Top Scholarships for Women in STEM with Upcoming Deadlines in 2024

Why be Classic Barbie when you can be Surgeon Barbie or Astrophysics Barbie? If Margo Robbie and Bridgit Mendler taught us anything, it's that women are incredibly ambitious and hard working. It's no easy feat to obtain a STEM education— yet female students continue to amaze and impress with their accomplishments in this field.

Women in STEM scholarships aim to support women who— like you— have chosen to pursue a demanding education in fields like medicine, engineering, and computer science. Obviously, these degrees take longer to complete and are therefore more costly, which is why scholarships for women in STEM can be helpful to you in funding your education.

Higher level STEM lectures can be incredibly stressful and academically demanding. Let's not add too much financial stress on top of that! Applying for STEM scholarships can help pay for your education and let you focus on what really matters— maintaining that GPA.

What Is Considered a STEM Degree?

A STEM degree is an undergraduate or graduate degree in science, technology, computer science, engineering, or math. There are many different STEM fields, such as computer engineering, physical sciences, computer sciences, and mathematics.

Women in STEM Scholarships

Below are some of the most popular scholarships for women in STEM. High school seniors, undergraduate students, and graduate students may be eligible to apply for these.

Scholarships for Women

STEM Scholarships

Biology Scholarships

Engineering Scholarships

Chemistry Scholarships

The STEM scholarships for women in this article will get progressively more niche. We're starting off general with scholarships for women, STEM scholarships, and scholarships for three of the most sought-after STEM degrees: engineering, biology, and chemistry.

Niche scholarships for smaller areas of study like marine biology— we'll get to that later— might be easier to win as you'll face less competition. However, it's still smart to apply for as many scholarships as you're eligible for. Women in STEM should look through these pages and take a shot at any opportunities they qualify for.

Women in STEM Scholarships for High School Students

Oftentimes, students already have a decent idea of what they want to study before they go to college. If you already have a goal in mind, it's not too early to apply for scholarships in high school.

Scholarships for High School Students

Scholarships for Home-schooled Students

Scholarships for Science Students

Many scholarships are selected by field of study— but some of those may accept students who demonstrate intent to major in a certain field even if the applicant isn't in college yet. For example, if you already know you want to study medicine, you can apply for prospective premed student scholarships.

It may seem daunting to apply for scholarships as a high school student, but there's really no right or wrong time to start applying for scholarships. If you need some guidance, check out this article on how to get scholarships in high school.

Your STEM education starts well before your college years— why not start raising money for that STEM degree, too?

Computer Science and Tech Scholarships for Women in STEM

Computer science and technology are fast-growing fields for undergraduate and graduate students alike. Though Silicon Valley is competitive, it's also a lucrative business that's in high demand.

Computer Science Scholarships

Tech Scholarships for Women

Whether you intend to pursue a bachelor's or master's degree in these areas, your expertise is sure to be highly sought-after. Computer engineering and coding are, in many ways, the future of today's society.

Healthcare Scholarships for Women in Science

Premed and healthcare are also popular areas of study for female students interested in STEM. An education in healthcare can lead to several rewarding career paths, such as becoming a doctor in one of the many specializations available.

Healthcare Scholarships

Nursing Scholarships

Physician Assistant Scholarships

Physical Therapy Scholarships

Many of these fields will require more than just a bachelor's degree. You may have to attend medical school or pursue other forms of higher education, like a master's degree.

The road ahead of you may be difficult, but with great responsibility comes great power. Ultimately, for those who are able to complete such degrees, the work will be rewarding both financially and emotionally.

Graduate Students in STEM Scholarships

Many STEM degrees are foundational and can be further developed in graduate school. Pursuing a master's degree or higher degree can improve career prospects and allow students to master their field of study.

Medical School Scholarships

Graduate Student Scholarships

Graduate Student Scholarships for Women

Niche Scholarships for Women in STEM

While some STEM fields are more general, such as biology, other fields of study can be incredibly specialized. These niche STEM scholarships are for women who are studying specific subsets of other STEM fields.

Cybersecurity Scholarships for Women

Marine Biology Scholarships

Aviation Engineering Scholarships

The Need for More Women in STEM

Women have made vast progress in the academic world, now outnumbering their male peers, yet they are still underrepresented in many fields. STEM jobs, in particular, especially the highest-paid STEM fields and positions, are still male-dominated.

As of a report from the U.S. Department of Labor in 2024, women make up only 26% of the workforce in all STEM fields combined.

Women do make up the majority of certain fields, such as social sciences, and have reached parity in others, such as biology. However, high-paying fields such as mechanical engineering and computer science are still overwhelmingly male, with women engineers making up only 15% of the engineering workforce.

Supporting Women in STEM

Women are also less likely to pursue a STEM degree than men due to a lack of representation and the stigma that women in STEM usually face. Earning a STEM degree in undergraduate or graduate programs isn't just beneficial for you— it also helps to increase the visibility of women in STEM fields, thus making your area of study more accessible for younger women.

Due to the employment gap in STEM education between male and female workers, there are many scholarships available to support women as they pursue degrees and careers in STEM. 

To help you fund your education and overcome gender obstacles, we’ve created this list of scholarships just for women in STEM. The above opportunities are meant to help fund women pursuing careers as engineers, doctors, and scientists.

Contributing Factors to the Underrepresentation of Women in STEM

Limited Access to Resources

Depending on the region and economic class prospective STEM students come from, early encouragement to become involved in the sciences may be limited. Middle and high school programs that nurture an interest in STEM may be limited to certain areas or more affluent schools, making it more difficult for other students to pursue physical sciences and other STEM fields.

Biases and Stereotypes

Implicit or explicit stereotypes may steer young women away from the STEM fields. For example, as earlier discussed, visibility can play an important role in shaping how young people see the world and society. Lack of female role models in STEM fields may unconsciously discourage young women from seeking out fields that are perceived as more masculine, such as data science and engineering technology.

Stereotype Threat

Similarly, women in STEM may fear confirming negative stereotypes about women. As women are aware they are underrepresented in STEM, there may be anxiety that mistakes made by female workers in STEM fields could be generalized to the female population as a whole or taken as proof that women are less capable. This fear can lead to underperformance in STEM fields, lower self-confidence, or avoidance of the STEM fields altogether.

Lack of Maternity Policies and Resources

Many STEM professions are highly demanding, both in terms of time and effort. It may be challenging for women engineers and doctors, for example, to consider starting a family due to the amount of time they would need to take off from work. The stress of such careers may also be daunting to balance with family life. As such, women who are considering starting families may steer clear of the more demanding STEM fields.

Undergraduate Degree Major Switching

Far more women start out as STEM majors in college than the amount of women who graduate with STEM degrees. Occasionally referred to as the 'leaky pipeline', this phenomena contributes to the prevalence of male-dominated STEM fields.

45% of women who started college as STEM majors have left the STEM fields after 4 years of college. It's important to note that switching out of STEM majors is in general more common than switching out of non-STEM majors, for example, 43% of male students also choose to leave their STEM major after 4 years of college.

However, though the percentage of men and women switching out of STEM fields is similar, women are more likely than men to transfer to non-STEM studies while men are more likely to drop out of college when leaving STEM majors. This can lead to inflation in the percentage of women who work in non-STEM fields.

29% of female students transition to non-STEM majors after leaving their original STEM discipline, while 20% of male students who leave their STEM major drop out of college altogether.

Lack of support and mentorship offered to female STEM students may lead to women switching out of STEM fields and pursuing other degrees instead.

How Do You Get More Women in STEM?

Our mission with these scholarships is to incentivize female students to pursue STEM degrees and to break down the generational barriers that have been holding women back. By showing women in science that there are resources and support available, female students can be encouraged to pursue STEM careers. Additionally, scholarships offered specifically to women in the most underrepresented STEM fields can help women finance their education and break into the most male-dominated, highest-paying fields.

Another way to increase the number of women in STEM is to highlight female role models in the field. Female mentorship is essential to support and guide women pursuing STEM, since many are turned away from STEM due to isolating experiences in predominantly male classrooms and work environments.

Qualifications for Women in STEM Scholarships

It's important to put time and effort into your scholarship applications, so you want to be sure you're eligible before you spend time preparing your application.

Must Identify As a Woman

Although there are many scholarships that do not have gender qualifications, women in STEM scholarships require that students identify as women. This is due to the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields. If you do not identify as a woman, you can check out other STEM scholarships— there are plenty of opportunities for STEM students that aren't pitched toward one gender or the other.

Must Be in a STEM Field

In order to qualify for the scholarships listed above, you must be studying in a STEM field. If you are planning to study science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, you may qualify for these scholarships.

Some scholarships will have additional requirements, such as requiring applicants to demonstrate financial need, be undergraduate students, be women of color, etc. The eligibility requirements of each scholarship are listed in the description.

Double-Check the Eligibility Requirements of Each Scholarship

Some scholarships will have additional requirements besides just being open to women enrolled in STEM programs. For example, certain scholarships are specifically for incoming freshmen or other female undergraduate students; some are for female high school students, and others are for women pursuing a graduate degree.

Additionally, some scholarships aim to encourage women in specific programs, such as women pursuing careers in electrical engineering, biological or physical sciences, mechanical engineering, computer science, or other fields. Be sure to check the specific requirements of each STEM scholarship to ensure that you are eligible to apply.

Finding STEM Scholarships as a Woman

Identify as many financial aid opportunities as you can that match your career goals and qualifications.

Using Bold.org to Find STEM Scholarships

Scholarship platforms will allow you to access hundreds of potential scholarships all in one place. You can start your scholarship search today on Bold.org, where you can find hundreds of different scholarships to help you attend college.

You can filter the scholarships by category to find specific scholarships that you're eligible for. Choosing the "STEM" category will provide you with a list of scholarships for those studying STEM. Additionally, choosing the "Women" category will provide you with a list of scholarships for female students.

Furthermore, you can filter by education level to find scholarships open to you, whether you're a high school senior pursuing an undergraduate degree or a graduate student. There are opportunities for all kinds of young women who need a STEM scholarship.

Other Ways to Find STEM Scholarships

You should also check with organizations and foundations aligned with your specific interests. For example, women majoring in data science should check with mathematician associations and the like for exclusive opportunities funded by these groups.

Your school may also have exclusive scholarship opportunities for women in STEM that aren't available to the general public. Whether you're in high school or college, check with your guidance office or financial aid advisor if your school is hosting any scholarships you might be eligible for.

When to Apply for Women in STEM Scholarships

High school is a great time to start scouting and applying for college scholarships. Many scholarships are available for high school students or exclusively for high school seniors. You can look at Bold.org's list of scholarships for high school seniors to find scholarships specifically for high school students.

But don’t worry if you haven’t started your search yet! Many college students are just starting their search, and there are plenty of scholarship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. There's no right or wrong time to start applying for scholarships, regardless of your major or grade level. Hundreds of scholarships exist for every type of student.

How to Apply for Women in STEM Scholarships

To start applying for scholarships for women in STEM, create your free Bold.org profile. Then, click on any of the scholarships above and apply. Some scholarships may require you to write an essay before you apply, in which case you may need to spend more time on your application.

Personal Essay

Different scholarships may have different application requirements; for example, some scholarships require you to write a personal statement to be considered. Others don't require an essay. Either way, you need to be clear on what's expected of you in order to be considered for a women in STEM scholarship.

Demonstrated Interest

Some scholarships that fund more niche fields of academia, like an engineering technology scholarship, may ask you to prove your interest or mastery of the subject. Preparing evidence of a project you worked on that relates to the academic subject of the scholarship can help show you're a dedicated STEM student who deserves to win financial aid.

Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters may also be required depending on the scholarship. College students may want to ask their dean or professors for a recommendation letter, while high school students can ask teachers and guidance counselors. Whoever you ask, make sure your letter is written by an adult who understands your commitment to the STEM field.

Tips for Applying for STEM Scholarships for Female Students

Searching for scholarships to fund your college education can be overwhelming. Luckily, we're here to help you find and win scholarships specifically created for women pursuing careers in STEM.

Apply Early

By applying for scholarships earlier, you can guarantee that you are able to apply for a wide range of scholarships. If you are in high school, there may be specific scholarships that are only available for high school students, so start searching and applying as soon as possible.

In the high school bracket, high school seniors will likely be preferred candidates. After high school, there isn't an obvious preference given to either undergraduate students or graduate students— there's ample opportunity for students of any grade level.

Apply to Multiple Scholarships

Often, applying to multiple scholarships increases your chances of winning. Apply to any scholarships you are eligible for to give yourself the greatest chance of winning financial aid. No-essay scholarships are a great option due to the quick application process, but they are also more competitive. Scholarships that require an essay will be more time-consuming but may receive fewer applicants.

Apply to a mix of scholarships to maximize your chances of winning a scholarship. Make sure you've applied to scholarships with an essay requirement as well as no-essay scholarships. Apply to women in STEM scholarships and general STEM scholarships.

Apply to Scholarships with Specific Requirements

If you are a woman of color or an LGBTQ+ person in a STEM field, finding scholarships that are looking for these specific demographics might improve your chances of winning due to the limited eligibility pool.

Take a look at scholarships aimed at uplifting underrepresented groups, and apply for minority scholarships today!

Additionally, some scholarships look for people within a certain state or city. Try to find scholarships that are specific to your identity, because these will have fewer people applying.

Write a Unique and Compelling Essay

If the scholarships you are applying to require an essay, make sure that you check your essay for spelling and grammar mistakes and make sure that your message is concise. Beyond that, don't forget to make your essay unique. If your essay stands out, you may be more likely to win.

Crafting a compelling narrative will vastly improve your chances of winning a scholarship. Be sure to demonstrate your interest, talent, and commitment to the field you've chosen. It's important to show that you're not only academically interested in the subject but also proficient— you can get good grades in your classes and possess a deep understanding of the material.

Lastly, show your commitment by talking about your plans for the future— whether you're aiming to earn a master's degree in computer science, or have plans for developing a specific app, this shows the donor you're serious about using their money to pursue STEM.

Additional Resources for Women in STEM

Several organizations and foundations have programs or free resources available to students interested in STEM. The ARC Network provides webinars, workshops, and a library of training videos and research papers to supplement your STEM education.

One great resource that has helped countless high school and college students is Khan Academy. This online platform provides in-depth lectures on a variety of science subjects, such as the biological or physical sciences. Even a graduate student might find some of the lectures helpful as a study resource.

Sign up for a free account with Bold.org today and get access to hundreds of exclusive scholarships! Bold.org is committed to supporting all types of students, including women in STEM, by providing free resources on our scholarship blog.