7 Biology Major Scholarships You Need to Know About

Be as big as life. 

If you want to know the scope of living things, you should study biology. It's one of the most reputable majors out there, and it opens great career paths for you. 

But studying biology can be overwhelming. Every school has its own program. Every institute offers its own scholarships. 

Many people wonder about the best biology major scholarships. Look no further. Here are the seven best scholarships for biology majors.

1. APS/IBM Research Internship for Undergraduate Women and Underrepresented Minorities

The American Physical Society (APS) is the nation's leading membership organization for physics professionals. IBM is one of America's leading technology companies. The APS and IBM have joined forces to support research internships in STEM.

The Internship for Undergraduate Women is limited to women. This includes all students who present or identify as women and/or trans women. 

Applicants for the Internship for Underrepresented Minorities must be African American, Hispanic, or Native American. Applicants who identify as a woman and an underrepresented minority can apply to both internships.

Students must major in STEM, including biology. They can double major in multiple fields. They must have at least a 3.0 GPA and no citizenship restriction. 

Applicants fill out a form through an IBM server. They must include two letters of recommendation from faculty members in their field. They must also include a list of STEM courses. 

If selected, the intern serves a paid summer internship at an IBM office, and IBM provides housing assistance. They work with a mentor and pursue a research project that interests them. The internship lasts ten weeks and provides a $2,500 award.

2. Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program 

The Department of State runs the Gilman Scholarship Program, which enables students to study and intern abroad. It is open to any undergraduate student who receives Pell Grant funding. The student must be an American citizen, but they can attend any school. 

Applicants fill out a thorough application. They must write three essays and submit their college transcript. Two advisors must certify them before their application is reviewed. 

Gilman Scholars have studied in more than 100 countries. Though most scholars are humanities majors, many biology students have been Gilman Scholars. The program pays up to $5,000 for studying abroad. 

3. EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship Program 

The EPP/MSI Program is for biology students with an environmental or oceanic focus. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration runs the program. 

The program is open to students from a Minority-Serving Institution. This includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, and Hispanic Serving Institutions. It provides funds for two years of undergraduate study. 

Students must be enrolled as a sophomore. They must earn a 3.2 or higher GPA. They fill out an application online before receiving awards.

Students can receive awards of up to $45,000. They complete paid summer internships for two summers. They then present the results of their projects at a symposium in Maryland. 

4. Indian Health Service Scholarship Program

The Indian Health Service Scholarship Program is for biology students with a health focus. The program is open to any student of Indigenous descent. They must maintain a 2.0 or higher GPA, and they must pursue a career in Indigenous health service.

Applicants must fill out an application with IHS. If they are accepted, they enter into a contract with IHS.

The contract includes a requirement that the student pursues post-graduate training. They must begin their career within 90 days of their training. If they do not, they must pay back the scholarship.

Awards differ depending on the applicant's needs. But the program can provide a full four years of tuition and books. 

5. National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences Summer Internship Program

The program provides internships to students pursuing careers in biological sciences. They focus on a research project that relates to the latest techniques in biology. 

Students apply online through the federal government. Students must be eighteen years or older. They must have graduated high school, but they do not have to be in college yet. 

If selected, the intern completes a project under the oversight of an NIEHS staffer. They receive seminars and workshops from NIEHS researchers. They must work a minimum of eight weeks, full-time between May and September. 

Awards include monthly stipends and hourly wages. Interns can receive more than $5,000 over the course of the summer.

6. National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program

The program provides fellowships to Master's students and doctorate candidates. Applicants must meet a number of eligibility factors in order to apply. They must also fill out an application that includes two letters of reference.

But the program is a generous source of biology major financial aid. The five-year fellowship offers three years of financial support. That includes an annual stipend of $34,000 and an additional payment of $12,000 to the educational institution. 

There is no post-graduate study service requirement. Students can receive supplemental funding if they have to defer their education. 

7. Out To Innovate Scholarships for LGBTQ+ STEM Students

The National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP) runs the Out To Innovate Scholarships. The Scholarships are reserved for LGBTQ+ individuals or active allies. They sponsor all STEM programs, including biology. 

Applicants must have completed at least two years of college. They must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. They also must declare a major in STEM before applying. 

Scholarships are $5,000 at a minimum. The National Organization also sponsors some one-time scholarships on occasion. 

Find the Best Biology Major Scholarships for You

A lot of people out there have your back. Getting into biology can be difficult. But seven organizations have stepped forward to offer biology major scholarships. 

APS, NOAA, and IHS offer scholarships for students of color. NOGLSTP offers scholarships for LGBTQ+ students.

The Department of State offers travel scholarships, while NIEHS offers lucrative paid internships. The National Science Foundation offers the best internships for graduate students. 

Get the best scholarships for you and your needs. The Honor Society is America's leading group for academic scholars. Contact us today if you have any questions or would like more information.