Top Scholarships for Women to Apply for in 2025

Scholarships for women support female students as they pursue their academic goals in school and beyond. These scholarships are here to offer financial assistance so that more women can get into college, stay there, and crush it without worrying as much about the cost.

But why do some scholarships target only women? Let's have a look at some key statistics to explain why women are more in need of college scholarships!

1. In 2024, the Pew Research Center reported that 47% of women aged 25 to 34 had bachelor's degrees compared to 37% of men, meaning more women are in college than men.
2. Despite higher numbers of women in American colleges, the World Economic Forum found that women still account for only 42% of the global workforce and only 31.7% of senior-level positions in 2024.
3. In 2023, women earned only 83% of the median annual salary of men, making it harder for them to pay back student loans (American Association of University Women).

Combined, these statistics suggest that, despite the high number of women enrolled as college students, their representation in education is not reflected in workforce hierarchies or salaries. As a result, funding female students during college may allow them to graduate with less student debt, leading to more positive employment outcomes.

In this guide for female students, we'll help you get as much financial aid as you can. Bold.org does this by covering:

1. An exclusive list of scholarships for women
2. How female students can apply for scholarships
3. Tips on winning women's scholarships
4. High-dollar-amount awards for women

To make your search for scholarship funds easier, we’ve created this list of scholarships for women at all levels of education. You can start applying by clicking one of the scholarships listed above!

We'll also get into detail with specific, actionable steps you can take to improve your scholarship applications. More scholarships are also listed below and organized into categories so you can find the financial aid you need.

Sign up here and apply for scholarships for women today!

Best Scholarships for Women

1. Women in STEM Scholarships

Scholarships for women in STEM are critical in encouraging and supporting female undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in STEM. These scholarships aim to provide financial assistance to women and inspire more women to explore STEM careers, contribute to innovative research and development, and achieve leadership roles in their respective fields.

2. Scholarships for Black Women

Scholarships for Black women are integral in supporting the educational aspirations and career goals of African American/Black female students. These scholarships help cover tuition and other educational expenses, making it easier for Black women to access both undergraduate and graduate programs.

3. Graduate Scholarships for Women

Graduate scholarships for women play a pivotal role in empowering female scholars to pursue advanced degrees and research opportunities. These scholarships are designed to address the unique challenges women may face in academia and professional fields, providing essential financial support for tuition, research projects, and other academic pursuits.

If you're a graduate student, check out these graduate student scholarships and begin applying today!

Scholarships for Women by Major

1. Business Scholarships

Business scholarships for women are designed to empower female students pursuing careers in the business world. These scholarships offer financial support to women pursuing business-related fields, including finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, and management.

2. Nursing Scholarships

Nursing scholarships offer women the opportunity to pursue their passion for healthcare and make a significant impact in their communities. These scholarships provide essential financial support, helping to alleviate the burden of tuition costs and allowing recipients to focus on their studies. Apply now and take the first step toward a fulfilling and impactful career in nursing.

3. Education Scholarships

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2024, an astonishing 73.4% of those working in education-related fields were women. It's no surprise that education is a popular major among women. If you're one of these inspiring female role models looking to empower and guide the next generation forward, these education scholarships are for you!

4. Criminal Justice Scholarships

For students dedicated to careers in criminal law, specialized scholarships help fund their education. Bold.org donors create these scholarships to support future advocates, prosecutors, and reformers who are committed to making an impact on the justice system.

5. Political Science Scholarships

Incoming students attending law school will quickly find that politics and law go hand in hand. Many students approach law as a foundation for government work, or the other way around. Applying to scholarship opportunities for political science might afford a law student a competitive edge, as they have a relevant background that not all political science students have.

6. Finance Scholarships

Students interested in pursuing corporate law—one of the most lucrative areas of law—might want to brush up on their finance knowledge. Understanding money and the business aspect of operations can go a long way in helping you perfect your understanding of tax laws.

Female high school seniors, check out these scholarships for high school seniors so you can knock your first year at college out of the park!

High-Reward Scholarships for Women

1. Merit-Based Scholarships

A merit-based scholarship program is designed to recognize and reward female students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievements, leadership qualities, and extracurricular involvement. These types of scholarship programs offer financial support to high-achieving women, helping them to pursue their educational goals without the burden of financial stress.

2. Full-Tuition Scholarships

Securing full-tuition scholarships for women is the absolute dream for almost every student out there. All expenses paid, no debt, no need to work a job, and no additional scholarship applications. While these full-tuition scholarships are highly competitive, you have nothing to lose from applying and everything to gain!

3. Academic Scholarships

Academic scholarships celebrate your academic achievements, such as maintaining a high GPA, scoring well on standardized tests, and embarking on research endeavors in the academic space. If you're a woman with high academic scores and a passion for academia, these scholarships can be a great way to cover your college costs!

These represent just a handful of the numerous scholarship options available for women to consider. Explore more scholarship opportunities today!

Scholarships for Female Students in Debt to Earn More Money

1. Gap Year Scholarships

Many universities have competitive admissions processes, particularly medical schools. Unlike academic scholarships, gap year scholarships may also help cover living expenses, depending on the specific eligibility requirements. A gap year can also give you time to stock up a budget for your tuition. Earning some money first means you can shift your attention to paying attention in class after you enroll.

2. Need-Based Scholarships

Not many college students qualify to pay the entirety of their tuition bill out of pocket. Aside from filling out the FAFSA, apply for these need-based financial aid grants to make up the difference. With a combination of financial aid packages, your college expenses can be managed.

3. Grants to Pay Off Student Loans

Similarly, these grants can help college students who demonstrate financial need. Some may help repay federal student loans, while others offer general financial aid packages. Many female students incur some loan debt regardless of their finances, meaning you'll likely be able to apply for these scholarship opportunities.

How to Apply for Scholarships for Women

1. Find Scholarships for Low-Income Women

One key way to find scholarships is by creating a free profile with Bold.org and utilizing our powerful search engines to find scholarships tailored just for you! For example, by choosing the "Women" category, you will be provided with a list of scholarships specifically created to help women pursue a college degree.

Other scholarship sources can include:

1. National and international organizations (e.g., AAUW)
2. Community foundations (look up your district of residence)
3. Your university (check their scholarships and financial aid page)
4. Companies you've been employed at (corporate scholarships are available for past employees)

Sign up here and apply for your first scholarship right now!

2. Tailor Your Application for Female Scholarships

Focus on your academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and any community service that demonstrates your leadership and commitment to your field of study. For scholarships aimed at women in specific disciplines, emphasize your contributions and aspirations within that area. Your application should reflect your unique perspective and outline how you plan to make a meaningful impact.

If the scholarship you're applying for values giving back to the community, write about how the career paths you're considering will make a positive impact on those around you. Scholarships that focus on gender inequality may want to hear about how you plan to close the gender gap or provide more female role models in academia.

Make sure that your application and essay reflect the values of the donor to maximize your chances of winning financial aid. Female students are often overlooked, so show scholarship panelists why you deserve to win and how funding your education will help young women in future generations.

3. Prepare Your Documents

This typically includes your academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, a resume or CV, and any other documentation required by the scholarship. Choose recommenders who know you well and can speak to your strengths and potential, particularly in the context of the scholarship's focus. Give them enough time to write a thoughtful recommendation.

Female students in high school may want to ask tutors or guidance counselors for letters of recommendation, while undergraduate and graduate students should find a professor who knows them personally. If you're in graduate school and have a research or more professional role, ask your supervisor for a letter that demonstrates your academic contributions.

4. Proofread Your Application

After assembling all your scholarship materials, you'll want to double-check everything, especially your personal statement. Then you'll want to triple-check. Bonus points if you find a willing parent, friend, or academic mentor to look over what you've written! Chances are, someone will catch something you can improve upon, and it will make your chances of winning the scholarship that much better!

Tips for Winning Scholarships for Women

Some female college students choose not to apply for as many scholarships as they can because they don't believe they have a good chance of winning. However, if you use these tips while applying for scholarships, you can increase your odds of becoming a scholarship winner.

1. Apply for Scholarship Opportunities for Women as Early as Possible

Bold.org is posting new scholarships consistently, giving countless opportunities that come and go within a few months. Therefore, the sooner you begin applying, the more scholarships will be available for you over time. This way, you can apply for as many scholarships as you want without worrying about submitting applications all at one time of the year.

2. Apply to as Many Scholarships as You Can

Many scholarships for women don't require any application materials, such as no-essay scholarships that can be applied for with just a few clicks. As a result, many students apply for no-essay scholarship support. No-essay scholarships may be harder to win due to the higher volume of applicants.

Apply to a variety of women's scholarships as you can, but also apply to a variety of scholarships: apply for major-specific awards, like computer science awards, and background awards, like low-income scholarships.

It can be hard to stand out in every application, making it important for you to apply to plenty of scholarships. The more scholarship opportunities you apply for, the more likely you are to win one. Applying to many scholarships increases your probability of acquiring scholarship money.

3. Apply to Scholarships with More Eligibility Requirements

An additional way to increase your chances of winning a scholarship is to apply for scholarships that have more eligibility requirements. For example, scholarships specifically for women in computer science, scholarships that require community service experience, or scholarships specifically for young women in an undergraduate program.

These scholarships are open to fewer female students. The fewer eligible applicants there are, the less competition there is for the scholarship, increasing your odds of being selected.

Additional Resources for Female Students with Financial Need

1. American Association for University Women

The American Association for University Women (AAUW) is one of the nation's biggest supporters of women in graduate school. While they don't offer traditional scholarships, their grants and fellowships are often even more valuable for their networking opportunities and direct relevance to master's and doctoral degrees.

Among their many financial aid opportunities, AAUW offers an international fellowship that gives winners a stipend of $20,000 to $25,000. Applicants must be international students enrolled in a doctorate program. For Americans, you should check out the American Dissertation Fellowship, which is eligible for women working on their final year dissertation, especially those in STEM or gender studies fields.

2. Jack Baskin Foundation Scholarship

For California community college students, this one is for you! This Jack Baskin Foundation Scholarship supports low-income women with up to $20,000 over two years so they can attend the UC of their choice. Winners are selected based on their level of financial need and academic achievement.

To be eligible, you must attend one of the qualifying community colleges, such as Monterey Peninsula College. Applicants from students of color, immigrants, first-generation college student,s and those re-entering the workforce are prioritized.

3. Miss America Foundation

The Miss American Foundation is a nonprofit organization with the aim of encouraging women to pursue higher education in the following areas: business, STEM, social impact, community service, medicine, healthcare, equity & justice, and academics. Their largest scholarships award $10,000 for the winner and $5,000 for the runner-up.

If you're in business, check out their Women in Business Scholarship. Alternatively, if you're more of an artist, you'll want to apply to their Forever Miss America Scholarship for those pursuing a career in the arts or entertainment.

Another way to stay on top of your college finances is by getting a debit card. Explore our top picks for students and start collecting all those juicy rewards!

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