The Best STEM Scholarships to Apply for in 2026

Ever dreamed of sequencing DNA or collecting moon dust? The STEM fields are some of the most challenging areas you can study in, but also some of the most fulfilling! With high stress comes high rewards.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. There are several niche fields encompassed within the STEM umbrella, like machine learning, astrophysics, mechanical engineering, and more. Students often start with a broader major like biology before focusing on a specific area, like genetics.

Society continues to modernize, creating a high demand for software engineers, healthcare workers, and other professions necessary to our daily life. Though these occupations can be extremely competitive, they're also often very lucrative.

Many companies seek to recruit gifted STEM majors out of college, jump-starting their careers. That's why an impressive college resume is important in this cutthroat field— the more experience you have before graduating, the easier it will be to find employment options.

Take the stress out of paying for school and focus on building your research or lab experience instead by applying to STEM scholarships. It's going to take all your focus to do well in school while juggling internships, volunteer work, and part-time jobs. Reduce mental stress where you can so you can be at your best!

A free applicant profile on Bold.org showcases who you are, your interests, career goals, and more. Having a robust and polished profile increases the chances of winning scholarships. Create your free profile to start applying for scholarships!

What Is a STEM scholarship?

STEM college scholarships are awards that focus on students pursuing STEM fields. Students must dedicate themselves to science, technology, engineering, or mathematics to qualify for these scholarships. Specific scholarship awards are open to all STEM fields, while others focus on particular areas. For example, you could apply for a technology scholarship, a biomedical scholarship, or civil engineering scholarship, etc.

STEM scholarships are dedicated to STEM students, which limits the eligible applicant pool and increases the chances of winning scholarship awards. These scholarship are often competitive especially given the increase in students' choosing to pursue STEM careers.

In the 2021-2022 school year, about 789,000 STEM degrees/certificates were conferred in the U.S. according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Due to the demand for graduates in the STEM field, scholarship opportunities for STEM majors continue to grow.

Browse our scholarships to see what STEM scholarships you are qualified for and apply today.

Best STEM scholarships

There is a wide variety of scholarships available on Bold.org for STEM. Look out for the eligibility requirements of each scholarship to make sure you're spending your time wisely. The best STEM scholarships will be the ones most suited to your interests for your academic endeavors.

Bold.org offers many scholarships and encourages students to apply for as many scholarships as possible to maximize their scholarship awards. Below is a list of STEM scholarships waiting to be awarded to STEM students. 

Science Scholarships

Mathematics Scholarships

Technology Scholarships

Engineering Scholarships

These broad categories cover the basics of a STEM education; any STEM student should be able to find ample scholarship opportunities under the appropriate industry sector they're studying in.

Best STEM Scholarships by Major

Many STEM students also choose more specific concentrations. A niche STEM degree can make you a more competitive candidate. Below are scholarships for some of the most popular subdivisions within the STEM field.

Cybersecurity Scholarships

Biology Scholarships

Chemistry Scholarships

Information Technology Scholarships

Computer Science Scholarships

Aerospace Engineering Scholarships

It may be easier to win specific scholarships as opposed to scholarships that appeal to a broader range of students. When you apply to more niche scholarships, such as cybersecurity scholarships, you only have to compete against other cybersecurity majors. However, when you apply to general technology scholarships, you'll be competing against students of several majors.

Applying to scholarships aimed at both general STEM students and those of your particular discipline can increase your odds of winning!

Best Inclusive STEM Scholarships

Modern medicine, technology, and more are shaped by those who create it. That's why it's important to have diverse voices at the table when configuring modern systems for societal use.

By ensuring students of all backgrounds have the support they need to enter the STEM field, we decease the chances of unconscious bias affecting modern technology.

Asian American STEM Student Scholarships

Black STEM Student Scholarships

Native American STEM Student Scholarships

South Asian STEM Student Scholarships

Minority STEM Student Scholarships

Women in STEM Scholarships

Your background and identity can help you win these scholarships. Many organizations and donors are interested in funding the education of students of color in the STEM field so that STEM workplaces become more diverse.

STEM Scholarships for High School Students

Scholarships aren't just for college students. High school students can start budgeting for college by applying to scholarships before graduating!

Apply for high school student scholarships here and get a head start on college planning!

When you begin searching for STEM scholarships, each out to your college's financial aid office to see what financial assistance and scholarship opportunities your college offers. Financial assistance comes in various forms, and one of the most significant is scholarships.

A STEM student will learn to use science and math to solve problems and drive our nation's innovation and competitiveness by generating new ideas, new companies, and new industries. High school seniors pursuing STEM fields from a college or university are indispensable in a career in STEM. For most STEM fields, higher education is encouraged.

High school students should apply early and often. An excellent resource aside from Bold.org is The National Society of High School Scholars Foundation, fostering education through scholarships for students in STEM.

STEM Scholarships for High School Seniors

Most scholarships are tailored toward graduating high school seniors; as a result, a senior has a higher chance of winning scholarship awards.

Find the best scholarships for high school seniors here and apply today!

High school seniors can access numerous scholarships exclusively available to high school seniors pursuing an accredited university, technical school, or college, and those available to all high school students. Selecting "High School" as the education level on Bold.org’s scholarship search can help high school students explore options tailored to them. 

When looking for STEM-specific scholarships, consider that some STEM scholarships will look for demonstrated leadership, financial need, academic achievements, or community service. Be sure to read each application carefully to ensure your eligibility and improve your candidacy.

STEM Scholarships for College Students

Current college students who pursue careers in STEM have hundreds of scholarships they can apply for. Undergraduate and graduate students should apply for scholarships to reduce the cost of their tuition and related expenses.

View all college student scholarships here and start fighting your student debt!

College students, including graduate students seeking STEM scholarships, are encouraged to apply for multiple scholarships. Try to find scholarships on different online platforms, through your school, and through community or professional organizations.

Bold.org STEM scholarships are easy to apply for, and the website is simple to navigate, making the scholarship application process straightforward. Submit a scholarship application now by clicking on one of the scholarships listed below! 

Scholarships for Graduate Students

Many STEM students choose to pursue graduate school as a graduate degree can advance most STEM careers. However, graduate school is also expensive. Winning a STEM scholarship can help fund your higher education.

Apply for graduate student scholarships today to continue your academic journey!

Technical degrees in the STEM industry often require such detailed training that four years isn't enough to master the subject. As a result, graduate degrees in computer science, genetics, physics, and other STEM fields often provide a competitive edge in the job market.

Graduate students studying STEM can also access STEMGradStudents.science.gov for exclusive STEM scholarships. As a graduate student, you'll also have access to more scholarship programs that aren't available at the undergraduate level.

Scholarships for Women in STEM

The Bold.org scholarship platform seeks to help women pursue STEM degrees by offering scholarships to female students to assist in closing the gender gap in STEM fields. Take advantage of these specific scholarship opportunities to help you reach your full potential and pay for college.

Whether you are a female student pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree,  Bold.org offers STEM scholarships exclusive to female students. 

Apply to women in STEM scholarships now and raise funds for your education!

Women make up about 34% of STEM workers with a bachelor's degree or higher. Women's underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and math is a prominent concern in our society. 

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) offers scholarship opportunities to support women in STEM pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. The Society of Women Engineers' scholarships assists female undergraduate students and graduate students pursuing an accredited four-year college or university in preparation for careers in STEM.

STEM Scholarships for Minorities

The share of degrees in STEM awarded to underrepresented minorities—Hispanics or Latinos, Blacks or African Americans, and American Indians or Alaska Natives—has increased over the past decade. In 2018, underrepresented minority students received 24% of all science and engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Minorities are an important part of the scientific and global community. Apply for minority student scholarships today!

Your cultural heritage can help you find scholarships and grants explicitly reserved for minority students. If you belong to a minority group, make sure you exhaust every option when searching for minority scholarships. This includes applying for scholarships for minorities on Bold.org. Below is a short list of scholarships to apply for.

On Bold.org, there are numerous STEM scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, and new scholarships are created every day, generating various scholarships to support students of all levels.

Whether you're in high school, college, or vocational-technical school, Bold.org is a great place to start your scholarship search. Simply create a Bold.org account and begin browsing available STEM scholarships.

How to Apply for STEM Scholarships

Apply Early, Apply Often

One of the first steps in searching for STEM scholarships is to reach out to your college's financial aid office to see what assistance and scholarships your college offers. In addition to institutional aid, external scholarship platforms, like Bold.org, can help find resources and other scholarships to assist your educational journey.

The earlier you begin using these resources— scholarships, financial aid offices— the more money you'll be able to get out of them. Continuously seek new financial aid opportunities so that you don't miss out on any offers.

Draft a Scholarship Essay

STEM college students can make their application stand out by impressive writing skills. Don't worry if you're not a great writer! Many STEM students tend to be stronger in math or science than in writing skills, and that's okay. Many scholarships allow students to showcase their unique strengths.

The point is mainly to showcase your journey towards an education in STEM. What motivated you? What challenges have you overcome? Write about why you want to study STEM, and how you'll give back to the community if you win the scholarship.

Make sure to check the essay prompt for each scholarship, as they may ask for either a general personal statement or an essay on a specific topic.

Check out our best tips for creating an excellent essay.

Gather Important Documents

You'll need to fill out a form with your personal information to apply for any scholarship, but other documents may also be required. These could include high school or college transcripts and letters of recommendation.

Let your recommenders know ahead of time when they should turn in their letters. That gives them more time to prepare, and avoids the chance that you get disqualified because of a late submission.

Similarly, contact school offices as early as possible for transcripts or other documents so that you can turn everything in on time.

Tips for Applying to STEM Scholarships

Stay Organized

Students should be very organized and apply for as many scholarships as possible. Keep track of what documents you need for each application— some may ask for grade transcripts, letters of recommendation, or other records.

Consider keeping a timetable or calendar to note down the deadlines for all the applications. Even if you put together a great essay and collect trustworthy letters of recommendation, you won't be considered if you don't turn your materials in on time.

Read All Requirements

A scholarship donor or sponsor may set specific criteria or conditions for their scholarship. This may reflect an organization's fundamental values and objectives or be in memory of an individual to support those from a similar background. Read the criteria— if you aren't an exact match, it may not be worth your time to apply!

The eligibility requirements for scholarships will vary, but they will always be displayed in the description. Scholarships on Bold.org are available to students of all levels and degrees. Still, some might have stricter requirements than others.

There are hundreds of scholarships with zero requirements to meet, like our No Essay Scholarships, where all you have to do is click 'apply' and submit your contact information.

Additional Resources for STEM Students

National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation is organized by the United States government, and aims to support scientific interest, education, and pursuits at all levels. As you prepare for higher education, whether it's undergraduate or graduate school, lab work and research opportunities may become increasingly pertinent.

The NSF offers different ways to procure funding for research. Use this website to get in touch with projects that already have funding, or apply to get funding for your own projects.

STEM Careers at the FBI

Ever considered working for the FBI? While STEM provides pathways to lucrative careers, the job market is also on the competitive side. Government-affiliated organizations like the FBI may recruit you if your skills match what they're looking for. Search for STEM jobs in the FBI or other organizations to find a good fit for you.

NASA Internships and Fellowships

NASA is another well-funded organization that can help jump-start your career in STEM. High school students can find internships for their STEM major, and graduate-level students can apply for fellowship opportunities.

Sign up for a free profile with Bold.org today and start winning money for your STEM education! For more career, finance, and academic tips, check out the scholarship blog.