Access Exclusive Scholarships by Major

Learn More About Scholarships by Major

Major-specific scholarships refer to scholarships open only to students studying specific topics. In other words, not only is there federal and state funding available to students pursuing degree-specific financial aid, but there are also many scholarships available for individual college majors, funded by colleges and other scholarship providers.

So, whether you’re a biology student, a music major, a math major, or any other particular major, there are sure to be scholarships that can provide you with financial aid.

For students looking to apply to these major-specific scholarships, there are a variety of scholarship funds to choose from, and the requirements vary greatly, so be sure to thoroughly read the directions for the scholarship application process.

Often, scholarships by major will ask applicants to be high school students, undergraduate students, or graduate students and to demonstrate their interest in the major and share their passion. As you go through the scholarship application process to find a source for your college funding, keep these questions in mind and think about what makes you passionate about your college major.

Top Major-Specific Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarships for Nursing Majors

Nursing is an incredibly important medical profession, and it is the second most popular major in the United States. Becoming a nurse does not require receiving a graduate degree; however, the average student loan debt for nurses is still over $20,000. Nursing scholarships provide financial aid to those with a passion for and desire to pursue nursing and/or healthcare.

Scholarships for Law Students

Law school is an important stepping stone for students pursuing careers as lawyers, but it can pose an incredible financial burden. In fact, not only do over 70% of law students graduate with debt, but students borrow an average of $118,400 in loans to afford law school. This financial obstacle can delay marriage, purchasing property, and more. In order to overcome this obstacle, law school scholarships offer financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing law.

Scholarships for Medical Students

In recent years, the competition and the cost of medical school have grown astronomically. In fact, over the last few decades, tuition rates for medical school have increased disproportionately in relation to the rate of inflation. More college students are planning to pursue degrees in medicine, so even more students are incurring greater debt to fund their education. Scholarships for medical students aim to alleviate that debt for both undergraduate and graduate students pursuing medicine.

Art Scholarships

Art scholarships can be incredibly useful to students pursuing degrees in the arts. While art degrees are equally as expensive as other degrees, they do not often lead to jobs with high starting salaries. This can make paying back student loans a major obstacle in art students' lives and can impede them from pursuing their passions after graduation. Art scholarships exist to fund the academic journey of creatives and to help alleviate the obstacle of higher education tuition.

Scholarships for MBAs

Business is the most popular major in the United States, and there is no shortage of financial aid opportunities for business majors. However, pursuing an MBA can pose an even greater financial burden, so it is important to find sources to fund your pursuit of a master's degree. Tuition for an MBA can be incredibly expensive, even going as high as $70,000 or more, so scholarships can be an important source of financial aid for MBA students.

STEM Scholarships

STEM includes a wide range of subjects under the umbrella of science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics. Over 20% of student are pursuing degrees in STEM subjects, and the global need for people with expertise in these subjects is only growing. Although these particular majors tend to lead to higher starting salaries, many STEM students still rely on financial aid to help them afford higher education. In order to alleviate some of this struggle, STEM scholarships are geared specifically toward STEM students.

Aviation Scholarships

Aviation scholarships offer aspiring pilots, engineers, and aviation professionals the financial support needed to soar in their careers. These scholarships cater to students pursuing degrees in aviation-related fields, covering expenses from flight training and tuition to research in aerospace technology. These scholarships are offered by a variety of sources, including aviation organizations, colleges, universities with aviation programs, industry groups, and right here at Bold.org.

Scholarships for Future Teachers

Due to the extensive cost of higher education and the low salaries for teachers, students pursuing degrees in education may have lasting student debt. In fact, nearly half of educators have to take out student loans for their college funding, and as a profession, educators owe an average of $58,700. Furthermore, younger educators and minority students are also disproportionately affected, generally incurring even more debt as the cost of tuition steadily rises. Fortunately, these scholarship opportunities exist to help alleviate the cost of college for all college students pursuing educational degrees and/or professions.

Scholarships for Music Majors

For many college students majoring in music, taking out student loans and struggling to pay off debt may feel inevitable. Not only can this increased debt make it difficult for musicians to pursue their passions, but the high costs associated with actually being a musician can also make pursuing a career in music difficult. This poses a major obstacle for any undergraduate or graduate student whose college major is music and also creates a pattern in the music industry where only the most privileged are able to achieve success. Music scholarships hope to provide financial aid to both undergraduate and graduate students majoring in music to help combat this crisis.

Scholarships for Engineering Majors

Engineering is a wide discipline with many different strains within it. With all the different types of engineering, it is a popular major, and the demand for people with engineering degrees has steadily been increasing. Engineering scholarships seek to help fund engineering degrees in order to fulfill the growing demand for engineers and innovators.

Computer Science Scholarships

Computer science is one of the fastest-growing fields within the STEM sector, and there is a major demand for employees with computer science degrees. In fact, recent statistics have shown that while 67% of new STEM jobs are in computer science, only 11% of STEM students study computer science. The sheer volume of job opportunities makes it no surprise that computer science is such a popular major, as the number of computer science degrees awarded has increased by over 75% since 2009. These scholarships are for students interested in pursuing computer science, from high school seniors to new graduates.

Scholarships for Psychology Majors

In the last decade, there has been a 13% increase in mental health conditions and substance abuse disorders. Oftentimes, in order to combat this growing issue, many students pursue psychology degrees. Psychology majors may apply their education to any number of fields, and over 40% of those with a bachelor's degree in psychology pursue graduate degrees. In order to afford the costly tuition of higher education, many psychology majors may look into the scholarship application process as a source of financial aid. These scholarships are specifically for anyone interested in pursuing psychology, including high school students, undergraduate students, and graduate students.