College offers the exciting opportunity to learn new things and meet new people, but the high cost of education can be burdensome. The rising cost of college has burdened students with an increasing amount of student loan debt upon graduation, even more so for women in particular. But scholarships, like the ones listed below, can help ease this weight and help women pursue a higher education, granting them more opportunities and resources to pursue their dream.
Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women
(Our namesake awards!)
Award Amount: $1,000-$16,000
Deadline: annually on November 15 (application opens August 1)
Who is eligible: Women enrolled in or accepted to an undergraduate degree program or vocational/skills training program, who support dependents, and can demonstrate financial need.
Description: Soroptimist’s Live Your Dream Awards assist women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.
For more details visit http://www.soroptimist.org/awards/eligibility.html
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Scholarships
Award Amount: $2,000-$30,000
Deadline: American Fellowships – November 1; International Fellowships – November 1; Career Development Grants – November 15
Who is eligible: For American Fellowships, women pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral research, or preparing research for publication. For International Fellowships, women who are non-U.S. citizens or non-permanent residents pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral study in the U.S. For Career Development Grants, women pursuing a degree to advance their careers, change careers, or reenter the workforce.
Description: Due to the longstanding, generous contributions of AAUW members, a broader community of women continues to gain access to educational and economic opportunities — breaking through barriers so that all women have a fair chance.
For more details visit https://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/educational-funding-and-awards/
BHW Scholarship
Award amount: $3,000
Deadline: April 15 (application opens in January 2020)
Who is eligible: Women pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree and majoring in science, technology, engineering, or math during the 2020 school year.
Description: BHW is a custom web and mobile app development company who have been providing scholarships to women pursuing STEM majors since 2016.
For more details visit https://thebhwgroup.com/scholarship
Girls Impact the World Film Festival Scholarship
Award Amount: $1,000 – $5,000
Deadline: January 20, 2020
Who is Eligible: Full-time high school and undergraduate students who are ages 25 and under
Description: Sponsored by Connecther, the Girls Impact the World Film Festival Scholarship is available to full-time high school and undergraduate students who are ages 25 and under. To be considered, you must submit an original, three- to six-minute short film that addresses global women’s issues such as: education for girls, maternal health, violence against women and girls, equal pay, honest beauty, or a variety of other issues.
For more details visit http://www.connecther.org/gitw/guidelines
Harriet Fitzgerald Scholarship
Award amount: $10,000
Deadline: February 1 (application for 2020-21 school year not yet open)
Who is eligible: Women starting their first full term of college at an undergraduate women’s college the following fall.
Description: The Harriet Fitzgerald Scholarship will provide a promising young woman with financial support to attend a woman’s college where her intellect and talents will be nurtured and where she will receive an education preparing her to participate fully in public life.
For more details visit https://www.thesunflowerinitiative.com/scholarship/
Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund
Award Amount: $2,000
Deadline: March 1 (application for 2020-21 school year available in November 2019)
Who is eligible: Low-income women over 35 years old who are enrolled or accepted to a regionally accredited school and are pursuing a technical or vocational education, associate’s degree, or first bachelor’s degree.
Description: Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund (JRF) provides scholarships and support for low-income women 35 and older across the U.S. to build better lives through post-secondary education.
For more details visit https://rankinfoundation.org/for-students/jeannette-rankin-eligibility
Margaret McNamara Education Grants
Amount: Up to $15,000
Deadlines:
US & Canada Program: Apply September 15 – January 15;
Africa Program: Apply May 15 – September 14;
Latin America Program: Apply April 22 – August 22.
Who is Eligible: Women age 25 or over who are a national of a country listed on the MMEG Eligibility List and are enrolled at an accredited academic institution. Additional eligibility criteria apply depending on location.
Description: MMEG supports women from developing countries who are pursuing their education with the aim of improving the lives of women and children in their countries. They are one of the few organizations who provide financial assistance to such women.
For more details visit: http://www.mmeg.org/apply
Patsey Takemoto Mink Scholarship
Award amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: August 1
Who is Eligible: Low-income women with minor children pursuing a vocational degree/certificate, associate’s degree, first bachelor’s degree, or professional/master’s/doctoral degree.
Description: The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation aims to carry on some of Mink’s most ardent commitments: educational access, opportunity, and equity for low-income women, especially mothers; and educational enrichment for children.
For more details visit https://www.patsyminkfoundation.org/education-support-application
Point Foundation Scholarships
Award Amount: For the Point Scholar Program, depends on need; $2,000 – $4,800 for the Community College Scholarship
Deadline:
Applications accepted November 1 – January 28 for the Point Scholarship;
Applications accepted March 1 – May 3 for the Community College Scholarship.
Who is Eligible: For the Point Scholarship, applicants must be an “out” person who identifies as LGBTQ and is enrolled full-time in a U.S. undergraduate or graduate/doctoral program. For the Community College Scholarship, applicants must be an “out” person who identifies as LGBTQ and intends to enroll at an accredited U.S. community college and intends to transfer to a four-year college the follow academic year.
Description: The Point Community College Program inspires LGBTQ community college students to fulfill their ambitions of attending a four-year college or university.
For more details visit: https://pointfoundation.org/thepoint/scholarship/
Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship
Award amount: $1,500 or $3,000
Deadline: Application closed for 2019 school year; the 2020 application will be available in April 2020.
Who is eligible: Women-identified lesbians who are applying for or already enrolled in any year of college study, including graduate school.
Description: The Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship was established by Peggy Traub and Phyllis Dicker to encourage and support women-identified lesbians in their pursuit of higher education.
For more details visit https://www.stonewallfoundation.org/scholarships/
Women’s Independence Scholarship Program, Inc.
Award amount: Varies, average amount is $2,000
Deadline: Applications must be submitted at least 2 months before the start date of the educational program
Who is eligible: Female survivors of intimate partner violence who have been separated from their abuser between 1-7 years and has sought related services from a non-profit agency for at least 6 months. They must also have applied or been accepted to an accredited course of study at a U.S. institution.
Description: The program assists women who are survivors of intimate partner abuse with education that leads to a living wage and financial self-sufficiency, interrupting the cycle of financial abuse within the larger context of economic justice.
For more details visit http://wispinc.org/about-wisp/
Zonta Foundation Scholarships
Award amount: up to $10,000
Deadline: varies depending on local clubs; see website for details
Who is eligible: The Women In Technology Scholarship is open to women of any age pursuing a technology degree or closely related program. The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship is open to women pursuing a business program who are at in at least their second year of studies. The Young Women in Public Affairs Award is open to women ages 16-19 with an interest in public service, government, and civic causes. All applicants must live or study in Zonta district/region.
Description: Zonta improves women’s lives, their children’s lives and the communities in which they live and work. To create a world in which men and women have equal opportunities, women need to have an active role in technology, business, and public affairs.
For more details visit https://foundation.zonta.org/
1000 Dreams Scholarship Fund
Award Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: April 30, 2020
Who is Eligible: Women attending high school or a two-year or four-year college/university in the U.S., who demonstrate financial need.
Description: This non-tuition scholarship is for expenses beyond the classroom, including educational conferences, instructional programs related to creative or artistic pursuits, graduate exam application fees, or textbooks.
For more details visit: https://www.growyourgiving.org/scholarships/1000-dreams-scholarship-fund
Check out more Scholarships for Women and Girls: https://essayontime.com.au/scholarships-for-women/
Ashleen Knutsen is a science writer and editor in Los Angeles. After a decade of experience in engineering and research, she decided to pursue a career in science communications to not only spark women and girls’ interest in STEM, but to let them know that they too can change the world.
I’m not sure which one of these scholarships fit me