Funding for Women’s Education
While the cost of college is on the rise, there are also better resources than ever before to find scholarships available for students like you. If you’re on the fence about applying for college or don’t know how to afford it, scholarships can be a lifeline to a new career or an opportunity to graduate with less debt.
Below, you’ll find some of the best scholarships for women this year, including scholarships for moms, women in STEM, and other diverse options to help you launch your career.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Scholarships
Scholarships are a form of financial aid usually granted based on specific performance criteria. There are athletic scholarships, merit scholarships, and scholarships based on financial need.
You can choose public or private scholarships and scholarships offered directly through your college. Many scholarships, including those in the list below, may also be targeted to students pursuing a specific degree, profession, or area of academic research.
You generally don’t need to repay a scholarship, which makes scholarships especially attractive compared to loans.
Need-Based Scholarships for Women
Scholarships for Moms
Scholarships for Women of Color
Discover more scholarships for students of color:
Scholarships for Women in STEM
Scholarships for Women in Business
Explore more field-specific scholarships:
Scholarships for Women in Leadership
Fellowships for Women
Although fellowships and scholarships are often discussed interchangeably, subtle differences exist — especially in terms of who is eligible to receive them. Fellowships in the academic arena are typically reserved for students completing postbaccalaureate work. Many graduate students work as teaching assistants via a fellowship. At the same time, doctoral and postdoctoral learners may receive a research fellowship to complete their dissertation or further their research upon graduation.
Unlike scholarships, most fellowships require some type of work component, be it an internship or research-based service. Applications are typically more intensive than scholarships, given that fellowships often provide more funds and are more hands-on in their requirements.
Explore fellowship opportunities for women below.
Grants for Women
Like scholarships, grants are academic funds awarded to students that needn’t be repaid. Most grant funds are awarded based on need, whereas scholarships often consider other factors, including academic or athletic merit.
Grants can be awarded by schools, foundations, companies, or the Department of Education, although federal funding — unlike scholarships or fellowships — can only be awarded to U.S. citizens. Grant funds can typically be used for all the same things as a scholarship and can be found at every academic level, from associate to doctoral options.
Discover popular grants for women below.
Tips for Applying for Scholarships
Be you.
It’s easy to think about how many other people must be applying for the same scholarships and how interesting their lives must be. Think again. The best thing you can do is be authentic to yourself when you’re filling out your applications and preparing your scholarship essays. You have a unique voice and a unique story, and scholarship committees are looking for that authenticity. They want to know about you and your life, and you’re the best expert on that subject.
Highlight accomplishments.
It doesn’t matter what scholarship you’re applying for. As a woman, you bring unique experiences and perspectives to the table. If you’re applying for women-specific scholarships, be sure to highlight your accomplishments as a female and make a clear case for how they relate to the scholarship you are seeking.
Keep track of deadlines.
Even if you have the most impressive application of all the applicants, reading panels tend to be strict regarding receiving materials. Double-check deadlines and create a calendar with reminders to ensure you make the cut.
Personalize each application.
Filling out dozens of scholarship applications and writing essays is a laborious process. It can be tempting to use generic information and cut and paste large text sections from other applications, but resist the urge. Scholarship panels want to know you understand the mission of the organization offering the scholarship, and they want to see how well you can articulate that.
Other Financial Aid
It’s rare for scholarships, grants, or fellowships to cover the entire cost of a degree. Students can also access federal and state loans, work-study programs, and research or teaching assistantships. Combining these options can help reduce total educational costs or spread out payments. Here is an overview of loans, work study, and assistantships.
Federal and State Loans
The Department of Education provides a variety of federal loans that offer benefits, loans with significantly lower interest rates, repayment deferment, income-based repayment plans, and consolidation for multiple loans.
Consider loans an option to fill in the remainder of tuition, fees, and living expenses after qualifying for grants, scholarships, or work-study programs.
Work Study
With a work-study program, you can gain professional experience while defraying the cost of college. Federally funded work-study programs are available to graduate and undergraduate students, matching students with jobs within the community or at their schools. Many colleges also offer private work-study programs or fellowships to help cover tuition costs.
Speak with your college or university admissions advisor about work-study programs, or check the government website for a comprehensive list of opportunities.
Research and Teaching Assistantships
Research and teaching assistantships offer graduate students an additional funding source while providing valuable experience and resume-building. Assistantships may cover full or partial tuition and fees or provide an annual stipend or hourly pay.
Requirements vary by college and program; for example, you may need to work a certain number of hours or meet minimum GPA requirements.
Q&A With an Expert
Based in Orange County, California, Weston Mathews is an independent educational consultant who’s been serving families nationwide since 2013. During his education and professional career, he has always believed that higher education should promote personal growth and upward social mobility.
He often finds that students and parents are fraught with anxiety over the prospect of not getting into a university, or they’re concerned that they simply cannot afford higher education. To him, the difference between “getting in” and “finding a fit” is paramount, and he asserts that financial aid options exist for students of all income levels and fields of study.
Q: What financial aid programs are available specifically to women, and how can they take advantage of them?
A: “Financial aid” is a nebulous term that can encompass any combination of grants, scholarships, and loans. Grants and loans are awarded primarily by federal and state programs, whereas scholarships can come from a variety of sources. All of these forms of aid can also be categorized into “need-based” and “merit-based” aid. Scholarships can come from a number of sources. These usually include non-profit foundations, specific corporations who wish to diversify their workforce, and the universities themselves.
Q: How do options vary for undergraduate vs. graduate female students?
A: It’s much easier to find scholarships for undergraduate programs in STEM due to the immediate application of a bachelor’s degree vs. a graduate degree. In most STEM careers, the bachelor’s degree is the minimum standard required to enter the workforce, so in order to transition a student into the workplace in the quickest way possible, it makes most sense for the above institutions to prioritize undergraduate scholarships over graduate scholarships.
Q: Do you have specific advice for women considering careers in STEM? What about traditional subjects where specialized financial aid isn’t as readily available?
A: The best advice I can offer to a female student is to enter a STEM field. The demand for the skills and input that a woman can provide is desperately needed and in high demand. However, the demographics of students entering these fields is still predominantly male. For women pursuing an education outside of STEM, the sources mentioned before and after this question can definitely still be utilized based on income level and their field of study.
Q: When should women begin their financial aid research, and what advice do you have for them as they start their search?
A: Students should begin exploring their interests and major options as early as sophomore year so that they can create a winning academic portfolio for admissions. Parents should begin saving as much and as early as possible to prevent their children from being forced to take out unnecessary student loans. They should also determine a budget for higher education early and remain firmly grounded in reality as they explain to their children what their options may be.
FAQ About Scholarships for Women
How can I afford to go back to school as a single mom?
There are many scholarships for moms, women in specific fields, or single parents to make returning to school less expensive. You can also consider online courses, community college courses, or transfer credits to decrease total costs.
Once you’ve selected a degree or program, consider combining low-cost transfer credits with scholarships, grants, fellowships or assistantships, and student loans to reduce the financial burden of getting a degree.
Which women’s sport gets the most scholarships?
Specifics vary depending on a school’s NCAA division, but women’s sports that offer the most scholarships typically include volleyball, rowing, gymnastics, bowling, field hockey, lacrosse, and wrestling.
What is the hardest sport for women to get a scholarship in?
The hardest sport for women to get a scholarship depends on your aptitude for the sport, and the total competition for available scholarships. For example, some believe volleyball is one of the most challenging sports to get a scholarship because of the popularity and competitiveness of programs.
