Scholarships for Women in STEM
Written by: Daniel Gleich
The gender gap is notoriously wide in some fast-growing STEM fields, such as computer science and engineering. Men greatly outnumber women majoring in STEM topics in college as well. Many believe that this is because of the lack of encouragement women receive in the pursuit of career paths in STEM fields, while others are convinced that it is mainly due to the lack of female role models in STEM. Still, some attribute it to a lack of funding, with parents of young women interested in STEM considering dipping into their Self-Directed IRA to fund their child’s education at the detriment of their SDIRA balance.
Whatever the reason, offering women the opportunity to thrive and grow can help to narrow the gender gap and ensure a diverse, talented workforce. To this end, many organizations offer scholarships to women pursuing an education in science, technology, engineering, or math. Making it easier to afford a STEM degree can help encourage women to work toward careers in these fields.
- Zonta International Women in STEM Scholarship: Zonta International is focused on issues of women's empowerment, and one way they work toward that goal is by offering $5,000 scholarships to women pursuing a degree in STEM. This opportunity is open to college sophomores and beyond, including graduate students.
- Engineering and Technical Science Achievement Scholarship: The Alpha Omega Epsilon National Foundation awards this scholarship to women majoring in technical science or engineering
- Pearl I. Young Space Grant Award: Female and nonbinary students majoring in a STEM field at the University of North Dakota are eligible for this $2,500 scholarship from the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium.
- Women in Technology Scholarship: This $2,500 scholarship is geared toward women going into computer science or a related field.
- Learner Education Women in Mathematics Scholarship: Online tutoring platform Learner offers this program to help math majors with their studies.
- Ada I. Pressman Memorial Scholarship: Engineer Ada I. Pressman endowed this scholarship program for women majoring in engineering.
- William E. and Barbara I. Van Trump Scholarship: The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association administers this $1,000 scholarship for women who are working toward a career in railway engineering. Applicants must live in the Union Pacific Railroad's service area.
- Janet Cullen Tanaka Geosciences Scholarship: Undergraduate women with a major in the geosciences can apply for this $1,500 scholarship.
- Gertrude M. Cox Scholarship: This award was created to attract more women to careers in statistics. It offers $1,000 to two people each year who are pursuing a master's or doctoral degree.
- Michigan Council of Women in Technology Scholarship: By providing this scholarship, the council hopes to inspire bright female and nonbinary students to continue their studies and make Michigan the leading state for women and girls in technology. Students must be Michigan residents and be studying at a Michigan college to qualify.
- SME Education Foundation Scholarships: Students working toward a degree in manufacturing engineering who are American or Canadian can apply for funding from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
- UPS Scholarship for Female Students: The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers offers a number of scholarship programs, including this one for female undergraduates studying industrial engineering who are members of the IISE and have a GPA of at least 3.4.
- BHW Women in STEM Scholarship: Women majoring in any STEM subject can get a $3,000 scholarship from the BHW Group, an app development company.
- Virginia Heinlein Memorial Scholarship: If you're a woman majoring in math, science, or engineering, you can apply for this $4,000 scholarship.
- Kris Paper Legacy Scholarship for Women in Technology: This scholarship is given to women in the Kansas City area pursuing a technology-related degree.
- Aysen Tunca Memorial Scholarship: Preferred applicants for this scholarship program are first-generation college students majoring in a STEM subject and/or students who have had to overcome significant obstacles. Students must also be members of the Society of Physics Students to qualify.
- The Science Ambassador Scholarship: Funded by Cards Against Humanity, this scholarship covers full tuition for up to four years for a woman studying science, technology, engineering, or math. Smaller awards are also available.
- ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention and Landmark Pest Management Academic Scholarship: Rebecca Fyffe, an urban wildlife manager and entrepreneur, decided to invest in this scholarship to give more women the opportunity to join STEM programs.
- Women at Microsoft Scholarship: Women and nonbinary students working toward a career in science, technology, engineering, arts, and/or math can apply for this scholarship and get up to $5,000.
- Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship: This $7,000 scholarship is available to female students who plan to major in computer science, software engineering, or any related field.
- ITWomen Scholarship Program: South Florida high school seniors planning to major in information technology or engineering can apply for this four-year scholarship.
- LogicMonitor Women in STEM Scholarship: Female college students majoring in any STEM subject can get $6,000 from this scholarship.
- Julie A. Keil Women in Hydro Scholarship: Women working toward a career in hydropower can take advantage of this funding source.
Additional Information for Women in STEM - Funded Through Self-Directed Gold IRAs
Funding a STEM education for anyone, regardless of sex, can be very difficult. Financial hardship is compounded by a struggling economy that may impact the performance of one’s SDIRA investments. To combat this, some investors may choose to move their focus to Self-Directed Gold IRAs. Gold has been known to withstand the ups and downs of Wall Street and may offer investors an alternative way to fund the STEM education of the young women in their life.