Scholarships for Women

Updated on May 16, 2023

Edited by

Many scholarships for women are available, but finding them can be daunting. Browse our list of the best scholarships for women by field and degree.

Scholarships for women in STEM and medicine can create greater opportunities for women in those fields.
MBA scholarships can give women the tools for leadership roles.
Scholarships for women of color at the graduate and undergraduate levels are on the rise.
Graduate scholarships, grants, and fellowships for women are available in most fields.

College and university attendance for women is at an all-time high. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), women made up 58% of undergraduate enrollment in 2020. By 2030, the NCES projects roughly 2.4 million more women to enroll than men.

This demographic shift has been building for decades, and college scholarships for women are increasing to match the trend.

Scholarships for women range from STEM to business to arts and humanities, as well as graduate studies and scholarships for women of color. Here you’ll find some of the top grants, fellowships, and scholarships for women across fields.

STEM Scholarships for Women

Women made up only 34% of the STEM workforce in 2019, despite representing about 48% of the total workforce that year. The gender gap is greatest in math-intensive STEM majors, engineering, and leadership positions, according to a Labour Economics study. While STEM is a historically male-dominated field, these scholarships for women in STEM help shift the balance.

Young Women in STEM Scholarship

Eligibility: Applicants can be female high school seniors and undergraduates in STEM fields

Deadline: May 23, 2023

Award amount: $5,000 each for three winners

Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to female undergraduate students in accredited North American universities. Applicants should plan to major in computer science, software engineering, or a related field.

Deadline: March 24, 2023

Award amount: $7,000

Virginia Heinlein Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility: Applicants can be female undergraduate students enrolled in a four-year accredited college majoring in engineering, math, or physical or biological sciences.

Deadline: April 1, 2023

Award amount: $4,000 each for four winners

Learner Education Women in Mathematics Scholarship

Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in undergraduate mathematics in a two- or four-year college or technical school in the U.S. High school seniors intending to study mathematics or related fields may also apply. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.

Deadline: Recurring, next deadline to be announced

Award amount: $1,000 awarded every six months

BHW Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is available to women pursuing an undergraduate or master’s degree in STEM fields. Applicants must attend a college or university based in the United States.

Deadline: April 15, 2023

Award amount: $3,000

Learn more about the BestColleges Black Women in STEM scholarship.

Scholarships for Women in Liberal Arts and Humanities

Women pursuing a degree in liberal arts or humanities fields can also find scholarships to apply for. Popular majors include visual and performing arts, English and foreign languages, theology, philosophy, history, and religious studies.

Careers in some humanities fields are on the rise, such as media and communications jobs, and many Americans value the soft skills gained in a liberal arts program.

Liberal arts scholarships provide women with greater opportunities in these essential fields.

Agnes E. Vaghi Scholarship Fund

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to female Italian American undergraduate students pursuing a degree in Italian, English, literature, or journalism. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have a minimum GPA of 3.5.

Deadline: March 1, 2023

Award amount: $2,500

P.E.O. Star Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is available to high school seniors who plan to attend a university in the United States or Canada. To be considered, applicants must demonstrate exceptional academics, leadership, community service, and potential for success. Applicants must be U.S. or Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Deadline: October 15, 2023

Award amount: $2,500

Scholarships for Women in Medicine

While women lag behind men in STEM fields, medicine is the exception. More women than men are currently enrolled in medical school. Popular medical specialties for women include obstetrics and gynecology, allergy and immunology, pediatrics, and medical genetics and genomics.

Financial support is available for aspiring female medical professionals. Here are some of the best scholarships for women in medicine.

Irene and Daisy MacGregor Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is available to two applicants pursuing an approved course of study to become a medical doctor or psychiatric nurse at the graduate level. A minimum GPA of 3.25 is required. This scholarship is renewable.

Deadline: January 31, 2023

Award amount: $5,000

Haffizulla Family Scholarship Application

Eligibility: American Medical Women’s Association members who’ve been involved in the student division for two years and are in good standing are eligible to apply.

Deadline: December 31, 2023

Award amount: $1,000

Leslie Andree Hanna Medical Scholarship

Eligibility: This academic merit scholarship is available to one female U.S. citizen who is attending medical school at an accredited U.S. college or university. Applicants must have a minimum 3.25 GPA.

Deadline: January 31, 2023

Award amount: $5,000

Scholarships for Women in Education

Female educators can have a powerful impact on the next generation, inspiring students to confidently pursue educational and career goals. According to UNESCO, women make up 94% of pre-primary educators but only about half of upper secondary school educators worldwide. These scholarships aim to help more women become educators at all levels.

Ena Harris Berger Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is offered by Central Washington University’s department of education for unmarried female freshmen or transfer students. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. There is a preference for Native American students.

Deadline: March 1, 2023

Award amount: $693

Loretta J. Belval Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to female high school seniors who are residents of Grafton, Mendon, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton or Uxbridge, Massachusetts who plan to pursue a career in teaching or education.

Deadline: March 1, 2023

Award amount: $1,500

Teaching Indiana’s Future Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is for female education students aged 21 and older who are doing a semester of student teaching. Applicants must be residents of Indiana for at least one year prior to application.

Deadline: February 15, 2023

Award amount: Varies

Scholarships for Women in Business

Women’s enrollment in business education programs has been increasing. According to the Forte Foundation, 41% of MBA students were female in 2021 — a higher total than in previous years. MBA scholarships for women aim to build on that momentum. These scholarships help women earn business degrees and close the gender gap.

Institute of Management Accountants IMA® Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to female undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Applicants must be U.S citizens.

Deadline: April 30, 2023

Award amount: $2,000 each for two winners

The Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is for female students pursuing a business degree at a licensed, accredited, or state-approved institution. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.

Deadline: May 15, 2023

Award amount: Varies

Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is available to women pursuing a business or management degree at the graduate or undergraduate level.

Deadline: Varies based on your local Zonta club

Award amount: $5,000 awarded to 37 applicants

Ellen M. Cherry-Delawder Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is for female students pursuing a degree in a business-related field. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.0. Preference will be given to women with dependent children.

Deadline: January 31, 2023

Award amount: Varies

Scholarships for Women of Color

Fewer students of color attend universities than white students, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. And women of color may face unique challenges when it comes to getting the support they need in college. These scholarships seek to address the need to combat historical disparities and provide financial support for women of color in college.

Dr. Barbara Odom-Wesley Spirit of Achievement Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to African-American high school seniors currently attending classes in the Tarrant County area of Texas. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required.

Deadline: February 14, 2023

Award amount: $3,000

The National Hook-Up of Black Women, Inc., ” Elaine Davis-Nickens” Atlanta-Metro Chapter Scholarship

Eligibility: Metro Atlanta-area African American high school seniors and college students are eligible for this scholarship. Requirements include at least a 2.7 GPA, participation in your community, and written communication skills.

Deadline: April 1, 2023

Award amount: $1,000

The Phyllis G. Meekins Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to female students who plan to play collegiate golf while studying at an accredited college or university in the U.S. Applicants must be high school seniors from a recognized minority background.

Deadline: January 31, 2023

Award amount: $5,000

Graduate Scholarships for Women

Nearly 60% of all graduate students are women. Women also outnumber men in seven major doctoral degree categories. Popular graduate degrees for women include:

Arts and humanities
Biological and agricultural sciences
Education
Health sciences
Medicine
Public administration

These graduate scholarships help women earn higher degrees with less of a financial burden.

Lydia I. Pickup Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is offered through the Society of Women Engineers. It is open to students studying engineering or engineering technology. Preference is given to graduate students.

Deadline: February 1, 2023

Award amount: $3,500

Susan E. Stutz McDonald Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to female graduate students pursuing a degree in water or wastewater management. Areas of focus include chemical, civil or environmental engineering focused on water/wastewater engineering. Must be a U.S. citizen and attend a U.S. university. A minimum 3.5 GPA is required.

Deadline: February 1, 2023

Award amount: $6,500

Jean E. Harris Chrysalis Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to female geoscientists whose education was interrupted by life circumstances. The award is intended to support completion of a dissertation or thesis beyond traditional research funding.

Deadline: March 31, 2023

Award amount: $2,000

Institute of Management Accountants IMA® Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is offered through The Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting for one female student beginning graduate studies. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.

Deadline: April 30, 2023

Award amount: $1,000

The Women in Finance Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to females worldwide who are enrolled in a postgraduate program in finance at an accredited university. Preference is given to women pursuing careers in financial risk management, market risk management, and derivatives within the capital markets.

Deadline: Applications open Spring 2023

Award amount: $20,000 (half is awarded to the student, half to the institution)

Grants for Women

Career Development Grants

Eligibility: This grant is available to women with a bachelor’s degree planning to change careers or reenter the workforce. Priority is given to women of color, women pursuing their first advanced degree, or women pursuing a degree in a nontraditional field. Grants are available for women pursuing degrees in education, health and medical sciences, or social sciences. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must have received their last degree before June 30, 2014.

Deadline: November 15, 2023

Award amount: $2,000-$20,000

International Projects Grants

Eligibility: The American Association of University Women awards this grant to graduates of the International Fellowships program to allow them to build on their academic work. Emphasis is on community-based projects that improve the lives of women and girls.

Deadline: November 1, 2023

Award amount: $5,000-$7,000

Research Publication Grants

Eligibility: These American Association of University Women grants are available for women scholars conducting research in engineering, medicine, or the physical or biological sciences. Applicants must hold a doctorate degree in one of those fields and plan to publish their research in a scholarly journal.

Deadline: December 2023

Award amount: $10,000-$35,000

Amber Grants

Eligibility: WomensNet awards a monthly grant to one winner and five finalists to create their business dreams. Must be a woman-owned business or startup. Additional grants are available quarterly and annually.

Deadline: Monthly application deadlines

Award amount: $10,000-$25,000

Boston Women’s Fund Movement Building Grants

Eligibility: These grants aim to amplify women and girls’ voices. Your organization must be nominated to be eligible for this grant.

Deadline: January 31, 2023

Award amount: $25,000 to three organizations

Fellowships for Women

The American Fellowship Program

Eligibility: This fellowship through the American Association of University Women supports women researching or studying full time. Accepted activities include full-time study to complete dissertations, full-time postdoctoral research, or preparing research for publication. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Deadline: November 1, 2023

Award amount: $8,000-$50,000

International Fellowships

Eligibility: This fellowship is for women pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral study. Applicants cannot be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Applicants should plan to return to their home country after graduation for a professional career.

Deadline: November 15, 2023

Award amount: $20,000-$50,000

Selected Professions Fellowships from the American Association of University Women

Eligibility: Women pursuing graduate degrees in architecture, computer and information sciences, engineering, mathematics, and statistics can apply. In addition, fellowships for women of color are available in business administration, medicine, and law.

Deadline: December 1, 2023

Award amount: $20,000

Amelia Earhart Fellowship

Eligibility: This fellowship is awarded to 30 women pursuing Ph.D. degrees in aerospace-related sciences or aerospace-related engineering.

Deadline: Applications open July 2023/p>

Award amount: $10,000 each to 30 fellow

Forté Fellows Program

Eligibility: Forté Foundation awards this fellowship to women pursuing MBAs full-time or part-time at participating business schools.

Deadline: Rolling deadline/p>

Award amount: Up to $10,000

Learn about the disparities women in academics face and how to honor them during Women's History Month.

Additional Resources

The American Association of University Women offers grants and fellowships to women pursuing graduate work, research, and community development goals. In the 2022-23 award year, they’re awarding over $6 million in funding to 320 grantees and fellows.
Graduate Women in Scienceoffers fellowshipsto support women’s knowledge and hypothesis-driven research globally. The organization awards a $10,000 maximum for travel costs, supplies and equipment, and research publication support.
The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship creates academic and professional opportunities for female journalists covering human rights and social justice. Fellows can complete coursework at MIT’s Center for International Studies as well as joining top journalism internships.
The Society of Women Engineers has over 100 scholarships and grants for women in engineering. Their database allows search by year or subspecialty. Many of the grants are multi-year.
The Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting offers more than 10 annual scholarships for women pursuing an accounting degree at the undergraduate, graduate, or postdoctoral levels.