7 Great Tips to Help You Determine the Best Scholarships for Women in STEM

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) was once male-dominated. But thanks to decades of progressive social change, women are quickly becoming far more involved in these areas of study!

But if you're a woman looking to pursue a STEM degree, you'll want to explore your financial aid options, including scholarships. After all, the average tuition cost for a four-year degree is over $20,000.

This article will explore seven tips for finding the best scholarships for women in STEM fields. Read on to find out how you can finance your future!

1. Consider Your Area of Study

The first thing you'll want to consider when applying for scholarships for women in STEM is your chosen area of study. Naturally, your preferred degree program will fall into one of four broad categories:

• Sciences
• Engineering
• Technology
• Mathematics

Selecting the best women's scholarships in STEM often means narrowing down your scholarship options by selecting one of these groups.

For example, scholarships for marine biologists will vary from scholarships for calculus majors. As such, it's crucial to focus on your chosen field of study before starting your scholarship search.

Let's explore a few ways to shorten your scholarship search using the STEM categories.

Sciences

The sciences are a broad group of studies that range from computer science to biological science. As a result, there are thousands of scholarships for women in science studies!

Some of the most prevalent forms of financial aid are scholarships for nursing students. If you're considering a pre-doctorate or nursing degree, you'll be able to find plenty of options from which to choose.

Just be sure to narrow down your search by the specific type of science major you intend to pursue!

Technology

As you might imagine, technology degrees also vary significantly depending on the precise type of technological field you plan to study. Women's scholarships in tech fields are equally as diverse.

For example, you can find scholarships and grants designed to assist women pursuing degrees in:

• Computer programming
• Data analysis
• Information security

When you search for scholarships to help fund a technology-related degree program, take the extra few minutes to specify the precise nature of your field of study. Doing so can help you find the best tech scholarships.

Engineering

Are you interested in improving the way machines, architecture, or society works? If so, you'd likely make an excellent engineer! Even better, you'll have the support of many potential scholarships as you study.

Women engineering scholarships are just as diverse as other STEM scholarships, but they may be more plentiful. That's because engineers are almost always in high demand.

The best way to increase your chances of receiving one of these scholarships is to apply to as many as you can. This feat might seem intimidating, but you can do it, especially if you stay organized.

Mathematics

Of all the STEM studies, mathematics might be one of the most straightforward. While there are several different fields from which to choose, must focus on theoretical research instead of practical application.

As such, discovering the best women scholarships in mathematics may be a little easier than finding scholarships and grants for biological science or engineering majors. 

To get started, consider your field of study. For example, are planning on majoring in calculus, or numerical analysis? Each specific field of mathematics has unique STEM scholarships available!

2. Utilize Scholarship Directories and Searches

There are hundreds of websites that list available scholarships. But only a handful are worth your time.

That's because some websites aren't regularly updated and maintained. Consequently, the information you'll find on these pages is outdated and often incorrect. As a result, it's far better to choose high-quality resources.

One of the best online scholarship resources is the Honor Society scholarship directory. You can filter the listed results by choosing one (or several) of the keywords listed on the left side of the page.

This directory makes it easy to find and select degree-specific scholarships. As such, you won't need to spend hours scrolling and sorting through non-applicable options.

If you're willing to share more personal information (like your ethnicity, age, and current academic standing), you can use the CollegeBoard scholarship search application.

The true benefit of this resource is the ability to fine-tune your results. You'll be able to find scholarships for transfer students, international students, and much more.

So, instead of viewing all scholarships for college students interested in STEM majors, you can narrow your search down by gender and ethnicity. Remember, being specific is one of the best things you can do.

3. Consider Your Household Type

Another option you might want to consider when searching for scholarships is your household type. After all, if you have dependents, you'll likely benefit from having additional financial aid to help you finish school.

Grants and fellowships for those with families are relatively plentiful. In addition, you can quickly find scholarships for moms that can help you afford your remaining tuition fees.

Some great examples of scholarships for single moms interested in STEM degrees include:

• ANSWER Scholarship Endowment
• Capture the Dream, Inc. Single Parent Scholarship
• Park Foundation Scholarship

Naturally, there are far more scholarships available to single parents. Many are specific to certain states or schools, so be sure to check with your college to see if any might apply to you.

You may be surprised to learn that your local university or community college offers high-level prizes and grants to single parents. Your high school achievements and activities are also worth considering.

4. Remember High School Achievements

The extracurricular activities you pursue during high school may help you enjoy a well-rounded education. But they can also become a boon when it comes to finding scholarships.

That's because several scholarships are specifically designed to help students with unique interests. For example, there are scholarships for students that participated and excelled in high school extracurricular activities like:

• ROTC
• Creative writing
• Theater
• Athletics
• Debate
• Agriculture
• 4-H
• Foreign language studies
• Photography and art

If you enjoyed any of these activities or clubs during high school, take advantage of their related scholarships. If you're not sure if your specific extracurricular club or activity offers academic prizes, be sure to ask.

Even if it's been several years since you were a member of a scouting troupe or thespian group, there's a good chance that unique scholarships are available to you thanks to these clubs and memberships.

5. Become an Honor Society Member

An excellent way to find top-notch STEM scholarships to apply for is to become an Honor Society member. After all, Honor Society members enjoy many practical and long-lasting benefits.

Some of the most notable benefits of becoming an Honor Society member include:

• Test preparation material discounts
• Access to low-cost health plans and discounts
• Deals on restaurant outings, rental cars, and online courses
• Unique access to exclusive scholarships

Of course, not everyone can become a member. You'll need an invitation to become an Honor Society member. But you can increase your chances of receiving an invitation by maintaining your GPA!

6. Don't Forget Minority-Specific Scholarships

There are hundreds of minority-specific scholarships to choose from, and many don't specify a degree type or major. As such, you can increase your chances of getting a scholarship by searching for these types of aid.

If you're a minority attending school in the US, you can try using your preferred search engine to look for:

• Scholarships for Hispanics
• Scholarships for Black women
• Scholarships for Native Americans
• Scholarships for Pacific Islanders

Naturally, the right scholarships for you depend on your background and minority classification. That said, there are quite a few scholarships available to minority students of any background.

There are also several internships available, including the AAAS Minority Science Writers Internship. While an internship might not help you afford your schooling, it can provide a massive boost to your transcript.

As such, opting for high-quality internships is a great way for undergraduate and high school students to make their college applications more appealing to admissions officers. 

7. Differentiate Between Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships

Scholarships for high school students and scholarships for graduate school have vastly different requirements and applications.

One of the most common mistakes students make when browsing for scholarships is failing to differentiate between these education-level-specific grants and prizes.

For example, there are:

• Scholarships for high school juniors
• Scholarships for high school seniors
• Scholarships for college freshmen
• Scholarships for graduate students

Before you chug along on your scholarship search, be sure to specify your current level of education. Doing so can remove hundreds of inapplicable scholarships from your list!

Related Questions About STEM Scholarships

Below, you'll find some of the most commonly asked questions regarding STEM scholarships. If you have any lingering concerns about how to apply for scholarships, be sure to check out the information below.

Robert Morris University Was the First College in America to Offer Scholarships for What?

Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania is the first US college to offer scholarships for professional gaming and e-sports. Gaming is often considered a technological, creative, and athletic field of study.

How Do I Apply for Scholarships?

Do you know how to apply for scholarships? If not, you might feel overwhelmed by the prospect of applying for dozens (or hundreds) of scholarships and aid offers. 

The best way to apply for scholarships is to use a search or directory. After inputting your specific information or narrowing down your list of potential scholarships, you'll want to study each option.

Every scholarship has a specific set of criteria for applicants. For example, some require you to submit your most recent high school or college transcript. Others require essays or proof of volunteer hours.

You can open a blank Microsoft Word or Google Docs document to keep track of applicable scholarships. However, if you have the time, it's often best to sort them based on application requirements.

Easy scholarships to apply for should always be listed first, followed by more time-intensive options. Then, as you finish applying to each scholarship, you can use the bold, underline, or highlighter tools to mark them off.

Fortunately, most scholarship applications are entirely virtual, so there's little chance you'll need to fill out a physical form and mail it off. As a result, applying for scholarships is far easier than it used to be.

And remember, you can access one-of-a-kind exclusive scholarships when you become an Honor Society member. Additionally, scholarship offers are only one of the many benefits of becoming a member!

Are There Scholarships for International Students in the USA?

There are quite a few scholarships for international students in the US. One of the most well-known is the Fulbright Foreign Student Program. However, international students can also explore their eligibility for:

• AAUW International Fellowships
• MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship
• Women In Tech Scholarship Program
• Merit Scholarship
• Global Excellence Scholarships

These are only a handful of scholarships available to international students studying in the US. Be sure to consider your specific area of study and country of origin when searching for applicable scholarships.

Find Scholarships for Women in STEM

There are thousands of scholarships for women in STEM programs. But finding the best ones for you often means considering your area of study, ethnicity, and high school achievements. 

You can also increase your access to high-value scholarships and job opportunities by becoming an Honor Society member! You can receive an invitation by keeping your GPA above 3.5 and taking challenging courses.

Are you curious to learn more about how the Honor Society can make your academic goals a reality? If so, don't hesitate to contact us today!