Tunca Memorial Scholarship
    Amount: $2,000
    Deadline: March 15
    Link: https://www.spsnational.org/scholarships/tunca

    Applicants must be female students in their sophomore or junior year of college who are majoring mathematics or another STEM field. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents who attend a college or university in the United States. Applicants must be undergraduate members of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) national organization.

Other Science Fields

STEM is a dominant force in education policy in the US and globally. Many education policy makers acknowledge that there may be reasons to broaden STEM to include a greater emphasis on social sciences. Many social science disciplines have rigorous requirements for mathematics, mathematical analysis, statistics, and/or logic.

Education policy makers sometimes refer to the amended STEM concept as STEAM. The A stands for Arts and Humanities. STEM or STEAM have identical goals; namely, to prepare a generation of students for the challenges and opportunities they will likely face. STEAM accepts the reality that focusing on the “hard” sciences can leave critical gaps in the leadership and workforce of the future.

  • AAUW – Career Development Grants
    Amount: $12,000
    Deadline: August 1
    Link: https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/fellowships-grants/current-opportunities/career-development/

    This scholarship supports women students seeking degrees in technical or professional fields. Eligible applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents whose last degree award date was before June 30, 2015. Scholarship funds can pay tuition, fees, books, dependent care, and/or expenses. Students must attend DOE-accredited institutions in the US. Students can attend two-year, four-year, or master’s level educational programs.

  • Dr. Wynetta Frazier “Sister-to-Sister” Scholarship
    Amount: $500
    Deadline: February 28

    This scholarship is for African-American women who are at least 21 years of age or older who are in a bachelor's program but have had their education interrupted by the needs of caring for family members or by financial difficulties. This scholarship can also be for women who have been unable to attend college due to the needs of caring for their family or financial difficulties. The scholarship application requires a 450 to 500-word essay, transcripts, two and two letters of recommendation.

  • International Women in Media Scholarship
    Amount: $1,000
    Deadline: July 1

    Everipedia.org, which is developing an encyclopedia in blockchain format, has a scholarship for women who are graduating high school seniors or current college students. Applicants are required to create a page on the encyclopedia about a woman journalist.

  • Jeanette Rankin Foundation Scholarship
    Amount: $5,000
    Deadline: March 31

    This scholarship is unique in that it targets women who are aged 35 or older as they work to attend a technical or vocational school or school of higher education. 85% of the women who receive the award are single mothers who have struggled to pay for higher education. Candidates must be able to explain how their higher education plans will help them and explain how they will in turn help their community.

    Note: The same foundation offers a needs-based scholarship for women 25 years and older who are residents of the state of Georgia.

  • O Wines Opportunity for Success Scholarships
    Amount: $5,000
    Deadline: Contact Organization

    This organization provides eight scholarships per year for female graduating seniors to attend a four-year bachelor's program as a full time student. The student may enter college with any degree major. The awards are needs-based.

  • AAUW International Fellowships
    Amount: $30,000
    Deadline: November 15

    These scholarships are unique in that they are not awarded to U.S. citizens. They are awarded to female foreign nationals for full-time study or research in the United States. One can receive an award for either undergraduate or graduate instruction. The applicants will need to have a bachelor's degree. Five of the awards each year may be renewed for a second year. Successful scholars in this program have shown through either work professionally, or in their communities, their commitment to the advancement of females in society.

  • Civil Air Patrol Col. Mary Feik Flight Scholarship
    Amount: Varies
    Deadline: Varies

    This is a unique scholarship for flight school expenses that can be used to pay for ground school, or flight training. The eligible candidate must be a female CAP cadet who has attained the age of 15 by June 1. The candidate must also have earned the Wright Brothers Award and have a Third-Class medical certificate, student pilot certificate, and a TSA background check. The scholarship can be used towards the expenses for pilot certification.

  • Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship
    Amount: $2,000 (32 Awards); $8,000 (6 Awards)
    Deadline: Varies by region

    This scholarship fund endows 32 grants of $2,000 each within the U.S. and six grants of $8,000 each internationally to women who show promise in the field of business leadership in order to pursue accredited business programs. The awards are for both undergraduate and graduate work. Applicants must be at least at the sophomore undergraduate level.