Innovation and entrepreneurship have long been called the backbone of the American economy with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fueling national progress. Over the past decade, a growing focus has been placed on STEM in education and training future experts in these fields. As the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates, employment in STEM industries is projected to grow by another 13.5 percent through 2026. In turn, this would introduce over half a million new jobs in STEM-related fields, but without experts to fill these roles, we could continue to face a skills gap.
This sense of urgency for the U.S. to develop a stronger workforce of STEM experts starts at the primary and secondary levels of education and is only possible when opportunities for students exist. STEM-educated professionals determine our nation’s capacity to innovate, so many organizations, companies and private benefactors offer STEM scholarships to help support students pursuing their degree.
In a speech at the fifth White House Science Fair, former president, Barack Obama, addressed the importance of STEM in education, its impacts on our ability to grow as a nation and creating more student accessibility.
“[Science] is more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world...” — Barack Obama, former president of the U.S. on STEM education
Obama’s remarks are a reminder to us all that through STEM, innovation is possible and we must work to create opportunities that allow students to reach their educational goals. Explore our STEM scholarship guide below to learn more about merit-based opportunities and use our interactive scholarship tool to sort through scholarships based on award amount and concentration.
STEM Concentrations
Science: Science is about discovering and describing the world we live in often with a focus on answering the “how” and “why” questions. Various different kinds of sciences can fall under this umbrella of STEM. Students can focus on anything from physics, chemistry, life sciences, geoscience, astronomy, social sciences and environmental studies to name a few.
Technology: With a growing focus and dependency on technology, this category has become one of the fastest growing and most popular concentrations within STEM. A large part of the technology umbrella includes computer sciences such as information technology, programming, web development, software development, IT architecture, database administration and security and systems analysis.
Engineering: This category is generally divided into six major branches: mechanical, chemical, civil, electrical, management, and geotechnical with hundreds of subcategories based on major.
Math: Math prepares students for many careers in academia or business. As an essential component to science, technology and engineering concentrations, math includes the subcategories of applied and theoretical mathematics, statistics, calculus, finance and probability.
Offers free online courses in computer science from a variety of Ivy League schools.
How to Pay for College
1
Scholarships
There are hundreds of scholarships for STEM students, which are awarded by local organizations, private companies, societies and more.
2
Grants
Grants don’t need to be paid back and are based on your financial circumstances. They are usually funded by the federal government, your state or college.
3
Fellowships
While scholarships usually fund tuition, fellowships typically cover graduate study, research projects and abroad experiences without needing to be paid back.
4
Student Loans
You can borrow money from the government or a bank, but it needs to be paid back with interest. The federal government offers many loan options—fill out the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you qualify for financial aid. If you need help, use our interactive guide to learn how to answer every question.
5
Federal Work-Study Program
Provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to pay education expenses.
If you’re just beginning the process of finding suitable scholarships, make sure you’re prepared for the application process by starting a folder with the assets below.
Not all scholarships are based off of your GPA, but most need to verify your high school education to qualify. Try to get certified copies of your transcript early, so you have plenty of time to meet the deadline.
Although there are scholarship opportunities that aren’t merit-based, it’s valuable to take the SAT or ACT standardized tests in case it’s a scholarship qualification.
Your scholarship essay is what will bring attention to your application out of the pool of applicants. That’s why it’s important to craft a stand out piece that attests to your experience, adheres to the scholarship guidelines and most importantly, highlights your true personality.
Letters of recommendation are a true judgement of your character—something that can’t be revealed through your test scores or transcript. Reach out to former teachers, counselors or bosses, so that they can speak to your qualifications. You may also want to provide them with a resume that outlines your achievements and goals as well.
STEM Scholarships
Instructions: Click through the dropdowns below to sort by concentration, award amount and if you qualify for need-based aid.
California Medical Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Deadline:
November 15, 2021
Scholarships are awarded to underrepresented students pursuing a medical profession in the state of California.
Capital Auto Auction STEM Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Deadline:
August 15, 2021
To qualify, undergraduate students must be majoring in a STEM field of study (or related field) as well as attending an accredited college or university.
Florida Stormwater Association Educational Foundation's Scholarship
Amount: $2,000
Deadline:
August 6, 2021
The scholarship awards financial aid to qualified students attending Florida colleges and universities who are interested in pursuing stormwater research, management or finance. Graduate student applicants in colleges or schools of engineering, natural science, public administration (or closely related fields) are eligible to apply.
Chuan Ai Lu Engstrom Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline:
August 1, 2021
Any full-time graduate or undergraduate accredited student with a GPA of 2.5 or higher is welcome to apply. Applicants are asked to discuss their vision for electronic design, engineering and manufacturing in the global economy.
Alwin B. Newton Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline:
December 1, 2021
Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate engineering students enrolled full-time in an ABET accredited program Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify.
Duane Hanson Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline:
December 1, 2021
Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate engineering students enrolled full-time in an ABET accredited program Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify.
Frank M. Coda Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline:
December 1, 2021
Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate engineering students enrolled full-time in an ABET accredited program Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify.
Gordon V. R. Holness Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline:
December 1, 2021
Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate engineering students enrolled full-time in an ABET accredited program Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify.
Henry Adams Scholarship
Amount: $3,000
Deadline:
December 1, 2021
Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate engineering students enrolled full-time in an ABET accredited program Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify.
Lynn G. Bellenger Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline:
December 1, 2021
This scholarship will be awarded to one undergraduate female enrolled full-time in an ABET accredited program Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify.
Reuben Trane Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Deadline:
December 1, 2021
Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate engineering students enrolled full-time in an ABET accredited program Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify.
Willis H. Carrier Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Deadline:
December 1, 2021
Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate engineering students enrolled full-time in an ABET accredited program Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify.
Maley/FTEE Technology and Engineering Teacher Scholarship
Amount: $500
Deadline:
December 1, 2021
Applicants must be members of the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, and must be a technology and engineering teacher at any grade level who is beginning or continuing graduate study.
Litherland/FTEE Scholarship
Amount: $500
Deadline:
December 1, 2021
Applicants must be members of the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, must not be a senior by the application deadline, and must be an undergraduate majoring in technology and engineering education teacher preparation.
FTEE Undergraduate Scholarship
Amount: $500
Deadline:
December 1, 2021
Applicants must be members of the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, must not be a senior by the application deadline, and must be an undergraduate majoring in technology and engineering education teacher preparation.
CardRates.com Financial Futures Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline:
July 31, 2021
Students majoring in Business, Accounting, Finance, Mathematics, Management, and others preparing for a career in the personal finance industry are eligible to apply. Applicants must submit an essay between 500 - 900 words with their application.
PixelPlex STEM Scholarship
Amount: $2,000
Deadline:
December 5, 2021
This scholarship is available to students studying a field in STEM. Applicants must submit a 1200 word essay about one of the following topics to be considered: blockchain, artificial intelligence, internet of things, augmented reality/virtual reality.
Psomagen Scholarship
Amount: $2,000
Deadline:
December 1, 2021
Applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited 4-year university in the US in a STEM program. Applicants must submit an essay or video about DNA and genome sequencing to apply.
Simform STEM Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline:
October 1, 2021
This scholarship is available to any student currently enrolled in an accredited college or university studying a STEM field. Applicants must submit an essay about their academics and career goals to apply.
