20 Women in STEM Scholarships
Despite the increase in women in the STEM field in recent decades, they’re still vastly underrepresented. According to the Department of Labor, just 26% of all STEM employees were women as of 2022.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that STEM occupations will increase by 10.4% compared to 3.6% for non-STEM occupations. As the demand for STEM occupations increases, more organizations are offering scholarships to help close the STEM gender gap.
Unique Challenges Women in STEM Face
Bias, gender stereotypes, and discrimination are some factors that contribute to the STEM diversity and gender gap. Getting more women in STEM majors can help break down personal barriers for marginalized students, expand the workforce to meet the growing demand, and increase innovation by making teams more diverse.
Organizations can create a safe space by offering scholarships to help women overcome barriers in STEM.
20 STEM Scholarships for Women
While women are underrepresented in STEM fields, you’ll still find support as you are either entering, currently in, or returning to school. Here are 20 scholarship opportunities for you as a woman in STEM.
Zonta International Women in Technology Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Women 18-35 pursuing STEM degrees at accredited undergraduate or master’s programs. Applicants must be living or studying in a Zonta district/region
Application Deadline: December 15, 2025, or the deadline determined by the district
Scholarship Amount: $10,000
Zonta International created this scholarship for women who have made groundbreaking research, discoveries, or other exemplary contributions to the STEM industry or field.
Kris Paper Legacy Scholarship for Women in Technology Fund
Who Is Eligible: Graduating high school seniors or returning college women from the greater Kansas City area with a minimum 3.2 GPA who are seeking a degree in a technology-related field
Application Deadline: April 15, 2025
Scholarship Amount: Varies
This scholarship is for students who love technology and are seeking a degree in a technology-related field.
Leslie Andree Hanna Medical Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Women attending medical school in the U.S. with at least a minimum 3.25 GPA
Application Deadline: January
Scholarship Amount: $5,000
Past recipients may reapply for the scholarship each year but are not guaranteed the award.
Engineering and Technical Science Achievement Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Women in their sophomore through senior years majoring in engineering or technical science with a 3.0 GPA
Application Deadline: April 20, 2025
Scholarship Amount: Varies
You must be accepted or enrolled in a college with an accredited program or an Alpha Omega Epsilon National Foundation-approved school. You also must not be receiving full funding for education from another organization. Previous recipients are not eligible to apply.
Pearl I. Young Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: University of North Dakota students pursuing a STEM or STEM Education degree who are in good academic standing (Nursing majors ineligible)
Application Deadline: February 15
Scholarship Amount: $2,500
This scholarship honors Pearl I. Young, a graduate of the university and the first woman hired as a physicist for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) — the agency that later became NASA.
Learner Tutoring Women in STEM Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate women planning to study or studying a STEM major
Application Deadline: October 20
Scholarship Amount: $1,000
Learner, a tutoring platform, organized this scholarship to help more women get into STEM fields and recognize “the boundless potential they bring to global innovation.”
Society of Women Engineers Scholarships
Who Is Eligible: Undergraduate and graduate women
Application Deadline: Varies, March 31, 2025
Scholarship Amount: Varies
The Society of Women Engineers has 25 scholarships you can apply for using one application. You may qualify for multiple scholarships depending on your eligibility. There are three main scholarship opportunities: some for first-year students, some for undergraduate and graduate students, and some for students at schools in India.
William E. and Barbara I. Van Trump Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Undergraduate women attending a school in Union Pacific’s service area. Must also have a 2.5 minimum GPA and interview with the scholarship committee
Application Deadline: December
Scholarship Amount: $1,000
The applicant must have completed at least one semester or quarter in an accredited engineering program. You may also qualify for other scholarships by applying through the Arema Educational Foundation scholarship application.
Pacific NW Tanaka Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Must be an undergraduate geoscience student identifying as a woman, gender fluid, or nonbinary
Application Deadline: January 15
Scholarship Amount: Gold level: $2,000, Silver level: $500
This scholarship considers academic achievement and financial need.
Gertrude M. Cox Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: U.S. or Canadian women in full-time graduate statistics programs as of July 1 of the award year
Application Deadline: February 23
Scholarship Amount: $1,000
One recipient is to a woman entering the early stages of graduate training (MS or PhD), and one to a woman in the advanced stages of training.
Michigan Council of Women in Technology Undergraduate Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Women with at least a 2.75 GPA attending a Michigan college for the 2023-24 school year. Must major in a technology-related field
Application Deadline: TBD
Scholarship Amount: $2,000 to $5,000
The Michigan Council of Women in Technology offers this scholarship to encourage talented female students to pursue higher education and help Michigan become the No. 1 state for girls and women in technology.
SME Education Foundation Scholarships
Who Is Eligible: Multiple scholarships offered by the foundation to support manufacturing and engineering talent for high school seniors and current college students
Application Deadline: February 1
Scholarship Amount: $2,500 to $20,000
The SME Education Foundation has over 60 scholarships, including scholarships for women and underrepresented communities. You need only submit one application for all scholarships.
UPS Scholarship for Female Students
Who Is Eligible: Undergraduate women in the U.S., its territories, Canada, or Mexico. Must be an IISE member attending an IISE-accredited industrial engineering program
Application Deadline: Nomination due November 15, application due February 1
Scholarship Amount: $4,000
This Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE) scholarship prioritizes academic excellence and campus leadership.
BHW Women in STEM Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Women in undergraduate or master’s STEM degree programs
Application Deadline: April 15
Scholarship Amount: $3,000
This BHW Group scholarship requires applicants to write a 500-800 word essay about their favorite app or a time an app significantly improved their day.
Virginia Heinlein Memorial Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: College sophomore, junior, or senior women residing in any country pursuing engineering, math, or biological or physical science degrees
Application Deadline: April 1
Scholarship Amount: $4,000
This scholarship honors Virginia “Ginny” Heinlein, a chemist and engineer. Applicants must submit a 500-1000 word essay on one of several available topics.
Aysen Tunca Memorial Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Undergraduate women STEM majors who are Society of Physics Students members
Application Deadline: March 15
Scholarship Amount: $2,500
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, preferably from disadvantaged economic backgrounds, first-generation college students, or STEM majors.
The Science Ambassador Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Women in undergraduate STEM programs
Application Deadline: Closed, opens this fall
Scholarship Amount: $20,000
Created by Cards Against Humanity, this scholarship application requires you to upload a YouTube video (no longer than 3 minutes) presenting a STEM topic, like a lecturer speaking to a class.
ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention, Inc., and Landmark Pest Management Academic Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Undergraduate or graduate women in STEM majors
Application Deadline: July 1
Scholarship Amount: $1,000
Urban wildlife manager Rebecca Fyffe, a successful entrepreneur with a STEM background, created this scholarship for women to have the opportunity to engage in STEM programs. Your essay must be about how you’ll use STEM to help biodiversity, planet health, or alleviate human suffering.
Women at Microsoft Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Graduating high school seniors identifying as a woman, non-binary, gender fluid, or transgender woman planning to enroll in a STEM program at a two- or four-year college or vocational-technical school
Application Deadline: March 13
Scholarship Amount: $5,000
The scholarship, which awards 26 one-time awards, considers the financial needs of eligible students. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
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