11 Scholarships for Future Computer Science Majors
Navigating the journey from high school to a dream college often feels like an exciting, yet complex, maze for many students. A significant part of this journey is not just about securing admission into the perfect college, but also finding ways to finance the subsequent pivotal stage in education. With higher education costs soaring by over 30% in the past decade, strategic financial planning is indispensable. Scholarships, particularly for computer science students, serve as a viable and practical avenue to defray these burgeoning expenses.
Embarking on the scholarship application journey early can substantially boost your chances of receiving an award. It can alleviate future financial pressure, allowing you to focus more on your studies. For high school sophomores eyeing a future in the thriving field of computer science, beginning this process now can be your launchpad to a less financially strained college experience. Not only do these scholarships offer monetary aid, but they can also serve to enhance your academic profile, making you a compelling candidate for universities.
10 Scholarships for Future Computer Science Majors
1. Women at Microsoft Scholarships
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: March 15, 2023
Eligibility: 12th graders
Application Requirements: High school transcript and essay
The Women at Microsoft Scholarship is a rewarding opportunity for high school seniors and current undergraduate women and non-binary students planning to pursue a career in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). To qualify, applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and plan to attend an accredited 2-4 year college or university in the U.S. (or a U.S. affiliate program) in the upcoming academic year. The scholarship selection committee looks for an applicant’s engagement plan in a STEAM industry, their enthusiasm for technology, and their vision of technology’s transformative power in the world.
The scholarship may be used for tuition, room and board, or class fees, with awards based on financial need, scholastic achievement, and a passion for technology. Applications typically open in January and close around mid-March. The application should be submitted online via the Scholarship America portal, including documents demonstrating academic record, leadership, work experience, career goals, and an online recommendation.
2. Google’s Generation Google Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: March 15, 2023
Eligibility: 12th grade
Application Requirements: High school transcript, resume and recommendation letters
The Generation Google Scholarship is designed to aid students pursuing computer science degrees who aspire to excel in technology and become leaders in the field. Awards are given based on each candidate’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, their demonstrated leadership, and academic performance. The program encourages students from groups historically excluded from the tech industry, including Women, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, to apply.
Applicants must demonstrate a strong academic record, financial need, and exemplify leadership while showing passion for improving underrepresented groups’ representation in computer science and technology. The application process includes providing general and family background information, a resume/CV, a recommendation letter, academic transcripts, and responses to short essay questions.
3. The National Science Foundation (NSF) S-STEM Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 20, 2024 (Track 1), March 28, 2024 (Track 2)
Eligibility: High schoolers, undergraduates, and graduate students
Application Requirements: School transcript and institutional nomination
The National Science Foundation S-STEM Scholarship program provides financial support to students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The scholarship amount varies and is determined based on the financial needs of the applicant. A unique feature of this scholarship is that candidates must be nominated by their institution to be considered.
Therefore, applicants should demonstrate exceptional academic performance and potential in their respective STEM fields to earn their institution’s nomination. Alongside the nomination, students must submit a formal application to be eligible for this scholarship.
4. Palantir Future Scholarship
Amount: $7,000
Deadline: May 18, 2023
Eligibility: Undergraduate students
Application Requirements: Must be majoring in computer science, software engineering or a closely related field
Established in 2016, the Palantir Future Scholarship aims to support students from racial and ethnic communities underrepresented in STEM fields. The scholarship is especially interested in students attending US-based Minority Serving Institutions. Recipients are awarded a grant of $7,000 to support their education.
Eligible students should be undergraduate students, actively enrolled in an accredited college or university in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. They should be majoring, or plan to major, in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field. Candidates should identify as a member of a racial or ethnic community underrepresented in STEM, such as but not limited to, Black/African-American, Latinx/Hispanic, and Indigenous heritage. Previous recipients of the Palantir scholarship are not eligible to apply.
In addition to the financial award, scholarship recipients are invited to participate in professional development workshops to help them prepare for a successful career in technology, and have the opportunity to interview for internship and full-time roles at Palantir.
5. Lockheed Martin STEM Education Scholarship
Amount: $10,000, renewable up to three times ($40,000)
Deadline: March 31, 2023
Eligibility: 12th graders
Application Requirements: Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen, 2.5 GPA or above and interested in Lockheed internship
The Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship Program was launched in 2018 to support the academic endeavors of college students across the nation, particularly those from diverse and historically underrepresented communities in STEM fields. Each year, the program awards $10,000 to 200 students studying engineering or computer science at a 4-year college or university. Recipients can renew the scholarship up to three times, reaching a total potential value of $40,000 per student.
To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. citizens with demonstrated financial need, either a high school senior or an undergraduate student (freshman, sophomore, or junior) with a 2.5 GPA or above. They must be enrolled or planning to enroll in specified majors including Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and others. Additionally, the applicants should have an interest in a paid internship with Lockheed Martin.
6. NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award
Amount: Varies, ranging from cash to computing paraphernalia
Deadline: November 6, 2023
Eligibility: Grades 9-12
Application Requirements: Must be a woman, genderqueer, or non-binary student pursuing computing-related interests.
Launched by the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), the Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Award is open to 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, or non-binary students. It recognizes their computing-related achievements and interests and encourages them to pursue their passions in technology and computing. The selection is based on the students’ computing experience, related activities, leadership, tenacity, and future plans.
The AiC Award has a multi-tiered structure with Winner, Honorable Mention, and Rising Star designations at both National and Regional Affiliate levels, covering all 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, all U.S. overseas military bases, and Canada.
To be eligible, applicants must be 13 years of age or older, have parental approval (if under 18), and attend a school in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or on a U.S. overseas military base. For National Awards, additional criteria include being a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or meeting the substantial presence test requirements, and possessing a U.S. Tax Identification or Social Security Number.
7. Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers ScholarSHPE
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 9, 2023
Eligibility: 12th graders, undergraduate students, and graduate students
Application Requirements: Cumulative 2.5 GPA, interest in pursuing STEM degree, plan to enroll in accredited 2 or 4-year college/university
The ScholarSHPE Program is an initiative by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) aimed at supporting Hispanic students pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) degrees. The program is designed to address the financial needs of Hispanic students, which often contribute to lower bachelor’s degree completion rates.
The ScholarSHPE program offers scholarships to a variety of individuals:
- Graduating high school seniors who are about to start a STEM undergraduate career at a community college or 4-year university.
- Undergraduate students at any stage of their undergraduate career, studying a STEM field full-time at a community college or 4-year university.
- Students or professionals seeking to increase their professional competencies through technical certificates or graduate-level professional education at select institutions.
- Graduate students enrolled in a master’s or doctoral STEM degree program at an accredited university.
The minimum requirements for all scholarships include being an active SHPE member, having a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, planning to pursue a STEM degree, and planning to enroll at an accredited two-year or four-year college/university in the U.S. (including all U.S. territories) for the 2023-2024 academic year.
8. Microsoft Disability Scholarship
Amount: $5,000 to $20,000 per year
Deadline: March 15, 2023
Eligibility: 12th graders
Application Requirements: Must be a person living with a disability, with proven interest in pursuing an undergraduate program at an accredited 2 or 4-year college/university
The Microsoft Disability Scholarship is aimed at supporting high school seniors with disabilities who aspire to pursue a career in the technology industry. The scholarship is renewable, allowing recipients to get $5,000 per year for up to four years, totalling $20,000. For 2023, a total of eight scholarships will be awarded.
Eligibility criteria include being a high school senior living with a disability, planning to attend a 2 or 4-year undergraduate program, declaring a major in approved fields such as engineering, computer science, law, business, or related fields, demonstrating a passion for technology and leadership, having a high school cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and requiring financial assistance for college.
Applicants need to submit an official or unofficial copy of their current academic transcript, an essay related to their experience with disability and vision for technology innovation, and a letter of recommendation from a faculty member, staff member, or community member. The letter should be original and cannot be from a relative.
9. Google Lime Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: December 5, 2023
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD program
Application Requirements: Applicant must be enrolled in a university in either the U.S or Canada, and must study computer science or a closely related field
The Google Lime Scholarship, in partnership with Lime Connect, is designed for students with disabilities studying in the U.S. or Canada who are pursuing a Computer Science or Computer Engineering degree, or a closely related field. The scholarship offers a monetary reward of $10,000 for U.S. students and $5,000 for Canadian students, considering the tuition costs.
Eligible applicants must be current undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. students enrolled at a university in the U.S. or Canada, including freshmen, first-years, and international students. They must be continuing their studies or intend to be enrolled full-time in a new program in the 2023-2024 academic year. A strong academic performance is required, along with a visible or invisible disability and a demonstrated commitment to computer science and technology.
10. The Gates Scholarship
Amount: Full funding for cost of attendance at college/university
Deadline: September 15, 2023
Eligibility: 12th grader
Application Requirements: Enrolled in an accredited 2 or 4-year college/university
The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a prestigious, last-dollar scholarship aimed at outstanding minority high school seniors from low-income households. It is designed to help these students achieve their maximum potential by covering the full cost of attendance (including tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation, and potentially other personal costs) that isn’t already addressed by other financial aid or the expected family contribution.
The ideal candidate for the scholarship will have an outstanding academic record (being in the top 10% of their graduating class), demonstrate leadership abilities (such as through community service or extracurricular activities), and possess exceptional personal success skills (like emotional maturity, motivation, and perseverance). Applicant must be from at least one of the following ethnicities: African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American and must be a U.S citizen or permanent resident.
11. CollegeVine Scholarships
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Quarterly
Eligibility: High school student and U.S. resident
Application Requirements: Create a free CollegeVine account or fill out chancing profile if you already have an account.
CollegeVine offers a regular, no-essay scholarship of $2,000 every quarter. The process is simple—just create a free account! With an account, you’ll be able to estimate your odds of acceptance at more than 1,600 schools, get peer reviews on your essays, participate in their community forum, and access other valuable resources. If you are an existing user, ensure that your chancing profile is updated.
The scholarship money is directly paid to students to aid in meeting their educational expenses. To get more details about the CollegeVine scholarships, please visit their website.
