5 Scholarships for women pursuing degrees in STEM

According to data from the nonprofit The College Board, the cost of tuition at a public university for in-state students in the 2023-24 academic year amounted to $11,260, and the cost of private college tuition reached $41,540. As tuition and fees for higher education increase across the U.S., high school students and current college students may want to consider scholarships to shave off some of these costs.

There are an abundance of scholarships available offered by nonprofits and other organizations to support students seeking degrees. Some of these scholarships aim to help people with certain goals, including women pursuing degrees in STEM.

According to the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Gender Gap Report (PDF), women make up only 29.2% of the STEM workforce. Scholarships are one of many tools being utilized to encourage women to seek a degree in STEM and potentially a career in STEM.

If you’re a woman wanting to pursue a degree in STEM, here are five scholarships to consider applying for as you embark on your educational journey.

STEM scholarships for women for the 2024-25 academic year

1. MPOWER Financing Women in STEM Scholarship

Amount awarded: $6,000 (Grand Prize), $2,000 (Runner-Up), $1,000 (Honorable Mention)

The company MPOWER Financing provides an annual Women in STEM Scholarship to international or DACA students who have been accepted into or are currently enrolled in a STEM degree program. The scholarship application is open to students studying in STEM and working towards their bachelor’s, master’s, or a Ph.D. Most STEM majors are eligible, except nursing.

2. Generation Google Scholarship

Amount awarded: $10,000 to U.S. students

The Generation Google Scholarship aims to help aspiring college students pursuing computer science degrees on their road to becoming leaders in STEM. While anyone can apply, Google encourages students historically underrepresented in STEM, such as women undergraduates and minorities, to fill out an application. So, if you’re looking for women in tech scholarships, you may consider looking into this scholarship provided by Google.

3. The WISE Scholarship

Amount awarded: $3,500

The Women in STEM Excel (WISE) Scholarship was created by Dr. Alexander Sobel, a surgeon based in Seattle, Washington to encourage women in Washington State to pursue a STEM education. The scholarship is open to all women in Washington State pursuing a STEM degree. So, even if you’re looking for engineering scholarships for women, you can still apply to this scholarship should you meet the other eligibility requirements.

4. Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship

Amount awarded: $7,000

Palantir offers a Women in Technology Scholarship annually for women students pursuing undergraduate or master’s degrees. Applicants must be pursuing a degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field. Those interested must complete a series of essays and submit their resume.

5. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) American Fellowships

Amount awarded: $50,000 (Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship), Dissertation Fellowship ($25,000), and $8,000 (Short-Term Research Publication Grant)

The AAUW is a nonprofit that promotes education and equity for women and girls. The nonprofit offers fellowships to students to offset their living expenses while they complete their dissertations, postdoctoral research, or work on research aimed at publication. The AAUW encourages women scholars in science, technology, engineering, and math and those researching gender issues to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Final thoughts

Scholarships can often be competitive, so try not to get discouraged if you aren’t selected. Keep in mind that there’s no limit to the number of scholarships you can apply for. The more you apply for, the more you may increase your chances of landing funding. As you apply, make sure to review all the eligibility requirements for the scholarships you’re considering pursuing, so you don’t waste your energy applying for scholarships for which you aren’t eligible.