Architecture Scholarships with 2023 Deadlines

Architecture scholarships are financial aid opportunities for architecture students— any students interested in this unique major can apply for these scholarships. Many undergraduate and graduate students can use scholarships to help fund their education. 

One of the most effective ways to get scholarships is to apply for scholarships that are already designated for students of your major. There are hundreds of scholarships available to all kinds of students on Bold.org. In addition, architecture students may consider applying for the diversity advancement scholarship through the Architecture Foundation.

Make a free profile today with Bold.org to gain access to hundreds of free scholarships, all in one place for your convenience. View the full list of scholarships here, or visit the category pages to find scholarships that you are eligible for. 

Architecture students study various subjects to develop the skills necessary for city planning and building design. If you have talent in both STEM and artistic fields, architecture may be the right major for you!

Many students enrolled in architecture programs will need five or more years to graduate with their degrees, given the complexity of the field. Both undergraduate and graduate students can elect to study architecture at an accredited college. 

Studying architecture involves many academic subjects, including:

• Geometry 
• Physics
• Drawing
• 3D modeling
• Computer science
• Business 

Students who have an aptitude for both mathematics and arts are strong prospective architecture students. In addition, architecture students may want to look at these lists of math and art scholarships— many architecture students can qualify for scholarships in both categories. 

On the art side of the architecture major, graduate and undergraduate students should consider whether they can handle criticism from their peers and professors. Like many art classes, architecture students will often have their work critiqued by the class to help them improve. 

In a similar vein, many architecture projects will likely require long hours spent in the studio or in front of the computer. Making paper designs drawn to scale or accurate computer models are time-consuming endeavors. Regardless of how naturally talented or intelligent a student is, you must devote significant time and energy to your schoolwork and projects. 

Architecture students will be able to navigate through several diverse career paths after graduation. Because the skill set college students learn through these classes is so diverse, students can go on to work in landscape architecture, civil engineering, urban planning, set design, and more. 

The Architects Foundation is an organization that aims to support the next generation of future architects by providing financial support and other resources. Both graduate and undergraduate students can use this platform to help further their careers and education. 

The Architects Foundation is another good place to find architecture scholarships. Look at their site to apply for the diversity advancement scholarship and other financial opportunities. Getting in touch with organizations like The Architects Foundation can also help students expand their professional networks and make new connections. 

Students should also make sure to choose the right architecture school for them. Several factors may affect this decision, including financial aid. While scholarships are a good way to help pay for college tuition, financial aid can also go a long way. Make sure to research your school’s policy on financial aid to determine how much you can receive through aid packages. 

For students still unsure which architecture program to enroll in, check out this guide on the top architectural engineering programs. 

What are architecture scholarships?

Architecture scholarships are forms of gift aid to provide financial assistance to students studying landscape architecture, civil engineering, urban design, and related fields. Any student enrolled in a similar program at an accredited school can apply for these scholarships. 

Applying for architecture scholarships is a relatively easy process. As with all scholarship applications, students must provide basic information about themselves to show that they meet their qualifications. 

Some scholarships only allow students from a certain grade level, geographic area, or field of study to apply. College students should carefully read all the requirements for each scholarship to make sure they qualify. By reading carefully, students can avoid wasting time applying for scholarships they won’t qualify for.

The second part of the scholarship application is typically the most challenging and time-consuming. Some scholarships do not require applicants to submit an essay. However, many scholarships will ask students to write a short essay or personal statement based off of the given prompt.

In the case of architecture scholarships, this prompt will almost always ask college or high school students why they chose to study architecture. Students will need to carefully examine their motivations and goals for the future to craft an essay that expresses why they should be the ones to receive financial assistance. 

For more tips and tricks on writing a personal statement, read this guide on how to write a scholarship essay. Any student pursuing enrollment in an architecture school can benefit from applying for financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

Architecture Scholarships

As college tuition becomes more expensive, many students need financial assistance to afford the scholars program they want to enroll in. Consequently, applying for scholarships is highly advisable. Take a look at the diversity advancement scholarship or any of the exclusive architecture scholarships available on Bold.org.

1. Elvira Alonso Soto Hispanic Women in Architecture Scholarship

Female Hispanic students who are high school seniors, undergraduate or graduate students studying architecture may apply for this scholarship by March 14, 2023. The award amount is $9,325.

1. Ward AEC Scholarship

High school seniors and undergraduate students studying architecture, engineering, or construction are eligible to apply for this $1,000 scholarship before April 17, 2023.

1. James R. Schaaf Civil Engineering Scholarship

Undergraduate college students studying civil engineering and attending an accredited school in California are eligible to apply for this financial assistance opportunity. Students must apply before May 31, 2023, to have a chance at winning the $10,500 prize. 

1. Jacques Borges Memorial Scholarship

Haitian high school seniors or undergraduate students studying civil engineering may apply for this $4,964 scholarship before June 28, 2023.

1. Stephen LeCornu Routh Memorial Scholarship

High school seniors and undergraduate students in Tennessee looking to study engineering may apply for this $5,000 scholarship before April 30, 2023. 

1.  Dr. Jade Education Scholarship

African American women currently working full time and enrolled in graduate school may apply before January 1, 2024. Applicants can win $300 as the first winner and $200 for the second.

Is architecture a difficult major?

As mentioned above, one thing that makes architecture unique is that it requires skills from various disciplines, including history, geography, art, and science. 

It takes a specific type of student to succeed in architecture. Not only must students be good at math and science, but they also must excel in art and history. College students who struggle in just one of these subjects may find the architecture major difficult. 

However, the very thing that makes architecture academically challenging is also what many students find interesting. Some high school and college students find the idea of an interdisciplinary academic challenge thrilling. Students who can complete work in both STEM and art classes and enjoy doing so will likely be able to succeed as architecture students.

One of the realities about studying architecture that may make it difficult for many students is that architecture majors average just over 35 hours of work per week. All college programs require time and effort from students. However, architecture has one of the highest time commitments as a college program. 

The architecture major consists of design work and non-design work. As the name suggests, design work refers to the more artistic areas of architecture, including making drawings, models, and diagrams. 

A certain degree of fine arts skills is required to do this, but not to worry— with a ruler and a few drawing classes, you’ll be a pro at linework in no time.

Non-design work refers to the technical or pragmatic tasks architecture majors must undertake. Students may need to turn in reports to demonstrate their understanding of historical architecture practices or research urban and rural environments in preparation for building construction. 

Many factors go into planning out a building, not just the dimensions and blueprints of the building itself. Students may need to demonstrate knowledge of how different geographical areas will influence a building or how plans need to be adjusted for local legal requirements. 

What is the easiest scholarship to get?

The easiest scholarships to get are usually those with few competitors or require the least time. 

Scholarships, where you will face less competition, depend on your situation. Applying for architecture scholarships will greatly decrease the number of other applicants for architecture majors since only architecture majors can apply. 

Similarly, students studying art should apply for art scholarships, and so on. Applying to specific scholarships you qualify for will automatically cut down the applicant pool and increase your chances of winning. 

On the other hand, students may be looking for scholarships that require a low time investment to apply for. In this case, the easiest scholarships to get will likely be no-essay scholarships.

Check out this list of no-essay scholarships to apply for in minutes. No-essay scholarships have quick applications since they don’t require students to write an application essay. Or read this article for a list of the easiest scholarships to get!

What is the hardest scholarship to get?

Harder scholarships are typically very prestigious, offer a large amount of money to the winner, and are very well known. 

For example, scholarships funded by the wealthy or famous are typically more well-known than local scholarships. As a result, these prestigious scholarships will likely receive many more applicants, making winning much harder. 

For architecture students, the diversity advancement scholarship may be a good example of this. Since the diversity advancement scholarship is funded by an organization that is very well known in the architectural world, this scholarship will likely get a large number of applicants. 

This does not mean students should not apply for difficult or prestigious scholarships. High school and college students should apply to all financial assistance programs that interest them. 

Applying to as many scholarships as possible will increase your chances of winning money from at least one or two sources. High school and college students should begin applying for scholarships as early as possible and continue to apply throughout their years in school to increase their chances of winning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest-paying scholarship?

With a cash prize of over $10,000, the James R. Schaaf Civil Engineering Scholarship is one of the highest-paying scholarships for architecture students on the Bold.org site. 

Scholarships vary greatly in terms of the amount of money applicants can win. Applying to various scholarships is one way to increase the money you can earn from the scholarships you apply for. 

Of course, students should apply to high-paying scholarships as those are likely the highest return for their efforts. Students should also remember that large cash prizes will likely mean they will face more competition from other undergraduate and graduate students. 

High school and college students should apply for both high-paying scholarships and scholarships that offer smaller prizes. Since students will not win every scholarship they apply for, applying to multiple scholarships is highly recommended. 

What GPA do I need to get a scholarship?

Typically, a 3.0 or above should be enough for college students to qualify for most scholarships. 

Scholarship opportunities that are more academically competitive will usually have a higher GPA requirement. Conversely, many scholarships will accept students with lower GPAs. Read this article for more details on what GPA you need to get a full scholarship.

Bold.org’s scholarship blog is regularly updated with new information to help students make smart decisions. Check it out for more college financial tips!