Scholarships for Women

Women who have completed work toward a Ph.D. and need to return to physics research after a career interruption may apply for this one-year fellowship of up to $45,000 from the American Physical Society. Applicants must be U.S. or Canadian citizens or legal residents and provide written proof of institutional affiliation at a U.S. or Canadian institution during the grant period. Applying requires 1 to 3 recommendation letters and a letter of institutional support. Allowed expenses include dependent care, salary, travel, equipment, and tuition and fees.

Women who are U.S. or Canadian citizens or permanent residents pursuing a doctoral-level degree at an accredited college or university must be nominated by a local P.E.O. chapter. Nominees then complete an online application within 45 days of nomination. This is a one-time merit award of up to $25,000. Nomination windows run from August 20 to November 20.

High school seniors and undergraduate women and non-binary students pursuing STEM degrees at U.S. colleges may apply for the Cards Against Humanity Science Ambassador Scholarship. Five winners each receive a $20,000 tuition stipend. Film a three-minute public YouTube mini-lecture explaining a STEM topic you are passionate about. The video must be scientifically accurate with cited sources, creative, and not a personal statement. An advisory board of women and non-binary STEM professionals reviews submissions and selects finalists.

New female students accepted to College of Saint Mary who are U.S. citizens with at least a 3.0 GPA and plans to major in biology, chemistry, mathematics, or human biology (non-Pre-PA) while living on campus may apply for the NSF-funded Marie Curie Scholars Program. Up to seven students may receive up to $20,000 per year, renewable up to four years. The program includes academic support, research opportunities, STEM community activities, conference travel, internships, and industry networking. Complete the Marie Curie application, FAFSA, a 500-word STEM essay, and a virtual interview with the program director. The scholarship supports academically talented women in STEM fields.

Single mothers pursuing a human-resources-related bachelor's degree who demonstrate financial need and have at least one dependent child under 14 may apply. One recipient receives $20,000 per year for tuition and childcare for up to four years, with the first two years at community college followed by transfer to a four-year school. The award also includes a paid flexible internship, a Melita Group mentor, and consideration for full-time employment after graduation. Submit a 700-word essay and proof of income with your application.

The Society of Women Engineers awards more than 330 scholarships each year, totaling nearly $1.6 million, to students who identify as women and are pursuing ABET-accredited programs in engineering, engineering technology, or computer science. Individual awards range from $1,000 to $20,000 and many are renewable. One application covers all Society-selected scholarships. The Collegiate/Graduate application (undergraduates entering sophomore, junior, or senior year and graduate students; minimum 3.0 GPA) typically opens in December and closed February 2 in the 2026 cycle. The Emerging First Year application (students entering their first year of college, including current high school seniors; minimum 3.5 GPA) opens in February and closes in March. SWE membership is not required and applying is free. Applicants submit transcripts, references, and short essay responses online.

AAUW Selected Professions Fellowships provide $20,000 to women pursuing their first full-time master's or professional degree in fields where women's participation has historically been low, including all major engineering disciplines, computer and information sciences, mathematics and statistics, the natural and physical sciences, architecture, and medicine. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, must not already hold a master's or professional degree, and must be enrolled full-time in an eligible program at an accredited U.S. institution for the entire fellowship year. Selection weighs academic excellence, well-defined STEM career goals, and commitment to supporting women and girls; preference goes to applicants who have overcome adversity or are first-generation graduates. Applications for the next cycle open January 5, 2027 and close February 18, 2027, with awards notified in April 2027.

With NASA MUREP grant funding, College of Saint Mary offers the NASA STEM Transfer Grant for academically talented community college transfer students pursuing STEM bachelor's degrees. Eligible majors include biology, chemistry, mathematics, and human biology. Scholars may receive twenty thousand dollars annually for up to two years, totaling up to forty thousand dollars toward tuition. Beyond funding, the program provides STEM career mentorship, field experiences, and community support. Applicants must demonstrate STEM preparedness through coursework, activities, or work experience and submit an essay describing events that influenced their STEM interest and career goals.

College of Saint Mary guarantees a renewable merit scholarship to every accepted first-time, full-time undergraduate student enrolled in a degree program. Awards are based on academic achievement, including high school GPA and other factors reviewed at admission. Merit scholarships for new students range from twelve thousand to seventeen thousand dollars per year and renew each year while the student maintains eligibility. Certificate and non-degree programs are not eligible. There is no separate application; students are automatically considered when they apply for admission and receive the award in their acceptance package.

Women who provide primary financial support for themselves and dependents, demonstrate financial need, and are enrolled in or accepted to a vocational, high-school-equivalency, or undergraduate program may apply. Past recipients of this award or similar Soroptimist awards, graduate students, and Soroptimist members or employees are not eligible. Awards progress through club, region, and international levels for a potential total up to $16,000. Club-level recipients receive an average of $1,000; region-level awards are $3,000 or $5,000; the international award is $10,000. Complete the online application with original essay responses written without AI tools, plus documentation of financial need and enrollment.