21 Awesome Scholarships for Women in STEM

What’s Covered:

• 21 Scholarships for Women in STEM
• How Outside Scholarships Impact Your Financial Aid Award
• 5 Tips for Applying for Scholarships

To diversify their workforces, corporations and organizations in science and technology sectors are striving to include voices that are under-represented within STEM fields. As a result, scholarships have been created to assist minorities and females in joining the STEM workforce. In this post, we’ll go through 21 awesome scholarships for women in STEM.

21 Scholarships for Women in STEM

1. The Science Ambassador Scholarship

Amount: Full tuition 

Deadline: Application open in the fall

Eligibility: Female high school senior or college undergraduate

Application Requirements: Three-minute video of yourself explaining a STEM topic that you’re passionate about

The Science Ambassador Scholarship is a full-tuition award for women studying science, technology, engineering, or math funded by the party game Cards Against Humanity. This is one of the most generous scholarships for women in STEM you’ll find! The only requisite is to record a three-minute video on any STEM topic, which you then submit to YouTube. Make a short video that is structured like a mini-lecture. Ensure that the material is scientifically correct and that you source your information. Because the judges are concerned with substance, don’t worry about production quality.

2. Society of Women Engineers Scholarship Program

Amount: $15,000

Deadline: Mid-February

Eligibility:

• Identify as a female/woman
• Planning on studying full-time at an ABET-accredited program in engineering, technology, or computing in the upcoming academic year

Application Requirements:

• Transcript
• Resume
• FAFSA
• 2 Recommendations (personal and faculty) 

SWE has been a driving force for women in engineering since before World War II. The organization provides scholarships for females studying at the undergraduate and graduate levels. SWE has more than 260 scholarship funds for engineering fields in general or specific areas such as computer science. These scholarships provide $1 million in financial assistance for female students every year. This also offers excellent possibilities for mentoring, networking, and getting started in an engineering profession.

3. PixelPlex Bi-Annual STEM Scholarship

Amount: $2,000

Deadline: June 5 and December 5 (bi-annually)

Eligibility:

• United States Citizen
• At the date of the award, you must be enrolled (or accepted with plans to attend) in a college or university in the United States.
• Your field of study is related to science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), economics, or business.

Application Requirements:

• An essay with a minimum of 1200 words (no maximum word limit) on one of the following topics; Blockchain, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, or Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality

PixelPlex is a consulting and custom software development firm that provides a bi-annual scholarship to students interested in STEM, economics, and business. Each award cycle, one student is chosen based on the quality of their written essay.

4. Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship

Amount: $7,000 

Deadline: Late-March

Eligibility:

• Identify as a woman
• Freshman, sophomore, or junior majoring in or planning to major in STEM
• A full-time undergraduate student enrolled in an accredited U.S., Canadian, or Mexican college/university in both the current and upcoming academic year

Application Requirements:

• Transcript
• Resume
• Answer 2 short (200-400 word) essay questions 
  • What project have you worked on or participated in that you felt had a significant impact? What was your contribution to this project? 
  • Tell us about an opportunity that you took advantage of. How did you make the most of it?

The Palantir Women in Technology program, founded by the software company Palantir in 2010, is one of the most valuable scholarships for women in STEM. 10  recipients receive $7,000 grants, along with an all-expenses-paid trip to the company’s Palo Alto, California headquarters where they will participate in a developmental workshop. 

5. BHW Women in STEM Scholarship

Amount: $3,000

Deadline: April 15, 2020 

Eligibility:

• Female
• Pursuing an undergraduate or master’s degree and majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) 
• Attending or planning to attend college or university in the U.S.  

Application Requirements:

• 500-800 word essay on one of two prompts: Tell us about your favorite app and what you like about it OR Tell us about a time an app played a significant role in improving your day.

BHW is an Austin, Texas based software development firm that’s made up of designers, developers, and architects who are enthusiastic about programming and building intuitive apps. The BHW Women in STEM Scholarship, which is one of the most coveted STEM scholarships for women, offers a $3,000 bonus for a winning essay about applications.

6. Virginia Heinlein Memorial Scholarship

Amount: $2,500

Deadline: April 1, 2020

Eligibility:

• Full-time female undergraduate student enrolled in an accredited college that awards Bachelor of Science or Arts degrees
• Majoring in Engineering, Math, or Biological or Physical Sciences

Application Requirements:

• A short bio including career goals 
• A 500- to 1,000-word essay on one of seven topics

The Virginia “Ginny” Heinlein Memorial Scholarship, named after an American chemist, biochemist, and engineer who also married Robert A. Heinlein’s third wife (also known as the Robert A. and Virginia (Ginny) Heinlein Endowed Scholarships), is given to a female student studying the sciences, engineering, or mathematics. One of the most highly regarded STEM scholarships for women, the winner is chosen through an essay contest that focuses on ideas and themes developed throughout Virginia Heinlein’s spouse’s work.

7. ABC Humane Wildlife Academic Scholarship—Women In STEM

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: July 1

Eligibility:

• Identify as a female/woman
• Studying or planning to study the fields of science (excluding social sciences, i.e. economics), engineering, mathematics, or technology

Application Requirements:

• Essay answering the question Why are you passionate about science, technology, engineering, or math, and how will your pursuit of these fields help preserve biodiversity, improve the health of our planet, or alleviate human suffering?
• Letter of reference
• Proof of enrollment

Rebecca Fyffe, founder of Urban Wildlife Manager and entrepreneur in the field of animal behavior, is the creator of the ABC Humane Wildlife Academic Scholarship. Rebecca is uniquely positioned in her industry as a female business owner in a male-dominated sector because she runs an organization that manages urban wildlife.To increase the number of women enrolled in STEM programs, Fyffe developed the ABC Humane Wildlife Academic Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to women who wish to study STEM at a university level.

8. Girls in STEM (GIS) Scholarship 

Amount: $500

Deadline: TBD

Eligibility:

• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Enrolled in good standing in an accredited STEM-related undergraduate program in the U.S.
• Advocate for female participation in STEM programs
• Involved in the community
• Financial need

Application Requirements:

• 1-2 page essay explaining why you’re pursuing a career in a STEM-related field, how you’ve advocated for female access to STEM programs and professionals, and how you intend to use the award 

The Girls in STEM (GIS) Scholarship was established to broaden access and participation of women in STEM fields, as well as assist future generations of young, female STEM students in achieving their academic goals. Recipients must demonstrate their enthusiasm for increasing the participation of women in STEM fields by working in their communities to advance this cause.

9. AfterCollege STEM Inclusion Scholarship

Amount: $500

Deadline: March 31

Eligibility:

• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Enrolled students working toward a degree in STEM from a group underrepresented in their field of study–underrepresented groups are defined by gender, race, ethnic background, disability, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, nationality, and other non-visible differences

Application Requirements:

• Transcript
• Resume
• Any honors or awards you’ve received

AfterCollege, the online provider that connects job-seeking college students and alumni with employers, has awarded more than $1,000,000 in scholarships and student activities to date. Although the AfterCollege STEM Inclusion Scholarship is not restricted to females, it is designed to benefit underrepresented minorities, of which women are included, making it appealing for all female graduates pursuing a STEM degree.

10. HORIZONS Women in Defense Scholarship

Amount: Varies 

Deadline: March 15, 2020; 12:00 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Eligibility:

• Women enrolled or expected to enroll at an accredited university or college—either full-time or part-time—by the next academic term
• Interest in pursuing a career related to national security or defense
• Demonstrate financial need
• Minimum GPA of 3.25
• U.S. Citizen

Application Requirements:

• Preferred fields of study: security studies, military history, government relations, engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, physics, mathematics, business (as it relates to national security or defense), law (as it relates to national security or defense), international relations, political science, policy and diplomacy, intelligence, and economics
• Transcript
• 500-word essay
• Two letters of recommendation 
• Proof of U.S. citizenship

HORIZONS has given more than $500,000 to over 150 students pursuing degrees in various disciplines including engineering and math as well as non-STEM subjects such as public policy since 1988. For example The Women in Defense Scholarship was established with the goal of increasing diversity and innovation in national security and defense by funding high-performing women.

11. Women at Microsoft Scholarship Program 

Amount: $20,000 scholarship distributed over four years; or a one-time $10,000 scholarship

Deadline: mid-March 

Eligibility: 

• Identify as a women, non-binary, gender-fluid, or trans women
• High school seniors with at least a 3.00 GPA 
• A passion for technology

Application Requirements:  

• A 500-word essay on the applicant’s interest in technology and their goals
• A summary of community, personal, and academic achievements and interests
• financial information
• Two letters of recommendation are included in the application package. 

Women at Microsoft may receive scholarships based on financial need, academic merit, and a strong interest in technology. These are significant scholarships that can help students pay for their studies and jumpstart a career in the STEM field.

12. UPS Scholarship for Female Students  (Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers)

Amount: $4,000

Deadline: May 1 for first-year students

Eligibility: Female students working toward a degree in industrial engineering who meet the overall qualifications for IISE academic scholarships. 

Application Requirements:  Students must be nominated by a member of IISE. Applications include an essay, a current transcript, and three references. 

The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers offers more than ten named scholarships for undergraduate students. UPS provides scholarships to women and minorities. Female and minority students are eligible for scholarships from UPS.

13. Women in Aviation Scholarships

Amount: Varies, but the average award is more than $4,000

Deadline: mid-May

Eligibility: note that men can apply, but the organization is focused on women

Application Requirements:

• Two recommendation letters
• 500-word essay on your interests in aviation, your goals and plans, and how a scholarship will help you. 
• Resume
• Logbooks and current certifications if these have already been attained. 

Do you want to learn to fly a plane? Women in Aviation provides a number of scholarships for students who wish to study to become a pilot. They pay homage to historic females who have paved the way for women in aviation as well as other fields.

14. The Snapology STEM Studies Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: April 30

Eligibility: U.S.high school women planning to study any science, technology, engineering, or mathematics major.

Application Requirements: write a 500-word essay on specific positive changes that you would make to your school. 

Snapology is an award-winning franchise business that provides science education programs, particularly in robotics, for all ages. The scholarship winners are chosen for their academic success, financial need, and interest in pursuing STEM study.

15. Lounge Lizard Web Design Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: October 3rd and February 19th (bi-annually)

Eligibility: 

• Only open to students attending school in the United States.
• Applicants must be a student at an accredited school, or be accepted to begin school at an accredited school within 6 months of application.

Application Requirements: 

• Submit a design or live URL
• Unofficial transcript(s)

Lounge Lizard, a New York City-based website design firm, digital marketing agency and SEO company, awards semi-annual web design scholarships for fall and spring semesters. Students must simply submit a design or live URL that they created to apply. The winner will also be granted a design critique session with Ken Braun, Founder & Chief Brandtender of Lounge Lizard, for any project of your choosing.

16. UNCF STEM Scholars Program

Amount: up to $25,000

Deadline: March

Eligibility: 

• Identify as an African American 
• Focus or major in STEM
• Demonstrate financial need
• 3.0 GPA or above
• Attend an accredited college within the United States as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student

Application Requirements: 

• Letter of recommendation submitted by a high school STEM teach of STEM program sponsor mentor
• Completion of all essays

The United Negro College Fund provides tiered tuition scholarships to African American high school students planning to go into science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields. The scholarship provides funding up to $2,500 each academic year for freshman and sophomore years and $5,000 for junior and senior years. A $5,000 for an STEM related internship that has been pre-approved.

17. PG&E Better Together STEM Scholarship

Amount: $2,500 & $10,000

Deadline: June 1st

Eligibility: 

• Reside in Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (“PG&E”) service territory, or be a dependent of a resident in PG&E’s service territory.
• Plan to pursue one of the following majors; Engineering (electrical, mechanical, industrial, environmental, power and/or energy), Computer Science/Information Systems/Cyber Security, and Environmental Sciences
• Plan to enroll in full‑time undergraduate study at an accredited four (4) year college or university in California

Application Requirements: 

• Complete transcript
• Recent PG&E bill
• Online recommendation

In its continuing effort to help build a cleaner, more energy-efficient future in California, PG&E offers 40 scholarships worth $250,000 to enable local kids to pursue an education in STEM. Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic record, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, a statement of career and educational goals and objectives, unusual personal or family circumstances, and an online recommendation.

18. Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship

Amount: $10,000

Deadline: *Opens in January

Eligibility: 

• 2.5 GPA or above
• Demonstrated financial need
• Current or planned 4-year degree enrollment in the following majors: Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics 
• Current or planned full-time attendance at an accredited U.S. four-year college or university

Lockheed Martin is a multinational security and aerospace firm. The STEM Scholarship Program was established in 2018 and provides $10,000 grants to 200 students studying engineering or computing science at a four-year college or university. The scholarship may be renewed up to three times for a total potential value of $40,000 per student. Additionally, scholarship recipients have the opportunity to start a paid internship with Lockheed Martin following their freshman, sophomore or junior year of college.

19. LabRoots Scholarship

Amount: $2,000

Deadline: September

Eligibility: 

• Applicants must be enrolled or accepted for a graduate or undergraduate degree
• The degree program/research area must be in a STEM field

Application Requirements: 

• Resume/CV
• Project proposal, proposals for Labroots scholarships will be limited to 4000 characters, including spaces, and should describe either current research projects or a summary of what the scholarship will be used for.

LabRoots, a scientific social networking website, aims to support students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This scholarship provides one student a $2,000 merit scholarship that is judged on the strength of their application and materials.

20.  MyBioSource Inc. Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: End of June

Eligibility: 

• Must have a documented learning disability
• Candidate must be enrolled as a freshman, undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited college or university for the 2022 Fall semester

Application Requirements: 

• 250-word essay on why you chose intended college major and why you should receive the scholarship

MyBioSource, a biotech firm, strives to be accessible to students with diverse abilities and backgrounds in order for them to achieve educational success. Two $1,000 scholarships will be given to students based on their application and 250-word essay.

21. CollegeVine Scholarship

Amount: Up to $500

Deadline: Weekly

Eligibility: High school student and U.S. resident

Application Requirements: Create a free CollegeVine account 

CollegeVine provides weekly scholarships of up to $500! All you have to do is join our free admissions platform and earn karma, the free CollegeVine “currency.” You can earn karma by reviewing essays through our Peer Review tool and answering questions in our Community Forums. After earning that karma, you bid with it to enter the scholarship drawing (if you don’t win, that karma will be returned so you can “spend” it on essay reviews and expert advice). Awards will be paid out directly to students to help them cover any educational costs. Learn more about the CollegeVine scholarships and create your free account today!

How Outside Scholarships Impact Your Financial Aid Award

Outside scholarships (scholarships not directly provided by your college) are an excellent way to offset the cost of higher education; however, they can also negatively affect the amount of financial aid you receive. The scholarship may be seen as a benefit by schools, increasing your family’s contribution and reducing your financial aid package .On the bright side, when schools adjust financial aid packages to take into account scholarships, they typically eliminate or decrease the most unattractive types of assistance, such as work-study payments. Check out our blog post How Outside Scholarships Impact Your Financial Aid Award for an in-depth look at how scholarships impact financial aid. 

5 Tips for Applying for Scholarships

1. Polish Your Presence

Recipients of scholarships are expected to reflect favorably on their organizations, foundations, communities, and so on. This is why before giving an award, scholarship donors may Google you (after all, Google sponsors the Women Techmaker Scholars Program). Make sure to audit your social media accounts and remove anything that may jeopardize your scholarship, as well as update (or establish) a professional profile on LinkedIn. Building a website or online portfolio is an easy way to take some control over the search and show off your tech skills. 

2. Stand Out From the Crowd

The majority of the scholarships listed above require an essay or video along with the application. This is your moment to stand out from the crowd and show how you differ from everyone else by expressing your personality, highlighting what matters most to you, and explaining why you deserve to win. Here are some tips for creating an essay that impresses, as well as how to create a winning video:

• Make an outline: you have a lot to say in limited time or words, an outline helps you stay focused
• Know your audience: know who is reading/watching, what they’re interested in, and what they’re looking for, and tailor your content to them
• Stick to the script: follow the prompt and answer the question asked
• Follow instructions: stay within word counts and time limits 
• Show, don’t tell: demonstrate what you’ve done and provide examples of your experiences
• Stay positive: the people awarding scholarships want to feel good about what they’re doing; if your focus is on a negative part of your life, focus on the good that came from it 

3. No Silly Mistakes

Whether it’s filling out your application or writing your essay, avoid standing out from the crowd for the wrong reasons. When applying for competitive scholarships, silly mistakes in spelling, punctuation, and grammar can mean the difference between winning an award and coming up empty-handed. 

4. Get Remarkable Recommendations

Many of the scholarships listed above require accompanying letters of recommendation. It’s common courtesy to leave your letter writer at least a month to compose their letter. In addition to leaving them enough time to write a compelling recommendation, be sure to provide them with an overview of the scholarship, your related strengths, a copy of your resume, and any other relevant information. 

5. Apply for Lots of Scholarships

There is no way to guarantee winning an award, but the more scholarships you apply for, the higher your chances of being selected. Don’t just apply to the big awards like The Science Ambassador Scholarship; it’s surprising how quickly winning a few smaller awards like the AfterCollege STEM Inclusion Scholarship can add up to a considerable amount of money. 

CollegeVine can’t tell you your chances of winning a prestigious STEM scholarship, but we can help predict your odds of college admission. Our free chancing engine uses criteria like GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities to predict your likelihood of acceptance at over 500 colleges and universities. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account to start using our chancing engine today!