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
- 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: Up to $20,000
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. Unlike other STEM scholarship programs, students aren’t required to pursue a STEM degree, but must be interested in pursuing a career in a STEAM (STEM with the arts) field. The maximum possible award amount is a $5,000 prize, renewable for up to four years.
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, SAT and/or ACT scores
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. With no essay requirement, you can add this application to your list of easy scholarships.
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 2022, they awarded over $1.7 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: Up to $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
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 5 merit-based awards each year. Prize amounts range from $2,000 to $5,000. 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
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. Snapology STEAM Studies Scholarship
Amount: $2,500
Provider: Snapology
Eligibility Requirements:
- Currently enrolled as a high school senior
- Identify as a woman
- Planning to study a STEAM-related field
Application Requirements: Essay
For female high school seniors, the Snapology STEAM Studies Scholarship offers $1,000 toward higher education. Applicants will answer the question: “If you had the authority to change your school in a positive way, what specific changes would you make?” A learning program focused on STEAM skills, Snapology gives out one scholarship per year and evaluates their applicants solely on their essays – so make sure yours stands out.
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11. 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 150 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.
12. 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. In addition to the scholarship funds, winners get the opportunity to shadow a female financial leader for a day.
13. Orchard’s Scholarship for Women of Color in STEM
Amount: Up to $2,500
Provider: Orchard
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, Asian American, and/or Pacific Islander
- Enrolled as a high school senior or undergraduate at a college/university
- Identify as a woman
- Studying or planning to study a STEM-related field
Application Requirements: 2 essays
Orchard is an online real estate platform that places great emphasis on diversity and inclusion. In 2021, they created Orchard’s Scholarship for Women of Color in STEM to support female minorities pursuing STEM majors. The essays are pretty straightforward: write about why you are pursuing STEM and how this scholarship will help. Because the only application requirement is these two essay questions, answer them in detail.
14. True Medical Women in STEM Scholarship
Amount: $2,500
Provider: True Medical
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled in a college/university
- Identify as a woman
- Studying a STEM-related field
Application Requirements: Transcript, proof of U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency, essay
An online doctor’s office and pharmacy based in the UK, True Medical sits at the intersection of a few STEM fields. In an effort to empower the next generation of female STEM leaders, the True Medical Women in STEM Scholarship was born. The bulk of this scholarship application is the essay portion where students should speak to the challenges they’ve faced as a woman in a STEM field and the ways they’ve overcome them.
15. Learner Education Women in Mathematics Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Provider: Learner
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled as high school senior or undergraduate student at a college/university
- Identify as a woman
- Planning to or currently studying mathematics or a related field
Application Requirements: Essay
In an effort to create a brighter future for women in STEM, the Learner Education Women in Mathematics Scholarship supports one math-loving female student. To apply for this scholarship program, write an essay about what draws you to math and how math principles shape your life. You’ll get bonus points for boldness, innovation, and ambition, so don’t hold back. Looking for more STEM scholarships to fund your degree? Check out this list.
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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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