There are a wide range of scholarships for women at all levels of study and all ages. Whether you are in high school, or ready to pursue a bachelors or graduate degree, there are a multitude of scholarships and grants available to make going back to school more affordable. Read on to learn more about this available financial aid.
$2,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 22
Deadline
This scholarship is for U.S. and international female undergraduate students pursuing two- or four-year degrees in surveying. The applicant must be a resident of one of the following western states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY.
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$2,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 29
Deadline
The Katherine M. Wakelee Scholarship Fund is provided to female students in Ventura County, CA who are majoring in the physical sciences. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors or enrolled at a Ventura County Community College at the time of application.
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$500
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 31
Deadline
This award is available for part time and full time female students at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Applicants must be 28 or older at the time of application, and must be returning to college after at least a five year absence from education.
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$2,900
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 31
Deadline
This award is available for female students attending Florida State College at Jacksonville. Applicants must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher, demonstrate unmet financial need, and enroll at least part time.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 31
Deadline
This award is available for undergraduate women studying sociology at Washington State University. Applicants must be returning to school after a period of absence and demonstrate financial need.
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$10,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
Jan 31
Deadline
The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation (MCWTF) will award this scholarship to a female high school senior who will be pursuing a degree in information systems, business applications, computer science, computer engineering, software engineering or information security. Applicants must be Michigan residents with a GPA 3.0.
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$15,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 31
Deadline
The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation (MCWTF) will award this scholarship to a female undergraduate student who is pursuing a degree in information systems, business applications, computer science, computer engineering, software engineering or information security. The student must be a resident of Michigan and maintain a grade point average of 3.0.
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$5,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 31
Deadline
The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation (MCWTF) will award this scholarship to a female graduate student who is pursuing a degree in information systems, business applications, computer science, computer engineering, software engineering or information security. The student must be a resident of Michigan and maintain a grade point average of 3.0.
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$1,250
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 31
Deadline
This scholarship is available for undergraduate women who have completed at least one year of study with a grade point average of 3.3 or higher. Students must plan to enter into some field of science or engineering encompassed by the technical activities of AIAA.
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$10,216
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 1
Deadline
This scholarship is available for U.S. high school senior women who attend a high school in the greater Cleveland, OH area. Students must plan to attend Ohio University and have an unweighted grade point average of 3.5 or higher and an SAT score of 1140 or higher or an ACT score of 25 or higher.
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$5,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 1
Deadline
Wisconsin female medical students who will be entering their third or fourth year of medical school in the fall are eligible for this award.
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$20,000
Award Amount
5
Awards
Feb 1
Deadline
This scholarship is available for women and minority students who are pursuing a graduate degree in microelectronics research.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 1
Deadline
The Greater Kansas City Alumnae Panhellenic Scholarship Fund is available for sorority women who reside in or attended high school in the Greater Kansas City area. Applicants must be enrolled in her senior year of college or entering graduate school in the states of Kansas or Missouri.
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$10,000
Award Amount
75
Awards
Feb 1
Deadline
SWSIS scholarships have been awarded to over 75 women studying information security.
The SWSIS program provides scholarships of up to $10,000 for women studying in fields relating to information security. These awards provide assistance to women at the formative stages of their careers in these fields.
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$10,000
Award Amount
10
Awards
Feb 14
Deadline
This award is available U.S. undergraduate and/or graduate young women who are 16 to 26 years of age. Students must be a resident of San Mateo County, California.
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$20,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
Feb 14
Deadline
This award is available for single mothers who are the head of household in Alameda County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, and San Mateo County. Applicants must be enrolled in a two or four year degree program at the time of application.
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$4,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 14
Deadline
This scholarship is available for female high school seniors residing in Greater Middletown Ohio (Franklin, Madison, Monroe, Trenton, Middletown). Selection is based on academic record, community service, and financial need.
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$5,000
Award Amount
5
Awards
Feb 15
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. female incoming and current college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are majoring in computer, electrical, or mechanical engineering and enroll full time at select preferred schools. Students must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher if freshmen or 3.0 or higher if not a freshman.
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$1,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 15
Deadline
This scholarship is available for U.S. women who have returned to higher education after an absence of at least three years. Applicants must be majoring in chemistry and must demonstrate academic potential.
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$1,750
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 15
Deadline
This scholarship is open to female undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring engineering or computer science and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students must be members of SWE and attending a school within the SWE Region E boundaries.
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$3,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 15
Deadline
This award is for female high school seniors in Eastern Tennessee who are planning to major in veterinary medicine at one of the following eligible colleges: University of Tennessee, Knoxville or Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine.
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$1,600
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 15
Deadline
This scholarship is available for female high school seniors at Greenville High School in Greenville, TN. Applicants must be active on the school varsity basketball team.
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$2,400
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 15
Deadline
This scholarship is available for women in Washington, Greene, and Sullivan Counties in TN. Applicants must be returning to college as non-traditional students, and must be pursuing a degree in social work at East Tennessee State University.
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$2,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
Feb 15
Deadline
This scholarship is available for graduating seniors at Carter High School in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. Preference will be given to female applicants with a history of participation in sports.
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$1,600
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 15
Deadline
This scholarship is available for female graduating seniors at Sullivan East High School in Bluff City, Tennessee. To be eligible, an applicant must have been active on at least one school sports team during her high school years.
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Some scholarships are for women or color or need-based. Other scholarships may target a specific field to incentivize women to study it, including scholarships for women who are interested in pursuing careers in STEM, business, education, aviation, and nursing – just to name a few.
Yet other scholarship opportunities are available if you reside in a certain state or plan to attend a certain college or university. specific schools. You’ll also find scholarships if you are a woman serving or who has served in the United States Armed Forces. You may also be eligible for funding if your spouse, child, or parent has served in the military!
The Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship is a great example. Applicants must be a woman who has served or is serving honorably in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, Army National Guard. Children of women who serve or have served in one of these branches, may also be eligible for awards.
Male vs Female Scholarships
Unless a scholarship has criteria that says otherwise, both men and women canapply. But some providers want to award scholarships that specifically support women pursuing higher education. Female scholarships thus restrict applicants to persons who identify as female.
To get this kind of financial help, you’ll compete with other women. Though there may be other rules about eligibility. These might include showing financial need, a specific GPA, SAT/ACT scores, background, geographic location, talent, or other factor.
Nonetheless, unlike student loans that do require repayment, scholarships generally do not need to be paid back and may help you get the education you seek affordably. You do need to respect the conditions of the scholarship so make sure to understand the requirements and expectations prior to applying and accepting any scholarship award.
Types of Scholarships Women Can Apply For
There are two kinds of scholarships that women might apply for. One is need-based, which is generally based on your household income and finances. Need-based grants and scholarships are often awarded to students who might otherwise not be able afford to goto school. Merit based scholarships are awarded based on a student’s grades, test scores, or other academic performance factors. Some scholarships and grants can be awarded based on both a student’s need and merit.
Within these broad categories, there are scholarships for females of certain age ranges. Many providers also offer awards to help underserved groups of women pursue a college or graduate level education. Others focus on supporting women in reaching a specific degree level or career path. We’ll walk you through a few to give you an idea of how to streamline your search for the perfect scholarships.
Grants for Women
A great source for funding your education are grants. Grants do not need to be repaid and are available from the federal government, states, and colleges and universities.
One of the most popular grants is the Pell Grant offered by the federal government. This is a need-based grant that can provide awards of up to $7,395 for 2024-25. In order to qualify for a Pell Grant, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (“FAFSA”) and meet income requirements. The FAFSA is also important to unlock all kinds of other grants for women that you may be eligible for from your state or colleges and universities directly.
Speaking of grants from colleges and universities, many schools offer students money to make education more affordable but also encourage students to attend their school. Award amounts can also be based on student need but also merit-based factors.
How Can Women Get STEM Scholarships?
Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) scholarships may be available through technology companies, such as Google, associations, or foundations. . You may also find industry specific STEM scholarships when enrolled in full time study. Government organizations, such as various states, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Defense, also provide STEM grants and scholarships.
According to the American Association of University Women (AAUW), women make up only 34% of the workforce in STEM fields. In computer science and engineering, the gender gap is even more significant. Many organizations recognize this gap and specifically want to help expand the number of women working in STEM fields. This means there are many STEM scholarships focused on women you can apply to!
Scholarships for Women in STEM
The Brookhaven Women in Science (BWIS) offers the Renate W. Chasman Scholarship. It consists of a one time $2,500 award. Applicants must be female graduate students attending an accredited institution. They must also be performing STEM research at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Since STEM comprises several fields, there are a number of other options. If you prefer statistics, try applying for the Gertrude M. Cox Scholarship. They offer a $1,000 award to women studying statistics. The scholarship was established in 1989 to encourage more women to enter statistically oriented professions. Eligible applicants must submit an essay, transcript and application form.
You might also find scholarships through engineering associations. The Society for Women Engineers (SWE) offers many engineering scholarships to women pursuing STEM fields. They often pair with a certain college or university with ABET accredited programs. There’s also the Houzz Women in Architecture Scholarship, which supports the next generation of female architects and architectural engineers.
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN
College bound women have a range of scholarships to choose from. It is a good idea to consider your career and study goals when searching for different scholarships. This is because many providers want to pave the way for women to succeed in their industry.
Women in Public Finance Scholarship awards $3,000 scholarships to 10 eligible female students. Applicants need to have an interest in pursuing a public finance related career in finance, government, non-profit organizations, or law.
Scholarships for Female Grad Students
There are many graduate scholarships for women. It all depends on what you want to study. Are you a business minded woman looking for an MBA scholarship? Wondering about law school scholarships for women? Or, maybe you want to become a nurse practitioner? Use this to focus your search.
One to check out is the Jane M. Klausman (JMK) Women in Business Scholarship program. It helps women pursue undergraduate and master’s degrees in business management. The scholarship is also open to international female students.
Scholarships for Women Over 40 and 50
Many scholarships are for women who want to change or advance a career or reenter the workforce. Scholarships for women over 40 make it possible to return to school without taking out huge student loans.
One example is the Sophie Greenstadt Scholarship for Mid-life Women. It is for women age 35 and up living in the Greater Los Angeles area. You must be entering or continuing a program to learn a marketable skill in order to qualify for this scholarship. One that will lead to economic self sufficiency.
Another option might be the Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund. It provides scholarships for low income women ages 35 t and older across the United States. Their goal is to improve lives through post secondary education.
Scholarships for Women of Color
If you are a woman of color looking to further your education, there are many scholarships to consider.
One example is Orchard’s Scholarship for Women of Color in STEM, which provides awards of up to $2,500 to qualified applicants who are pursuing STEM fields. Another is the Women of Color Professional Developement Fund, offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which provides women, persons of color, non-binary, and transgendered who are MIT students with awards of up to $300 per year. The African-American Entrepreneurs Grant – Female Award provides black female entrepreneurs of grants of up to $1,000.
Scholarships for Single Moms
If you are a single mother, there are a number of scholarships to look into. The Ellen M. Cherry-Delawder Memorial Scholarship provides awards of up to $4,000 for single mothers pursing a business related field.
Many single moms with lower incomes may also be eligible for the Federal Supplemental Educatonal Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), which provides undergraduate students with awards of up to $4,000 per year. FSEOG is need-based and requires you to complete a FAFSA.
Scholarships for Female High School Students
If you are a female high school student, there are scholarships available, even if you don’t yet know what you will major in just yet. One example is the 1,000 Dreams Scholarship Fund Recipients get money to pay for extracurricular activities, lessons, and conferences. Another is the P.E.O. Star Scholarship. It goes to females in their senior year of high school. You need an unweighted 3.0 GPA and leadership skills to apply.
What Makes Scholarships for Women Unique?
Scholarships may help female students succeed in school and in their careers. One study found that women are 50% less likely to get help from their parents to finance their studies than men. But women make up the majority of college and university students. As of Spring 2024, there were just under 17.8 million students enrolled in the U.S. colleges and universities, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NCSC). Of these, 9.8 million or 55% are female.
This isn’t always the case in the workforce. Women are still breaking ground in traditionally male dominated areas. As of 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Labor,44% of full time wage and salary workers were women. The numbers shift depending on the field of employment. The good news is women in the labor force are more educated than in the past 50 years. According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2022 women account for nearly 51% of the college educated workforce in the U.S. Women overtook men in this category in 2019.
Many scholarship providers recognize these trends. They want to help women fulfill their dreams. For instance, there are many scholarships for women in computer science and engineering, areas that women are breaking ground in.
The Women Techmakers Scholars program is offered through Google. tThe scholarship is in honor of Dr. Anita Borg. She spent her life trying to break down barriers – ones that keep women and persons of color from pursuing a tech focused career.
A Peek at Women in the Workforce
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the percentage of women employed by select occupations:
|
Career Path
|
Percentage of Women Employed
|
|
Registered Nurses
|
86%
|
|
Elementary school teachers
|
83%
|
|
Accountants and auditors
|
60%
|
|
Management
|
52%
|
|
Life, physical, and social science occupations
|
42%
|
|
Physicians and surgeons
|
38%
|
|
Chief executives
|
31%
|
|
Computer and mathematical occupations
|
27%
|
|
Software developers
|
20%
|
|
Architecture and engineering occupations
|
17%
|
Our Scholarships
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$1,500 – I Have a Dream
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$10,000 – Unigo $10K Award
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$1,500 – Sweet and Simple
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$2,500 – Superpower
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$3,000 – All About Education
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$1,500 – Fifth Month Scholarship
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$1,500 – Do-Over
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$1,500 – Flavor of the Month
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$1,500 – Make Me Laugh
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$1,500 – Shout It Out
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$2,000 – Zombie Apocalypse
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$5,000 – Education Matters
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$1,500 – Top Ten List
Written by Dave Moniz
✔️
Edited by Unigo Staff