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 scholarship is open to incoming and current female undergraduate students who reside in the Connecticut Community Foundation's 21-town service area. Students must have a grade point average of B- (2.75) or higher, and must pursue an artistic career (preference to those pursuing painting and design).
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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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$6,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 7
Deadline
International and U.S. female graduate students who plan to pursue a career in a transportation-related field are eligible for this award. Students must be affiliated with a specific WTS chapter and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
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$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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$14,600
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 1
Deadline
This scholarship is available for female Washington County (RI) residents who are 21 years of age or older. Students must be enrolled or registered in an educational or job skills training program and working toward their first degree (associate or bachelor's) or certificate.
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$4,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 31
Deadline
International and U.S. college sophomores, juniors and/or seniors are eligible for this award. Students must be enrolled in a pre-architecture program at Calvin College.
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$1,250
Award Amount
2
Awards
May 10
Deadline
This award will be given to Rhode Island women to assist with transportation, child-care, tutoring, educational materials, and/or other support services. Preference will be given to highly motivated, self-supporting, low-income women who are completing their first undergraduate degree or certificate program.
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$6,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
May 31
Deadline
This scholarship is for Rhode Island women with financial need who plan to attend graduate school to obtain a law degree at an accredited institution.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 11
Deadline
This scholarship is available for female Vermont undergraduate students who are single parents with primary custody of one or more children 12 years of age or younger. Students must demonstrate financial need.
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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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$600
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 1
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. and international female residents of Louisiana who are currently majoring or planning to major in a medical field. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
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$25,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
Dec 15
Deadline
Applicants must be studying in a graduate program in the United States with at least one full year of academic coursework left to be completed. Doctoral students who have completed coursework and are working only on dissertations are not eligible as first-time applicants. This award is for U.S and Canadian students.
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$9,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
Feb 12
Deadline
This award is for Vermont female undergraduate students who reside in one of 25 towns served by the following high schools: Craftsbury Academy, Lake Region Union High School, and North Country Union High School. Students must demonstrate financial need, academic achievement, and school/community involvement.
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$6,250
Award Amount
20
Awards
Jan 24
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. female high school seniors and/or current college students who are permanent residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or Pennsylvania. Students must have a grade point average of 3.2 or higher overall, and major in a communications-related field, such as advertising, broadcasting, communications, journalism, marketing, new media or public relations.
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$500
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 1
Deadline
This award is available to seniors at the Carver Vocational-Technical High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
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$60,000
Award Amount
5
Awards
Nov 15
Deadline
This award is available for women who hold a bachelor's degree and are preparing to advance or change careers or re-enter the work force. Special consideration is given to AAUW members, women of color, and women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in nontraditional fields. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
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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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$3,000
Award Amount
1
Award
May 1
Deadline
This award is available to undergraduate and graduate women majoring in engineering. This scholarship is intended for re-entry/non-traditional students.
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$2,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 15
Deadline
This award is available for female engineering students who are returning to school after a period of absence of two or more years. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, except for first-year re-entry students.
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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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$45,000
Award Amount
9
Awards
Mar 1
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. women who are majoring in any ABET-accredited engineering program. Applicants must enroll full time as a college sophomore or above (including graduate students) and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
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$1,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 15
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. women who are currently enrolled as college sophomores, juniors, and seniors in a full-time engineering or computer science program. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
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$1,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 15
Deadline
This award is available for women majoring in civil engineering. Each applicant must be a college sophomore, junior, or senior at the time of application, have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, and plan to enroll full time.
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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