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.
$30,000
Award Amount
10
Awards
Jan 3
Deadline
U.S. undergraduate female students who have completed 24 or more credit hours at an accredited institution with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible for this award. Students must transfer to Cedar Crest College in Pennsylvania.
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$210,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 15
Deadline
U.S. female students who demonstrate superior academic achievement, intellectual promise and leadership ability are eligible for this award. Students must attend Meredith College in North Carolina.
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$100,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 15
Deadline
U.S. women planning to attend Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts are eligible for this award. Students must demonstrate a record of outstanding academic and extracurricular achievement as well as evidence of leadership potential.
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$1,500
Award Amount
2
Awards
Apr 1
Deadline
This award is for currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate female students who demonstrate an interest in international development, international relations, international trade, international economics and or international business. Selected winners will receive $1,500. Learn more and apply today!
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$225,000
Award Amount
5
Awards
Jun 30
Deadline
This award is available to international and U.S. students who are planning to attend Wesleyan College in Georgia as first-time freshmen. The student must have a grade point average of 3.75 or higher and an ACT score of 27 or higher or an SAT score of 1250 or higher.
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$150,000
Award Amount
5
Awards
Jun 30
Deadline
This award is available to international and U.S. students who are planning to attend Wesleyan College in Georgia (a women's college) as first-time freshmen. The student must have a grade point average of 3.5-3.74, and an SAT score of 1150-1300 or an ACT score of 25-26.
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$65,000
Award Amount
5
Awards
Jun 30
Deadline
This award is available to U.S. and international students who are planning to attend Wesleyan College in Georgia (a women's college) as first-time freshmen. The student must have a grade point average of 3.3-3.49 and an SAT score of 1050-1200 or an ACT score of 23.
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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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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jun 1
Deadline
U.S. women who have earned 15 or more credit hours toward a bachelor's degree with a 3.25 grade point average are eligible for this award. Students must be residents of Dauphin or Cumberland counties in Pennsylvania and must attend a Pennsylvania institution.
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$4,000
Award Amount
5
Awards
Aug 1
Deadline
This award is for U.S. women 17 years of age or older, with minor children that planned to be enrolled in a skills training, ESL, or GED program; or pursuing a technical/vocational degree, an associate degree, a first bachelors degree, or a professional/master's/doctoral degree. Applicants must be of low-income.
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$11,000
Award Amount
300
Awards
Aug 1
Deadline
This award is available to South Dakota students who are enrolled at or planning to attend a South Dakota State supported college or university. The student must be under the age of 25 and be the child of a deceased parent, mother or father, who was killed in action or died of other causes while on active duty in the armed forces.
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$875
Award Amount
2
Awards
Apr 15
Deadline
U.S. students who are members of a National Panhellenic Conference Sorority at a four-year college or university are eligible for this award. Students must reside in Pinellas County, Florida or attend college in Pinellas County, Florida.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 15
Deadline
U.S. undergraduate students who are of sophomore or higher standing and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible for this award. Students must be members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and must demonstrate exceptional academic achievement or extreme financial need and participate in leadership, volunteer, civic, or campus activities.
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$80,000
Award Amount
5
Awards
Jan 15
Deadline
This award is available for female engineering students at Bucknell University. Bucknell awards female engineering majors approximately $20,000 annually. Applicants must demonstrate superior academic ability. Click here to learn more and apply today!
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$1,000
Award Amount
9
Awards
Oct 15
Deadline
This award is for U.S. high school seniors who will be attending college in the fall. Applicants must be a member of an underrepresented group, have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and be pursuing a major in a STEM field; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Learn more and apply today!
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$16,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 15
Deadline
The scholarship is designed for high school seniors who have attained a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 and have not finalized their college selection decision for the Fall 2016 class.
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$7,500
Award Amount
10
Awards
Mar 1
Deadline
U.S. first- and second-year college students who are attending select universities and demonstrate high academic achievement are eligible for this award.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 31
Deadline
This award is for U.S. female students with an interest in writing. To apply, students must submit an unpublished work of fiction.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 31
Deadline
This award is for U.S. female sophomore and junior students of African descent who are enrolled full time in an English, literature, journalism or related area of study at a Historically Black college or university. Students must have a grade point average of 2.5 or better and submit a 800-word essay on the topic the power of the written word.
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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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$3,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 16
Deadline
International and U.S. women who are current undergraduate or graduate students are eligible for this award. Students must be enrolled in a mechanical engineering program.
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$1,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 16
Deadline
Undergraduate women who are majoring in engineering are eligible for this award. Students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher and have an interest in railway engineering.
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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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$3,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
May 15
Deadline
U.S. women who are 17 years of age or older and have been out of the workforce for a period of time, need to upgrade their skills or education in order to succeed, or need to change careers in order to improve their earning ability are eligible for this award. Students must enroll in an undergraduate program and be residents of Onslow County, North Carolina, for six or more months at time of application.
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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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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