Women remain significantly underrepresented in STEM: as of recent federal workforce data, they hold only about a third of STEM jobs. That imbalance narrows the range of perspectives shaping science and technology, and it's one reason so many organizations now fund scholarships specifically for young women entering these fields.
If you're a high school student planning a STEM degree, the ten scholarships below range from broad national awards to niche regional ones, and together they represent tens of thousands of dollars in potential funding. Deadlines and details shift from cycle to cycle, so always confirm on the official page before applying.
Science Ambassador Scholarship
Funded by Cards Against Humanity, this is one of the most distinctive scholarships in STEM. There's no essay and no transcript; instead, you film a three-minute educational video explaining a STEM topic you're passionate about, structured as a mini-lecture rather than a personal statement. Production value doesn't matter; clarity, creativity, and accuracy do.
The Science Ambassador Scholarship program awards five $20,000 scholarships each year to women and non-binary students. High school seniors and current undergraduates may apply, and you don't need to be a US citizen as long as you attend or plan to attend college in the US or a US territory. Applications typically close in mid-December.
Amount: $20,000 (five awarded).
Application: 3-minute educational video.
Deadline: Mid-December.
Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship
Hyundai awards five $10,000 scholarships each year to students who identify as female, reside in the United States, and plan to pursue a STEM-related field.
Since launching in 2020, the Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship has provided $250,000 to young women in fields like engineering, mobility, and autonomous driving. The application centers on a 500-word essay about how you'll redefine convention as a woman in STEM. High school seniors and current undergraduates are eligible.
Amount: $10,000 (five awarded).
Application: 500-word essay.
Deadline: June 30.
ITWomen Scholarship
A standout for South Florida students: ITWomen awards multi-year scholarships worth $8,000 to graduating female seniors from Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach counties who plan to earn degrees in information technology or engineering.
Beyond the money, winners are paired with an ITWomen mentor who helps coordinate internships and job opportunities through the organization's industry partners.
Amount: $8,000.
Application: Basic information and a short essay.
Deadline: Typically late March.
SNC STEM Scholarship
Sierra Nevada Corporation and the Ozmen Foundation fund five $7,500 scholarships for high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students pursuing a degree and career in a non-medical STEM field. Recipients are also matched with an SNC mentor.
Applicants must be US citizens with a minimum 3.5 GPA planning to enroll at an accredited US college or university. The application window typically opens in December.
Amount: $7,500 (five awarded).
Application: Transcript, test scores, recommendation letter.
Deadline: Opens December; confirm current cycle.
Women at Microsoft Scholarship
Established by the Women at Microsoft employee network with the Seattle Foundation, this scholarship supports graduating seniors who identify as a woman, non-binary, gender fluid, or a transgender woman and plan to study technology, engineering, math, or computer science at a US college, university, or vocational-technical school.
The selection process emphasizes leadership and community involvement, they require a minimum 3.0 GPA, and they consider financial need. Also, international students enrolling at US schools may apply. Microsoft employees and their children are ineligible.
Amount: $5,000.
Application: Transcript, recommendation, goals statement; test scores optional.
Deadline: Typically early spring; confirm current cycle.
MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship
MPOWER Financing runs the rare scholarship built specifically for international students. Awards go to female international or DACA students enrolled or accepted full-time in a STEM degree program at an MPOWER-eligible school in the US or Canada.
The MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship looks for women who will use their STEM degree to benefit society and serve as role models for other women in the field. US and Canadian citizens are not eligible. Recent cycles have awarded a $5,000 grand prize, a $2,000 runner-up prize, and a $1,000 honorable mention, with application windows running more than once per year.
Amount: $1,000 to $5,000.
Application: Basic information and essay.
Deadline: Multiple cycles per year; check the current window.
BHW Scholarship for Women in STEM
The BHW Group, an Austin-based web and app development company, awards $3,000 annually to a woman pursuing an undergraduate or master's degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
High school seniors are eligible as long as they'll be attending college the following year. Applications are accepted from January 1 through April 30, with the winner announced by the end of June. The application is refreshingly light: basic information plus an essay response.
Amount: $3,000.
Application: Basic information and essay.
Deadline: April 30 (window opens January 1).
VIP Women in Technology Scholarship
Now in its 20th year, Visionary Integration Professionals supports women pursuing degrees in computer science, information technology, management information systems, and related fields.
The $2,500 award places special emphasis on the story you tell through your 250-word essay and application summaries. Applicants must be enrolled at or accepted into a two- or four-year US college or university and planning an IT-related major.
Amount: $2,500.
Application: Basic information and 250-word essay.
Deadline: June 30.
Snapology STEAM Studies Scholarship
Snapology, the STEAM education franchise, awards $2,500 annually to a female high school senior planning to major in a science, technology, engineering, arts, or math field at any US college.
Selection is based on the essay response and demonstrated interest in STEAM education, making this one of the fastest applications on this list to complete.
Amount: $2,500.
Application: Essay response.
Deadline: Typically late April, with winners announced around June 1.
Study.com Women in STEM Scholarship
Study.com awards $2,000 annually to a woman pursuing a degree with a STEM emphasis at an accredited US college or university.
Graduating high school seniors who have been accepted to a college may apply, and selection is based on academic history and extracurricular activities rather than financial need.
Amount: $2,000.
Application: Short essays.
Deadline: Typically May 1.
How to Strengthen Your Scholarship Applications
Most of these awards are decided on essays and demonstrated commitment to STEM, and nothing demonstrates commitment like real work: a research project, a science fair run, a competition record. Concrete achievements give your essays specific stories to tell and give selection committees a reason to remember you.
Our guides to 50+ STEM summer programs and 50+ STEM competitions for students are the best places to find opportunities that build that record, and awards like the Math Prize for Girls can themselves become the centerpiece of an application.
It's also worth applying beyond women-specific awards. The National Merit Scholarship, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, and the Davidson Fellows Scholarship are three of the largest merit awards in the country, and strong STEM candidates regularly win all three.
Get STEM Coaching With ScienceFair
If you want to build that kind of record, our coaches include ISEF Grand Awardees and Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholars, and several of our students have turned their science fair projects into scholarship-winning stories.
Our mentors are coaches like Kara Gaiser, 2x ISEF Grand Award Winner, AIAA published author, and Brooke Owens Fellow, and Eli Hanechak, ISEF Award Winner, STS Scholar, and Davidson Fellow Laureate.
Book a free consultation with an academic advisor to get started.
