15 Scholarships for Women in STEM
Due to the outsized growth of jobs in STEM fields, educating college students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is increasingly important. But even in 2023, there’s a huge gender gap in STEM fields of study. One survey from MIT found that female-identifying workers made up only 28% of all STEM jobs worldwide. One approach to remedying this inequality? College scholarships for female students in STEM fields.
15 Scholarships for female students in STEM fields
Though research shows that students in STEM fields tend to have higher lifetime earning potential, you should never take on more debt than you need to. One smart way to pay for school without taking out loans? Scholarships. If you’re a female student in STEM, here are 15 scholarships to help offset educational costs.
1. The Science Ambassador Scholarship
Amount: Full tuition
Provider: Cards Against Humanity
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled as a high school senior or undergraduate student at a college/university
- Identify as a woman or non-binary person
- Studying or planning to study a STEM-related field
Application Requirements: Video presentation
Sponsored by the game Cards Against Humanity, the Science Ambassador Scholarship funds one student’s full tuition for four years of study. Winning could mean not needing student loans at all – and that alone is worth an application. To apply, students will record a three-minute mini-lecture on any STEM topic. Even if you haven’t decided upon your exact field of study, all female STEM students are encouraged to apply for this scholarship fund.
2. Women at Microsoft Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: Seattle Foundation
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Enrolled as a high school senior
- Identify as a woman or non-binary person
Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume, relevant work experience, list of extracurricular activities
The Seattle Foundation invests in bettering the Pacific Northwest, but their Women at Microsoft Scholarship is offered to female or non-binary high school students across the U.S. Applicants must plan to enroll full-time in a tech, engineering, math, or computer science related undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school, in the United States, for the entire upcoming academic year.
3. SNC Women in STEM Scholarship
Amount: $7,500
Provider: Sierra Nevada Corporation
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Enrolled as a high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student at a college/university
- Identify as a woman
- Studying or planning to study a non-medical, STEM-related field
Application Requirements: Transcript, Recommendation Letter
The Sierra Nevada Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that aims to inspire the next generation of female leaders in technology. Aside from supplying valuable financial support, the SNC Women in STEM Scholarship also matches recipients with a career mentor.
4. Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship
Amount: $7,000
Provider: Palantir
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled full-time as a freshman, sophomore, or junior in a college/university
- Identify as a woman
- Studying computer science, software engineering, or a STEM-related field
Application Requirements: Online application
The Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship offers an educational stipend to 10 women each academic year. Sponsored by a data analytics firm, winners of this award will also be invited to a virtual development workshop with Palantir engineers. So, thanks to this scholarship program, female undergraduate students can offset the cost of their college tuition and gain some real-world insight into working in STEM.
5. Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Provider: Society of Women Engineers
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (Sophomore through PhD), or 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (Freshmen)
- Enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in a college/university
- Identify as a woman
- Studying or planning to study engineering, technology, or computing
Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 letters of recommendation
The Society of Women Engineers is a trade organization passionate about closing the gender gap and improving the quality of life for women in engineering. In 2023, they awarded over $1.5 million to young women pursuing both bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Scholarship. While most awards on this list are just for U.S. citizens, the SWE has scholarship programs specific to students in India, too.
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6. The Women in Aerospace (WIA) Foundation Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: The Women in Aerospace (WIA) Foundation
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Enrolled full-time as a junior or senior in a college/university
- Identify as a woman
- Studying engineering, math, or science
- Must be a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
Application Requirements: High school and college transcripts, essay
If you’re a junior or senior in college who wants to pursue a career in aerospace, put the Women in Aerospace (WIA) Foundation Scholarship on your list. The foundation gives out 4 merit-based awards each year. When evaluating applications, this selection committee places the most weight on the essay, which asks students to explain why aerospace is important to someone with limited knowledge of the field.
7. Virginia Heinlein Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $4,000
Provider: The Heinlein Society
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled full-time in a college/university
- Identify as a woman
- Studying engineering, math, or biological or physical sciences
- Must be a sophomore, junior, or senior in college
Application Requirements: Essay, personal statement
Named for Virginia Heinlein, a biochemist and engineer who served as a muse, editor, and scientific guru for her sci-fi author husband Robert A. Heinlein, the Virginia Heinlein Memorial Scholarship honors Virginia’s legacy. The academic scholarship is targeted toward female students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a field similar to those Virginia pursued. Applicants will write a statement about their future career goals and answer an essay question on a STEM topic.
8. BHW Scholarship
Amount: $3,000
Provider: BHW Group
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college/university
- Identify as a woman
- Studying or planning to study a STEM-related field
Application Requirements: Essay, headshot
The BHW Group is an app development company with a passion for empowering future female STEM leaders. The BHW Scholarship is open to high school students, current undergraduates, and even those pursuing a graduate degree. Applicants will write a 500- to 800-word essay about apps and their influence on their lives.
9. Shared Opportunities Women of Color in STEM Scholarship
Amount: $2,500
Provider: Shared Opportunities
Eligibility Requirements:
- Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, Asian American, and/or Pacific Islander
- Enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at a college/university
- Identify as a woman
- Studying a STEM-related field
Application Requirements: Transcript, 1 letter of recommendation, 2 essays
Women of color are significantly underrepresented in STEM fields, so Shared Opportunities has made it their goal to help close the gap. They’ve endowed the Shared Opportunities Women of Color in STEM Scholarship, which requires two essays. You’ll likely impress the selection committee if you choose a topic that relates to their mission of inclusion in STEM.
10. VIP Women in Technology Scholarship
Amount: $2,500
Provider: Visionary Integration Professionals
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college/university
- Identify as a woman
- Studying or planning to study computer science, information systems, business information management, or an IT related major
Application Requirements: Transcript, essay, personal statement, list of extracurricular activities/community service
Created by the information technology management firm Visionary Integration Professionals, the VIP Women in Technology Scholarship has given out scholarships to more than 160 women over 17 years. With a more narrow range of eligible STEM majors, this scholarship program seeks female students who hope to pursue a career in IT, and it’s open to community college students, too. This selection committee also prioritizes students with a history of community service. If you’re a charitable student, you can find more scholarship programs that reward community service here.
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11. Women in Derivatives (WIND) High School Scholarship
Amount: $2,500
Provider: Women in Derivatives (WIND)
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale
- Enrolled as a high school senior
- Identify as a woman
- Planning to study a finance-related field
Application Requirements: Transcript, 1 letter of recommendation, essay
While a lot of focus is placed on the first three letters of STEM, the Women in Derivatives (WIND) High School Scholarship targets mathematics. For high school seniors interested in pursuing a career in finance, this scholarship program is for you. Applicants must come from an underprivileged background and demonstrate financial need.
12. ABC Humane Wildlife Academic Scholarship – Women In STEM
Amount: $1,000
Provider: ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention, Inc.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be a student currently enrolled at a college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in the United States
- Must be studying or planning to study the fields of science (excluding social sciences i.e. economics), engineering, mathematics, or technology.
Application Requirements: Proof of enrollment, letter of reference, essay
ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention, Inc. wants to pave the way for other women pursuing their dreams in the scientific world, which is why ABC Wildlife is introducing the ABC Humane Wildlife Academic Scholarship – Women In STEM which is designed to increase the number of women studying and influencing the future of science, including technology, engineering and math. Submit an essay describing why you’re passionate about STEM and how your pursuit of these fields help preserve biodiversity, improve the health of our planet, or alleviate human suffering.
13. Navisite’s Next Steminist Scholarship Program
Amount: $10,000
Provider: Navisite
Eligibility Requirements:
- Identify as female
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Be age 25 or under as of the application deadline date
- Be a current high school senior or graduate or current college undergraduate enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in undergraduate study at an accredited four-year college/university for the entire upcoming academic year
- Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent
- Be pursuing or planning to pursue a degree in one of the eligible majors: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Engineering Technology, Computer Hardware Engineering, Computer Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Game and Interactive Media Design, Information Systems, Information Technology, Management Information Systems, Systems Engineering
Application Requirements: Transcript, recommendation letter, 60-second video, and personal statement
The Navisite’s Next Steminist Scholarship Program is designed to help close the gender gap in tech and encourage young women to pursue their passion in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). The program provides $10,000 scholarship awards to eligible female candidates who are currently pursuing or plan to pursue a degree in STEM.
14. Julie Adams Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $2,000
Provider: Bold.org / Eric Adams
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be a female high school senior.
- Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Must be majoring in a STEM field.
Application Requirements: Essay
Julie was a dedicated high school math teacher for ten years and was passionate about her students. She devoted her career to providing her students with opportunities to succeed. Julie was particularly interested in helping young women get involved with STEM. The Julie Adams Memorial Scholarship aims to honor the memory of Julie Adams by supporting women who are pursuing higher education in STEM. Any female high school senior with at least a 3.0 GPA who will be pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) after graduation may apply for this scholarship.
15. Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Provider: Hyundai
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be a graduating high school senior or current undergraduate student.
- Must identify as female.
- Must reside in the United States.
- Must be pursuing a STEM-related field of education.
- Must be a legal resident of the United States.
- Must be at least 16 years of age.
Application Requirements: Essay
Empowering women in STEM is at the heart of Hyundai’s mission to pioneer sustainable mobility and innovation. Hyundai supports the brilliant minds of today by offering the Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship. Applicants must write an essay on how EV tech can help create a more sustainable future. Discuss whether the shift toward EVs is the best path for improving global mobility and environmental health. Looking for more STEM scholarships to fund your degree? Check out this list.
Get matched to scholarships with Going Merry
While female students outnumber male students in college enrollment, the story is different in STEM. Thankfully, each of these unique scholarships seeks to support female students and increase the number of women pursuing fields like electrical engineering, biochemistry, and physical sciences.
If you’ve found your way to this list, chances are you’re a busy, driven STEM student. So, instead of spending valuable time filtering through thousands of scholarship programs, let Going Merry deliver hand-selected awards directly to you. Just create a profile, populate it with some identifying details, and we’ll match you to scholarships you’re already qualified for. Sign up for Going Merry – we’ll help you find and win more awards to help lower the cost of your STEM degree.
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