Scholarships for Women in STEM to Apply for in 2024

Women only make up around 28% of those working in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). That number is even lower in fields such as engineering which is at 15% women, and computer and mathematical sciences which is at 26%. And, in a time when many students are feeling unsure about their future, it’s important to note just how certain minority groups in specific fields can find new opportunities in their career of choice. 

Considering that women were estimated to hold around two-thirds of the student debt in the United States of America at $833 billion, applying for scholarships is incredibly important for all women looking to pursue higher education who demonstrate financial need in the pursuit of a STEM education.

Especially, women who are looking to get opportunities in a field such as STEM where some of the highest-paid positions are being gatekept by male-dominated communities. This isn’t helped by the challenges that female students face in terms of education. 

Best Scholarships for Women in STEM

This is a list of twenty scholarships that you can apply for now that are geared towards giving female high school students and female undergraduate students in the STEM field a greater opportunity to learn and gain experience through studying STEM and pursuing higher education.

With the disparity in student debt, these scholarships are important for making the pursuit of a STEM job and career worth it for women. This is important because STEM jobs earn around 26% more than their non-STEM counterparts.

For the world to see a more even distribution in pay among genders, these high-paying positions must be more open for women to not only gain entry-level jobs, but women need to be able to succeed in these high-paying positions. 

About Scholarships for Women in STEM

These scholarships are geared towards very specific applicants and because of that these scholarships offer very different essay prompts from one another. Many of which are geared towards asking these women about their goals while studying a STEM course and how they will apply that knowledge outside of college. 

These scholarships are focused on giving these women the opportunity to focus all their attention on these STEM curricula and finding a way to circumvent the gender bias that prevents women in STEM from attaining these entry-level positions. Women are 30% less likely to be considered for a hiring process in an entry-level position than men are. 

What Are Scholarships for Women in STEM?

These are scholarships that may have certain requirements that different but they are designed to help women who wish to break into the field. These scholarships often range from $500-$2,000 so applying for multiple scholarships at once is the best course of action. Don’t just stop at applying for one scholarship and waiting for their response. Check out the companies or individuals that are funding these scholarships and see if they are funding any other scholarships that may apply for women in STEM. Also, don’t just focus on scholarships based on STEM and female applicants. There are many generalist scholarships that anyone can apply for, and while the wide spectrum of applicants may make it more difficult to even be considered for those scholarships, applying to women in STEM-centric scholarships will not guarantee you proper funding. Applying to multiple different scholarships will only get you a better chance at receiving financial aid.

What Qualifies as a Scholarship for Women in STEM?

Specifically for women in STEM scholarships, these organizations are looking for signs that these applicants won’t just be great STEM students but that they’re someone with the drive and tenacity to push past the STEM fields gender bias. Also, because many of these scholarships are geared towards STEM applicants it’s best if applicants try to separate themselves by either writing about something that isn’t just standard STEM knowledge at the high school level, or not talking about STEM at all. 

Types of Scholarships for Women in STEM

In such a wide field involving different subjects such as STEM there are many different scholarships that are geared towards different students. Some are geared more towards freshmen while others are specifically intended for graduate students. 

Others are geared towards a specific subject of STEM, such as mathematics or engineering, which while tangentially linked to one another are not the exact same. For these scholarships, one of the major requirements is that the student applying must be in or pursuing STEM degrees. Most of these scholarships will be for women but some are simply designated for underrepresented parties which women definitely qualify as in this circumstance.

How to Find Women in STEM Scholarships

Due to the gatekeeping nature of the STEM working field these scholarships are intent on producing the situations necessary for women to not only attend these STEM courses but for them to crush them and have such staggeringly good results that these STEM companies have no choice but to accept these women for their positions. As such, when applying for these scholarships show your commitment to these scholarships. Whether that be by showing a certain level of activity during the post-application process or by producing a heartfelt essay that conveys the applicant’s interest in STEM and how these applicants intend to succeed. 

If the applicant is in high school, or if they are about to graduate then they have plenty of resources that they can explore before applying for these scholarships. “…the career center and school library…can help you narrow down the universe of options to a manageable list. Career counselors and college financial aid officers often can direct you to specific websites, scholarship sources, and information that might not be obvious via an online search.”

Tips for Winning STEM Scholarships

To win a STEM scholarship award the applicant must show evidence of their academic achievements and their academic ability in STEM fields. Having a record of performing highly in high school is of huge benefit to high school graduates looking to attend a private school.

Frequently Asked Questions About STEM Scholarships 

For college students who want to pursue post-secondary education, some expenses can be stressful and cause a financial burden. Luckily, for graduating high school seniors, and undergraduate and graduate students, there are a variety of programs and scholarships for students that can help ease the strain.

Are STEM scholarships legit?

STEM scholarships are legit as can be. These scholarships often are tied to those who are looking to attend schools with STEM majors as well as the actual school with STEM majors itself.

How can I improve my chances of winning STEM scholarships?

You can improve your chances by taking your time with your essays. STEMS scholarships often require written sections so taking your time with those written sections is important when submitting to any participating schools.

How many scholarships can you get?

As many as there are available. There is no limit to the amount of sports scholarships you can apply for or accept. You can receive funding from multiple scholarships like the college’s sports scholarship as well as independent scholarships that aren’t tied to any one college.

Are scholarships taxable income?

Yes, STEMS scholarships are tax deductible income. The general rule for scholarships being taxable income is that if the grants or scholarships are for research, teaching, housing, or food, they are taxable.

What’s the best way to apply for scholarships?

By checking the requirements for the scholarship and making sure that you have the best essays and that you do your research on who is funding the scholarship as well.

Are there scholarships for schools other than colleges?

Yes, there are scholarships for students that attend a vocational school, a vocational program, a trade school, a two-year community college, or even an accredited post-secondary institution.