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.
$2,216
Award Amount
3
Awards
Mar 15
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. female high school seniors and adult students who are entering their freshman year of college who have been residents of one of the following Connecticut cities for the past four years: Cheshire, Naugatuck, Prospect, Waterbury, Watertown, or Woodbury. Students must attend an accredited college or university in New York, the New England states, or Israel; major in a health-related field; and have a grade point average of B- or higher.
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$2,216
Award Amount
3
Awards
Mar 15
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. high school seniors and adult students who are entering their freshman year that reside in the Connecticut Community Foundation's 21-town service area. Students must plan to major in nursing and have a grade point average of B- or higher.
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$2,216
Award Amount
3
Awards
Mar 15
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. female undergraduate students who graduate from Litchfield or Wamogo high schools in Litchfield, Connecticut, and reside in Litchfield, Warren, Morris, or Goshen, Connecticut. Each applicant must be the daughter of a single, working mother who cannot otherwise afford college, and must have a grade point average of B- (2.75) or higher.
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$10,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 15
Deadline
U.S. female medical students who have an interest in health-related research are eligible for this award. Students must have completed one or more years of medical school and plan to conduct research at Duke University Medical Center or UNC at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
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$2,216
Award Amount
3
Awards
Mar 15
Deadline
This scholarship is open to female U.S. high school seniors and adult students entering their freshman year who reside in the Connecticut Community Foundation's 21-town service area. Students must have a grade point average of B- or higher, and pursue a career in the field of law.
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$350
Award Amount
5
Awards
Mar 16
Deadline
This scholarship is available for undergraduate women in South Carolina who have demonstrated a positive impact in their communities.
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$2,000
Award Amount
5
Awards
Mar 18
Deadline
This award is available for single mothers residing in Spokane Washington. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and plan to enroll full time in an undergraduate program at Spokane Community College, Spokane Falls Community College, or Eastern Washington University.
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$2,500
Award Amount
2
Awards
Mar 30
Deadline
This scholarship is open to U.S. female students who are enrolled in, or have been accepted to, an ABFSE-accredited mortuary science program. Students may enroll full or part time.
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$1,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 31
Deadline
Female applicants who are members of the Southwest Section of Ninety-Nines (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Utah, Nevada) and are pursuing a private pilot license or advanced certificate or rating are eligible for this award.
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$1,467
Award Amount
12
Awards
Apr 1
Deadline
Female students who have completed at least their sophomore year of college (i.e., 60 credit hours) and are majoring in accounting or finance are eligible for this scholarship. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
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$5,000
Award Amount
5
Awards
Apr 1
Deadline
This award is available for undergraduate, U.S. women. Students must also be able to verify full-time enrollment at an accredited automotive retail and/or automotive service program at the beginning of the 2012 fall term.
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$4,000
Award Amount
5
Awards
Apr 1
Deadline
Illinois women who attend an Illinois institution and plan to sit for the CPA exam within three years are eligible for this award. Students must be college seniors or graduate students and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
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$2,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 1
Deadline
Female single parents who are returning to college are eligible for this award. Students must be currently enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
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$1,500
Award Amount
2
Awards
Apr 1
Deadline
This award is available for female residents of Dutchess County, NY who are returning to college after an absence of at least five years. Applicants must plan to attend an accredited institution of higher education located in the Mid-Hudson Valley region.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 1
Deadline
This award is available for female high school seniors in Dutchess, Orange, or Ulster Counties in New York. Applicants must plan to major in physical therapy.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 1
Deadline
This award is available to female high school seniors in Dutchess County New York who are involved in athletics and demonstrate leadership on and off the field.
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$3,000
Award Amount
30
Awards
Apr 1
Deadline
This scholarship is available to U.S. high school seniors and undergraduate students who are pursuing degrees leading to a career in computer and video game arts. Students must be female or a minority, and must have a grade point average of 2.75 or higher.
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$1,000
Award Amount
3
Awards
Apr 1
Deadline
Non-traditional female students who are undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire are eligible for this award.
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$500
Award Amount
5
Awards
Apr 1
Deadline
U.S. returning female students who demonstrate financial need and attend the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire are eligible for this award.
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$3,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 1
Deadline
This scholarship is open to international and U.S. female undergraduate students who are enrolled in a plastics-related curriculum. Students must be in good academic standing.
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$5,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
Apr 1
Deadline
This scholarship is open to U.S. and international graduate students who are pursuing a degree in polymer science, composites, plastics, or a related engineering discipline with a research focus on ground transportation composite technology. Preference will be given to female students but the best candidates will be selected.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 1
Deadline
This scholarship is open to women who are 23 years of age or older and attend or plan to attend select NC institutions. Students must have a grade point average of 2.6 or higher, pursue a liberal arts degree, and demonstrate financial need.
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$2,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 1
Deadline
This scholarship is available for Jewish women in Maryland who have a record of public involvement and community service. Applicants must have a grade point average of 2.8 or higher.
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$1,500
Award Amount
2
Awards
Apr 6
Deadline
This scholarship is open to female residents of Newport County, Rhode Island, who are pursuing postsecondary education and have financial need. Preference is given to highly motivated women seeking further education or training to become self-supporting.
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$1,500
Award Amount
35
Awards
Apr 7
Deadline
This award is available for female students in Northern California who are of Chicana/Latina heritage. Applicant must have completed 12 or more credit hours as an undergraduate or be accepted or enrolled in a graduate program, and must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher (3.0 or higher if a graduate student) at the time of application.
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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