American ladies have a long history of hoeing hard rows to higher learning that goes back to Colonial days when girls could not enter classrooms unless enough room was left over from the boys. This went on until the 19th-century feminist movement toward equal education led to moderate gains that came with 1930s-era coeducation. Purportedly designed to protect “delicate” feminine minds, curricula was limited to home economics and female industrial education in using then-novel domestic inventions to cook and sew. Such instruction offered very little economic value of imparting decent skills to earn livable wages.
Things finally began booming for bright ladies in our nation with mid-1970’s legislation known as Title IX that prohibits gender-based education discrimination. That Act grew teeth with a 1990’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gave individual plaintiffs entitlement to economic damages recovery.
Well, the rest is history. Women may now enter occupational venues with heads – and paychecks – held as high as those of male colleagues.
A harsh reality, however, is that even progress has its price. A prime example is “feminization of poverty” caused by widespread single female heads of households due to divorce, unwed pregnancy, and partner desertion. Despite desperate desires to disrupt vicious cycles for their daughters, many women lack pecuniary resources required for higher education.
Luckily, however, many parties have risen to challenges of social changes by providing monetary subsidies to lend a helping hand to let ladies help themselves to better lives. Identities of just a few such gratuitous entities are featured in the following list of great scholarships for women.
1. AAUW Plano-Collin County Branch Mature Woman Scholarship
DEADLINE: February 11
The American Association of University Women, or AAUW, sponsors this fund that advances its mission of empowering women and girls via advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research with an annual award of $1,000.
Applicants must have/be:
o Residency or college attendance in Colin County, TX
o Age 21 or older
o Enrolled at least part-time in a qualified undergraduate degree program
Contact
AAUW Plano-Collin County Branch Mature Woman Scholarship
Carol Crawford
3017 Bonsai Drive
Plano, Texas 75093
Email: cjcrawford2@verizon.net
2. Agenda for Delaware Women Trailblazer Scholarship
DEADLINE: Contact sponsor
Sponsored by the Delaware Department of Education, this program makes ten renewable awards of $2,500 annually to assist female Delawareans pursue postsecondary education.
Applicants must have/be:
o A Delaware resident
o Minimum grade point average, or GPA, of 2.5
o Demonstrated financial need
o File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA
o An undergraduate student of a Delaware postsecondary institution
Contact
Agenda for Delaware Women Trailblazer Scholarship
Delaware Higher Education Commission
820 North French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: 1-800-292-7935
3. AMWA Medical Education Scholarships
DEADLINE: January 31
Toward its agendas to advance women in medicine and promote women’s health, the American Medical Women’s Association, or AMWA, sponsors this scholarship that awards $1,000 to four outstanding female medical students annually.
Applicants must have/be:
o AMWA membership
o Enrolled in medical school
o Demonstrated financial need
Contact
AMWA Medical Education Scholarships
Awards Chair
Email: awards@amwa-student.org
Download an application at https://www.amwa-doc.org/pre-medical-students/scholarships/
4. ANS Delayed Education Scholarship for Women
DEADLINE: February 1
The American Nuclear Society, or ANS, makes annual awards of $4,000 to worthy women scholars pursuing higher education in nuclear science.
Applicants must have/be:
o U.S. citizenship or permanent legal residency
o Entering a four-year degree program at a U.S. institution
o Major in nuclear science, nuclear engineering, or nuclear-related discipline
o Experienced at least one year of delay or interruption in studies
o Demonstrate financial need
o Exhibit outstanding academic capability
o Sponsorship by an ANS local section, division, committee, student branch, or member
Contact
ANS Delayed Education Scholarship for Women
American Nuclear Society
555 North Kensington Avenue
LaGrange Park, IL 60526
Phone: 708 352-6611
Email: outreach@ans.org
5. Arab Women’s Scholarship – unm.edu
DEADLINE: N/A
This institutional scholarship is available to full-time female students at the University of New Mexico, or UNM, and makes non-renewable annual awards of $200 to $1,000.
Applicants must have/be:
o Of Arab ethnicity
o A continuing undergraduate student at the UNM Main campus
o Have earned at least 12 UNM by end of the fall semester of award year
o A highly competitive cumulative GPA
o Enroll in and earn 12 or more credits per semester at UNM Main Campus during award year
No separate application is required, as students receive automatic consideration upon FAFSA receipt by UNM Financial Aid Office.
Contact
Arab Women’s Scholarship – unm.edu
Scholarship Office
1155 University Blvd. SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
Phone: 505-277-8900
6. Bishop Frank Murphy Scholarship for Women in Ministry
DEADLINE: January 31
The Women’s Ordination Conference, or WOC, sponsors this fund that makes nonrenewable awards of $1,000 annually to assist worthy members pursue graduate theology studies.
Applicants must have/be:
o WOC membership
o Attending or accepted by a graduate theological degree program, seminary, or diocesan certificate program
o Preparing for Catholic ministry
Contact
Bishop Frank Murphy Scholarship for Women in Ministry
Women’s Ordination Conference
P.O. Box 2693
Fairfax, VA 22031
Phone: 703-352-1006
Email: programs@womensordination.org
7. Career Women’s Club Scholarship Fund – Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, or MGCCC
DEADLINE: May 15
Public charity Gulf Coast Community Foundation sponsors this fund to advance its mission of providing leaders in response to emergent community needs. Full-tuition awards are available to non-traditional female students at MGCCC.
Applicants must have/be:
o Not pursued postsecondary education immediately after high school graduation
o Enrolled in a career track curriculum at any MGCCC campus
o In good academic standing
o A resident of Harrison, Hancock, Jackson, Stone, or George County in Mississippi for at least three years prior to application date
o Demonstrate financial need
o Maintain a 2.5 GPA
Contact
Career Women’s Club Scholarship Fund – Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Gulf Coast Community Foundation
PO Box 2984
Gulfport Mississippi, 39505
Phone: (228) 897-4841
8. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
DEADLINE: Contact sponsor
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, administers this program to support independent graduate studies in oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology, and related fields.
Depending on available appropriations, annual awards of up to $42,000 are made to each chosen recipient. Master’s students may receive funding for up to two years, while doctoral candidates may be assisted for up to four years. Scholarships consist of a 12-month stipend of $30,000 and an educational expense allowance of $12,000 per year.
Applicants must have/be:
o U.S. citizenship
o Currently or intending to pursue graduate studies in oceanography, maritime archaeology, or marine biology
o Attending an accredited U.S. institution full time
o A minimum 3.3 GPA
Application must be submitted via the Grants.gov hyperlink on http://fosterscholars.noaa.gov.
Contact
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
ATTN: Seaberry Nachbar
299 Foam Street
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 647- 4204
Email: fosterscholars@noaa.gov
9. Hoechst Celanese Corporation Scholarship for Women & Minorities
DEADLINE: Varies, contact administrator
Sponsored by the Hoechst Celanese Foundation, this scholarship makes annual awards to female and minority engineering students at North Carolina State University, or NCSU. Number and amount of awards vary.
Applicants must have/be:
o Attending NCSU College of Engineering
o Majoring in chemical or mechanical engineering
o U.S. citizenship or permanent legal residency
Contact
Hoechst Celanese Corporation Scholarship for Women & Minorities
College of Engineering
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695
Phone: (919) 515-3263
Email: engineering@ncsu.edu
10. Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship
DEADLINE: April 1
The Zonta Club of Fort Worth, TX sponsors this fund toward its goal of advancing the status of women globally via advocacy and service. One annual award of $1,000 goes to a female business student.
Applicants must have/be:
o Attending an accredited postsecondary business or business-related program
o In the second year of undergraduate studies through the final year of masters studies on date of application
o Demonstrate outstanding scholarship in all studies, including business-related coursework
o Exhibit strong motivation for business career success
Contact
Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship
JMK Scholarship Committee
PO Box 126344
Fort Worth, TX 76126
Email: p.burns@tcu.edu
11. Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women, or JFEW, Scholarships
DEADLINE: Varies by program
Based in the Big Apple, JFEW is a nonsectarian organization that sponsors several scholarships to assist worthy women with financial need achieve their academic and career goals.
Annual awards vary in number and amount but all applicants must have/be:
o Demonstrate financial need
o Permanent residency in or within a 50-mile radius of New York, NY
o U.S. citizenship, permanent legal residency, or formal Deferred Action Status
New York City natives with strong community ties and high potential for making future positive contributions to overall quality of life in the local area are strongly preferred.
Contact
Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women Scholarships
Candidates must apply via appropriate institutional office.
See a full list of JFEW scholarships and eligible schools at http://www.jfew.org/?page=jfew_in_school.
12. Linda Brodsky MD Essay Award
DEADLINE: February 15
Recently revitalized, this AMWA-sponsored annual competition awards a $500 prize to assist a female medical student.
Contact
Linda Brodsky MD Essay Award
Email: awards@amwa-student.org
Learn more at
13. Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women
DEADLINE: Contact sponsor
Named sponsor and #1 New York Times bestselling author of over 100 books makes ten annual awards of $2,000 to help non-traditional female students conquer barriers to higher education. Besides tuition and fees, funds are applicable to childcare, transportation, and other indirect costs not allowed by conventional scholarships.
Applicants must have/be:
o A woman aged 25 or older
o U.S. or Canadian citizenship or legal residency
o Attending a U.S. or Canadian university or college
o Explain planned use(s) of funding and probable enhancement of personal and family futures in an essay with a maximum length of 500 words
Contact
Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women
P.O. Box 19461
Spokane, WA 99219
14. Moss Adams Foundation Scholarship
DEADLINE: April 30
The Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting sponsors this scholarship that makes annual awards of $1,000 to female accounting students.
Applicants must have/be:
o A minority or returning undergraduate junior through graduate female student
o Pursuing an accounting degree
Contact
Moss Adams Foundation Scholarship
Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting National Headquarters
136 South Keowee St.
Dayton, OH 45402
Phone (937) 424-3391
Email: info@efwa.org
15. Nancy Talbot Scholarship Award
In accordance with a long-standing tradition of assisting women’s success, the Talbots Charitable Foundation sponsors this fund that makes nonrenewable awards to returning lady scholars. Thirty awards of $5,000 and one award of $30,000 are made annually.
DEADLINE: January 15
Applicants must have/be:
o A woman residing in the U.S. or Canada
o Earned a GED or high school diploma in or before September of the 10th calendar year prior to award year
o Current or planned attendance at an accredited two- or four-year undergraduate program in the U.S. or Canada
o Attend for full duration of academic year of award
o At least 24 credits remaining to complete program at start of fall semester of award year
Contact
Nancy Talbot Scholarship Award
Scholarship Management Services
One Scholarship Way
Saint Peter, MN 56082
Email: talbotswomen@scholarshipamerica.org.
16. Nevada Women’s Fund, or NWF, Scholarships
DEADLINE: March 25
NWF sponsors several funds that make annual awards of $500 and up to help women maximize the odds of achieving self-sufficiency through academic advancement.
Applicants must have/be:
o Northern Nevada residents
o Attend a northern Nevada educational institution or pre-approved a program elsewhere that is unavailable in northern Nevada
o Enrolled in 6 or more credits of undergraduate or graduate coursework per semester
Contact
Nevada Women’s Fund Scholarships
770 Smithridge Drive, Suite 300
Reno, NV 89502
Phone: (775) 786-2335
Email: info@nevadawomensfund.org
17. P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education
DEADLINE: Contact sponsor
P.E.O International sponsors this program as a means of helping women reach for the stars by making nonrenewable awards of $3,000 to returning female students.
Applicants must have/be:
o Sponsored by a P.E.O. chapter
o Citizenship and studies in the U.S. or Canada
o At least two consecutive years as a non-student at any point during adulthood
o Within two years of completing a program designed to prepare for chosen career entry
o A non-doctoral student
Contact
P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education
3700 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50312.2899
Phone: 515-255-3153
Website URL: peointernational.org
18. Society of Women Engineers, or SWE Scholarship Program
DEADLINE: Varies
This program consists of more than 200 separate funds that make renewable and one-time awards to deserving undergraduate and graduate female students in engineering and computer science programs. Annual awards range from $1,000 to $10,000 and attending an ABET-accredited program is a universal threshold requirement.
Contact
Society of Women Engineers Scholarship Program
230 E. Ohio Street, Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60611-3265
Phone: 312-596-5223
19. Carolyn Weatherford Scholarship
DEADLINE: March 1
Sponsored by the Woman’s Missionary Union, or WMU, this scholarship assists women wanting to pursue missionary careers. Annual awards vary in number and amount.
Applicants must have/be:
o Female masters or doctoral-level students
o Pursuing studies in a field preparatory to WMU service or U.S. missionary work
Contact
Carolyn Weatherford Scholarship
Linda Lucas
P.O. Box 11346
Birmingham, AL 35202-1346
Phone Number: 205-408-5525 or 877-482-4483
Email: llucas@wmu.org
20. The Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund, or MMMF
DEADLINE: January 15
MMMF makes non-renewable annual awards of $12,000 to assist women from underdeveloped nations pursue higher education in the U.S. and Canada.
Applicants must have/be:
o Demonstrated history of serving and commitment to improving lives of women and children in developing countries
o Reside in the U.S. or Canada on date of application
o Current and plans to continue enrollment at an accredited U.S. or Canadian educational institution throughout academic year of award
o Use funds for degree completion
o A national of a low or mid-income developing country
o A non-citizen of the U.S. or Canada
o Intends to provide public service in a developing country within two years after exhausting award funds
o Demonstrate financial need
o Demonstrate satisfactory academic performance
o At least 25 years old by December 31 prior to application date
Contact
The Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund
Email: scholarships@mmmf-grants.org
21. Women at Microsoft, or WAM, Scholarship Fund
DEADLINE: January 15
WAM awards are available to women in hot pursuit of higher learning in computer science and related fields. Chosen recipients get annual awards of roughly $5,000.
Applicants must have/be:
o A female undergraduate at an accredited four-year institution in North America
o Enrolled full-time in a four-year degree program in computer science, computer engineering, or related field
o Demonstrated interest in computer science
o A minimum 3.0 GPA
Contact
Women at Microsoft Scholarship Fund
Learn more at:
Email: scholars@microsoft.com
22. U.S. Army Women’s Foundation, or USAWF, Legacy Scholarship
DEADLINE: January 15
USAWF sponsors this fund to fulfill its mission to recognize and honor brave Army women by helping their linear descendants attain academic ascension. Recipients at technical certificate and community college programs get $1,000. Bachelors and graduate students get $2,500.
Applicants must have/be:
* A woman who has previously or is currently serving honorable duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or the offspring of a woman who has previously or is currently in the U.S. Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard
* Community college and technical certification students must have earned a GED or high school diploma with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA and attend an accredited facility
o Bachelors-level students must be in an accredited program and previously completed at least 30 credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
o Graduate students must have previously completed a four-year undergraduate degree with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and attend or be accepted by a graduate program
Contact
U.S. Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship
Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 5030
Fort Lee, VA 2380123
23. Women Chefs & Restaurateurs, or WCR, Scholarship
DEADLINE: Contact sponsor
WCR sponsors this scholarship to assist aspiring female culinary artists achieve career ambitions.
Applicants must have/be:
o WCR membership
o Pay an application processing fee of $25 USD for one scholarship or $40 USD for up to three scholarships
o Chosen recipients must submit a one-page essay describing their academic experience within 30 days after expiration of award semester and consent to WCR publication
Contact
Women Chefs & Restaurateurs Scholarship
115 South Patrick Street, Suite 101
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 877-927-7787 or 630-396-8339
Email: Scholarship@womenchefs.org
24. National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, or NANBPWC Scholarships
DEADLINE: January 1
Founded in 1936, NANBPWC sponsors several scholarships to advance its main agenda of promoting business and professional women of color. Annual awards vary in number and amount, based on specific scholarship fund, but common basic eligibility criteria are:
o U.S. citizenship
o Attend an accredited institution
o A minimum 3.0 GPA
o A full-time African American female undergraduate or graduate student
Contact
National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Scholarships
NANBPWC, Inc. Headquarters
1806 New Hampshire Ave, N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-462-7253
Email: executivedirector@nanbpwc.org
25. Women’s Independence Scholarship Program, or WISP
DEADLINE: Two months prior to enrollment
WISP exists to help domestic violence survivors end economic dependence on abusive partners via higher education. Number and amount of non-renewable annual awards vary.
Applicants must have/be:
* Separated from an abusive partner for at least a year
* U.S. citizenship or legal residency
* Applied to or accepted by an accredited U.S. institution
* Demonstrated critical financial need
* Strong motivation and capability to complete an academic or vocational training program, exhibited by a minimum 2.5 GPA
* Definite plans to utilize desired training for career advancement or job market re-entry
* Sought assistance from a non-profit domestic violence agency for at least six consecutive months that is willing to provide mentorship and educational support
Contact
Women’s Independence Scholarship Program
4900 Randall Pkwy., Ste. H
Wilmington, NC 18403
Phone: 910-397-7742
The foregoing sample readily discloses that an abundance of financial reinforcement awaits resourceful women willing to locate it. Thus, would-be scholars of the “weaker” sex have an open invitation to a worthy challenge. Your first assignment is a test of tenacity and willpower by exhaustive further research.
