Funding for Women's Education

Women are eligible for many financial aid opportunities, including scholarships, grants, scholarships and loans.
by

Updated October 27, 2022

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Fellowships, Scholarships, Grants & Expert Advice on Applying

Between the 2011-2012 and 2016-2017 academic years, the cost of college rose significantly. Among public universities, tuition and fees rose by 9 percent and 11 percent for two-year and four-year institutions, respectively. Private colleges and universities increased their costs by 13 percent. College is expensive, and most students need help to avoid significant student debt. Prospective and current women students wanting to understand their options when it comes to scholarships, grants, fellowships and loans will find much to assist them in this guide, while our expert interview with a financial aid professional provides insight into funding sources designed specifically for women. Expert Advisors

Scholarships for Women

In light of the rising costs of education, women considering college – especially in subjects traditionally dominated by men – need support to break through those glass ceilings and pave the way for girls who aspire to attend college in the future. Fortunately, many universities, foundations, and companies are stepping up to provide funding opportunities to this population across academic disciplines. So how can a student feel confident in their scholarship applications? Start with these quick tips:book

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 perspective 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.

Remember Deadlines

Even if you have the most impressive application of all the applicants, reading panels tend to be strict when it comes to receiving materials. Double check deadlines and create a calendar with reminders to ensure you make the cut.

Personalize

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 sections of text 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're able to articulate that.

While a variety of financial aid opportunities are available, scholarships are sought after because they don't have to be paid back. Scholarships specifically for women are offered by schools, nonprofit organizations, companies, institutions and more. Hundreds of scholarships are available to women, and we've featured a few of them below.

General

Sponsoring Organization: Grow Your Giving
Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: February 28

Available to high school or college women attending a two or four-year institution who can demonstrate financial need.

Sponsoring Organization: Jusoor Syria
Amount: Up to $50,000
Application Deadline: May 1

Awarded to women of Syrian or Palestinian descent who are currently enrolled in an accredited American university at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Sponsoring Organization: Adore Me Magazine
Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: February 28 / May 31

Open to female high school graduates or current college students studying business or a related program to prepare them for entrepreneurial pursuits.

Sponsoring Organization: The Committee of 200
Amount: Up to $10,000
Application Deadline: Varies

Awarded to female MBA students who are enrolled in a program that hosts C200 Reachouts.

Sponsoring Organization: Golf Scholarship
Amount: $2,500
Application Deadline: July 26

Provided to a female high school senior who has been accepted to a competitive collegiate golf team.

Sponsoring Organization: Diamonds in the Rough Ministry International
Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: March 25

Awarded to women in Texas who are all-around excellent students in areas of academics, extracurriculars, and community service.

Sponsoring Organization: Women in Defense
Amount: Up to $6,000
Application Deadline: Varies

Available to female college students who can demonstrate financial need and are currently in at least their junior year.

Sponsoring Organization: ZONTA International
Amount: Up to $7,000
Application Deadline: April/May

Available to women who are currently enrolled in a business or business-related program.

Sponsoring Organization: Girl Talk
Amount: $2,500
Application Deadline: March 1

Open to current Girl Talk leaders who are currently in their junior or senior year of high school and will be attending an accredited American institution.

Sponsoring Organization: Blue Soda Promo
Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: July 1 / October 31

Awarded to female undergraduate students pursuing a marketing or advertising degree who have at least 60 existing college credits at the time they apply.

Women in Education

Sponsoring Organization: Education Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: April 15

Awarded to women who were previous members of the AKA sorority and are now working toward their graduate degree in teaching.

Sponsoring Organization: Bright Horizons
Amount: Up to $1,000
Application Deadline: Varies

Available to learners completing early childhood education degrees at the associate, bachelor's, or master's level.

Sponsoring Organization: Phi Delta Kappa International
Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: April 2

Open to high school seniors and undergraduates who are planning to or are currently studying education with the goal of teaching.

Sponsoring Organization: AFCEA International
Amount: $5,000
Application Deadline: April 22

Awarded to female students training to teach a STEM subject in grades K-12.

Sponsoring Organization: American Montessori Society
Amount: Up to $3,000
Application Deadline: May 1

Provided to female students who plan to work as a Montessori teacher after graduating and receiving licensure.

Single Mothers

Sponsoring Organization: Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund
Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: Varies by County

This organization provides scholarships to single parents living in every county of Arkansas to be used at an accredited, nonprofit institution.

Sponsoring Organization: Capture the Dream
Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: June 30

Open to low-income single parents planning to enroll in a nonprofit school – either two or four-year – who live in the Greater Bay Area.

Sponsoring Organization: Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation
Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: Winter

Created to support single mothers who classify as low-income and are pursuing a degree from an accredited, nonprofit college or university.

Sponsoring Organization: Westminster College
Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: With Application

Westminster College in Utah has nearly one dozen scholarships created specifically to assist single parents in their educations.

Sponsoring Organization: American Traffic Safety Services Association
Amount: Up to $5,000
Application Deadline: February 15

Available to families or dependents of roadway workers who were killed or permanently disabled in the line of work.

STEM Majors

Sponsoring Organization: Alpha Omega Epsilon National Fund
Amount: Up to $2,500
Application Deadline: February 15

Available to undergraduate female students currently enrolled in or accepted to a program focused on engineering or technical science. Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0.

Sponsoring Organization: The BWH Group
Amount: $3,000
Application Deadline: April 15th

Open to women studying a STEM topic at the undergraduate or graduate level. Essay on how an app has played a significant role in improving the applicant's day is required.

Sponsoring Organization: American Chemistry Society
Amount: $1,500
Application Deadline: May 1

Made available to female students in their junior or senior years of study who are enrolled in a chemistry or chemistry-related degree program.

Sponsoring Organization: Society of Women Engineers
Amount: Up to $15,000
Application Deadline: February 1 / May 1

Open to undergraduate and graduate female students pursuing an engineering, technology, or computing degree at an ABET-accredited school.

Sponsoring Organization: Women Techmakers
Amount: $10,000
Application Deadline: Varies

Open to women studying computer science, computer engineering, or a related field at the bachelor's, master's, or PhD level in the U.S. or Canada.

Leadership for Women

Sponsoring Organization: Babson College
Amount: Quarter Tuition, Renewable
Application Deadline: With Application

Babson College provides this merit scholarship to female students who have demonstrated leadership and plan to continue developing these qualities in an entrepreneurial pursuit.

Sponsoring Organization: The Heinz Endowment
Amount: At least $5,000
Application Deadline: November 1

Available to female college students in Pennsylvania seeking funding to participate in international leadership experiences and/or trainings.

Sponsoring Organization: Western Governors University
Amount: Up to $2,000
Application Deadline: Due with application

Open to female students attending Western Governors University who have demonstrable leadership skills they want to continue building in college.

Sponsoring Organization: United Way
Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: April 1

Available to female students beginning their freshman year during the fall semester who can demonstrate how they've grown via servant leadership and community service experiences.

Sponsoring Organization: YWCA
Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: Varies

Numerous YWCA locations throughout the country have scholarships specifically focused on leadership development of female college students.

Non-traditional Students/ Women over 35

Sponsoring Organization: AARP
Amount: Up to $5,000
Application Deadline: March 30

Available to women who qualify as low-income and are at least 50 years of age or older.

Sponsoring Organization: Association for Nontraditional Students in Higher Education
Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: February 15

Qualifying female students are eligible to receive this renewable scholarship and attend the annual ANTSHE conference.

Sponsoring Organization: Federation of American Consumers and Travelers
Amount: Up to $10,000
Application Deadline: No deadlines; awarded four times annually

Given to female students looking to pursue higher education after four or more years since graduating high school.

Sponsoring Organization: P.E.O. International
Amount: $3,000
Application Deadline: Varies

Awarded to female college students whose educations have been interrupted and are now returning to school.

Sponsoring Organization: Jeannette Rankin Foundation
Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: March 17

Awarded to women aged 35 years or older who are considered low-income and are currently pursuing a bachelor's degree.

Fellowships for Women

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Although fellowships and scholarships are often discussed interchangeably, subtle differences exist – especially in who is eligible to receive them. Fellowships in the academic arena are typically reserved for students completing post-baccalaureate work. Lots of graduate students work as teaching assistants via a fellowship, while doctoral and post-doctoral 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 a bit more intensive than scholarships given that fellowships often provide more funds and are more hands-on in their requirements.

American Association of University Women

Sponsoring Organization: Dissertation Fellowship Amount: $20,000

Applications must be submitted by November 15; open to all women who are in their final year of dissertation writing, regardless of degree area or topic. Funds can be used for for educational expenses, cost of living, childcare, and academic travel.

Forte Foundation

Sponsoring Organization: Forte Fellows Program Amount: Up to half the cost of tuition each year of the program

Awarded to female students currently working towards their MBA degrees. As part of the award, recipients attend Forte's MBA Women Leadership Conference and Financial Services FAST Track Conference.

Graduate Women in Science

Sponsoring Organization: National Fellowship Program Amount: $8,000

Awarded to female scientists pursuing research careers that are currently completing hypothesis-driven research at an American or international institution. Applicants can use these funds for supplies, equipment, publication of research, travel and food during field studies, and travel to outside laboratories for research collaboration.

Institute for Women's Policy Research

Sponsoring Organization: Mariam K. Chamberlain Fellowship in Women and Public Policy Amount: $32,680

Awarded to women who hold at least a bachelor's degree in a social science discipline and have experience in quantitative research skills. Each year the Institute selects a range of policy research areas that fellows focus on during their time at IWPR.

International Women's Forum

Sponsoring Organization: Fellows Program

Working together with Harvard Business School and INSEAD, IWF provides a year-long fellowship bringing together fellows from across the world for 20 days of developing further leadership skills and strategic management skills. Although the fellowship offers no cash, all costs associated with the program are covered.

L'Oreal USA

Sponsoring Organization: Fellowships for Women in Science Amount: Up to $60,000

Awarded annually to five women conducting postdoctoral research in the United States who have completed their PhDs but are not in a faculty position. In addition to these requirements, recipients must also commit to 20 hours of volunteer work supporting women and girls in science.

Microsoft

Sponsoring Organization: Women's Fellowship Program Amount: $20,000

These awards are made to specific universities to be dispersed to females currently completing a PhD who are in need of financial assistance. As part of the award, travel expenses for attendance at one conference within the student's field of study is included.

Wellesley College

Sponsoring Organization: Numerous Fellowships Amount: Up to $3,000

Wellesley College has a range of fellowships available to undergraduate students completing the requirements of senior projects. Awards include academic and project fees and are awarded based on financial need.

The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation

Sponsoring Organization: Fellowship in Women's Studies Amount: $5,000

Awarded to ten recipients annually who are PhD candidates and are currently working to complete their dissertations. Eligible applicants should be enrolled in a humanities or social sciences program and be working towards a contribution to the larger field of women's studies.

ZONTA International

Sponsoring Organization: Amelia Earhart Fellowship Amount: $10,000

Awarded to women working toward careers in aerospace and aerospace-related industries at the PhD level. Funds may be used toward tuition, books, fees, living expenses, required equipment, and travel/room/board associated with research or conference attendance.

Grants for Women

grant

Like scholarships, grants are academic funds awarded to students that don't have to be paid back. The vast majority of grant funds are awarded based on need, whereas scholarships tend to take in other factors, including academic or athletic merit. Grants can be awarded by schools, foundations, companies, or the Department of Education, although this type of 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, ranging from associate to doctoral degrees.

American Association of University Women

Sponsoring Organization: Community Action Grant Amount: Up to $10,000 Application Deadline: January 15

Available to women with a proposed activity that has a direct positive impact on the public or community as a whole. This work cannot be attached to academic credit, but postdoctoral research is acceptable.

Association for Women in Mathematics

Sponsoring Organization: Mathematics Travel Grants Amount: Up to $3,500 Application Deadline: February 1, May 1, October 1

Available to women holding a doctorate in mathematics who are pursuing research in an area supported by the Division of Mathematical Sciences.

The Jackie Robinson Foundation

Sponsoring Organization: Foundation Scholarship Grant Amount: Up to $28,000 Application Deadline: February 15

Provides grant funding to minority females working toward a bachelor's degree at an accredited college or university.

Margaret McNamara Education Grants

Sponsoring Organization: Educational Grants Amount: Up to $11,000 Application Deadline: January 15

Available to women who are at least 25 years old and are from one of the countries listed on the MNEG eligibility list. Learners can be enrolled in any level of academic study.

National Black Nurses Association

Sponsoring Organization: NBNA Grant Amount: Up to $6,000 Application Deadline: April 15

Awarded to a member of the NBNA who is enrolled in a nursing program (including B.S.N., A.D., Diploma, L.P.N./L.V.N., master's, or doctoral studies) with at least one year of education remaining at the time of application.

National Science Foundation

Sponsoring Organization: Biological Anthropology Program Amount: Varies Application Deadline: January 30

Available to graduate-level female students preparing for or currently writing their dissertations in biological anthropology or any sub-area of the field. Recipients can use these funds toward enhancing the content of their dissertation by gathering research afield and/or attending conferences.

National Science Foundation

Sponsoring Organization: Political Science Doctoral Dissertation Grant Amount: Varies Application Deadline: January 30

Awarded to female undergraduate or graduate students who are researching topics within the political science arenas, including but not limited to established democracies, party activism, political psychologies, and domestic conflict.

Soroptimist

Sponsoring Organization: Live Your Dream Education & Training Award for Women Amount: Varies Application Deadline: November 15

Given to women who are the primary source of income for their families and are working toward obtaining a postsecondary degree. Funds can be used towards tuition, books, transportation, and childcare.

U.S. Department of Education

Sponsoring Organization: TEACH Grant Amount: $4,000/year Application Deadline: Considered as part of FAFSA

Federal TEACH grants provide funding to students planning to become teachers. In order to qualify, applicants must be planning to focus on a high-need field and at a school serving low-income families.

Washington Women in Need

Sponsoring Organization: WWIN Education Grant Amount: Up to $20,000 Application Deadline: Varies

Available to female students completing an associate or bachelor's degree at an accredited institution. Applicants must have been a Washington resident for at least 12 months and be below a certain income level at the time of application.

Blending Scholarships for
Women with Financial Aid for All Students

Financial Aid for All Students

Federal Loans

Because it's rare for scholarships, grants or fellowships to cover the entire cost of a degree, the Department of Education provides a range of federal loans that offer benefits not provided by mainstream loans, including fixed – and lower – interest rates, deferment, income-based repayment plans and consolidation for multiple loans. Direct subsidized loans – meaning the government helps with the cost of interest while a student is in school – are available to undergraduates with financial need, while unsubsidized loans are available to undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Perkins Loans are awarded to students with the greatest need and maintain the lowest fixed interest rate of five percent. Direct PLUS loans are available to parents or graduate students and allow for borrowing the total cost of college.

Federal, State and School Grants

Aside from private grants, federal and state governments offer a range of aid programs. Federal Pell Grants are the most well-known, although other programs – such as the TEACH grant – are also popular. Not all states offer grants, but learners should check with their state's department of higher education to learn if any funding is available. As an example, Tennessee's HOPE Access Grant provides $1,250 per semester of full-time enrollment, including summer. Lots of colleges and universities also offer grants, so prospective students should discuss their options with a financial aid administrator to learn about their options.

Work Study

Another federal funding program, work study exists to help learners earn money via part-time jobs, either at their college or in the local community. Open to undergraduate and graduate students alike, participants often find jobs related to their course of study, thereby providing a good line on their resume while simultaneously easing their financial burden. The total work study aid package is calculated based on a student's financial need and how much funding is available at their school. Participants are paid the current minimum wage, but their hours can't extend beyond the overall funding amount provided to them during the current academic year.

Get to Know the FAFSA coin-icn

To apply for any of the funding types detailed above, students almost always need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This government document requires students to provide financial information on themselves or their parents (if they are a dependent) to determine which types of scholarships, grants, fellowships, work study or loans are suitable for their needs. Because many grants and loans are awarded based on need, students who don't submit a FAFSA aren't eligible for any of these forms of aid.

Filling out the FAFSA is an annual process to ensure the financial situation of any student or family hasn't changed substantially during the previous year. The application process opens on October 1 of each year. Because funds are awarded on a rolling basis, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their FAFSA as early as possible to ensure maximum funding.

Be Prepared: Filling Out the FAFSA

Before starting the FAFSA process, students and their families should gather all of the following documents to ensure a smooth and quick experience.

  • Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID)
  • Social security number (for the student and their parents if applying as a dependent) Driver's license number if available
  • Driver's license number if available
  • Alien Registration number for applicants who are not U.S. citizens
  • Federal Tax documents or tax returns for the student (if applicable) and their parents (if a dependent)
  • Details of untaxed income
  • Information on available cash, including savings, investments, real estate, or other assets

Steps & Timeline for Getting School Financing

You've decided scholarships are the way to go when it comes to paying for your education, but how does a student stand out amongst the competition to secure awards? The step-by-step instruction given below helps applicants understand what scholarship panels are looking for and how to avoid common pitfalls.

Research

No matter the degree level or area of study, chances are there are numerous funding sources for women hoping to pursue such a career path. Be sure to research federal, state, private, corporate, and institutional sources and compile a list of suitable grants, scholarships, and fellowships (if applicable) along the way.

Organize

After compiling a list, the next step is to develop a plan. Organize the relevant funding options by due dates and make a list of all the required documents for each. While duplicating essays or other specific requirements is not encouraged, lots of basic information will be the same on every application, so start pulling this information together.Ask

Lots of funding applications require learners to submit letters of recommendation, and this process can take time. Students need to ask a handful of trusted mentors, supervisors and teachers if they're willing to speak on their behalf before providing relevant information so they can write an appropriate recommendation. Most applications also require transcripts, which must be sent directly from the school, so try to request these as soon as possible.

Focus

It's easy to get excited about the prospect of free money in the early days, but when the reality of filling out applications and writing countless essays sets in, it can also be easy to get distracted. Whether that means setting aside two hours a day to focus on applications or asking a trusted friend to hold you accountable, staying focused can often make the difference in whether or not a student has to take out a loan.

Pay Attention

Maybe it seems like it's not a big deal, but lots of scholarship panels have very specific requirements for how, when, and where applications are submitted, and it's important to keep these in mind. The best way to do this is by reading the instructions very carefully and often. For instance, if the foundation offering that significant grant you're applying for asks that all applications be sent through the mail, they would be well within their rights to disregard any application carelessly sent via e-mail.

Follow up

Depending on the type of funding a student is applying for, submitting the application may be only the first step. Many fellowships, and even a few grants and scholarships, require applicants to take part in interviews or provide research proposals, meaning would-be recipients should be prepared to provide further information and speak knowledgeably about why they would be a good choice for available funds.

From the Expert

Weston Mathews is an Orange County, California based independent educational consultant who's been serving families nationwide since 2013. During his education and professional career, he has always believed that higher educations 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” are 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?

AIt'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?

AThe 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 pursing 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?

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AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

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