Securing Your Future: A Comprehensive Guide to STEM Scholarships
If you're aiming for a career in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), numerous scholarships are specifically designed to support your educational journey. These scholarships not only ease the financial burden of higher education but also recognize and encourage talent in these crucial fields. Scholarships.com can help if you are an incoming or current college student thinking about pursuing your degree in a STEM field. Continue reading for a full list of the best STEM scholarships available and the answers to your top questions.
Understanding STEM and STEAM
Before diving into specific scholarships, it's essential to understand what constitutes a STEM field. The acronym stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Science encompasses a broad range of disciplines, from biology and psychology to medicine and computer science. Technology includes the development and manufacturing of technological tools, including AI (artificial intelligence). Engineering covers various fields like chemical, automotive, and civil engineering. Mathematics involves the study of different types of math.
The difference between STEM and STEAM is the inclusion of art or architecture in the category, represented by the letter “A.” This means STEAM scholarships accept a wider group of applicants than STEM scholarships.
Why Pursue a STEM Scholarship?
As you consider a future in STEM, you may feel intimidated by the cost of a college education. Many STEM careers require a degree, but earning one doesn’t come cheap. If you plan to pursue a career in a science, technology, engineering, or math-related field, STEM-specific scholarships can help you cover the cost of your tuition. These scholarships can range from a few thousand dollars to a full ride. Some scholarships cater to students across all STEM majors, while others are focused on more specific fields like chemistry or computer science. Eligibility requirements vary by scholarship. Some are geared towards students of a specific background or identity, while others require a project or essay to apply. Researching and applying for scholarships takes time and effort, but over $46 billion in scholarships are awarded yearly (and students who get scholarships are 20% more likely to avoid heavy student loan debt). Why not take a chance and see what’s out there?
According to the Education Data Initiative, in 2025, 16.9% of all college graduates in the United States attained STEM degrees. A STEM scholarship is a non-loan financial aid award offered to students on the basis of their participation or interest in STEM fields. Sometimes these scholarships invite applicants from any STEM field; sometimes they are targeted towards one specific discipline beneath the STEM umbrella.
Read also: STEM Scholarships
General STEM Scholarships
Several scholarships are available to students across various STEM disciplines:
Employment BOOST Scholarships: Employment BOOST is offering two quarterly $1,000 scholarships for graduating high school or current college students. One scholarship is open to students studying any major and is also eligible for students who are currently undecided in their course of study. The second scholarship is available to students who will major or are majoring in business or STEM.
AFCEA NOVA Education Foundation Scholarships: The AFCEA NOVA Education Foundation provides scholarships for aspiring scientists, engineers, technologists, mathematicians, and others studying in STEM fields. Since its inception, the AFCEA NOVA Scholarship Program has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships. The application for these scholarships opens once a year in the spring, with scholarship awards occurring mid-Summer.
Specific AFCEA NOVA Scholarships
Colonel Paul G. Mr. Paul Patton Scholarship: Mr. Paul Patton was a lifelong AFCEA member and volunteer, as well as a true leader, advisor, and friend to many of the people in the AFCEA NOVA Chapter. He had a highly successful military career, rising to the rank of Colonel in the United States Air Force. He continued to serve his Country as an executive at CACI and was active on the George Mason University Advisory Board.
Chuck Corjay Scholarship: Mr. Chuck Corjay was the driving force for many of the AFCEA NOVA achievements during the past decades. His most far-reaching and lasting contributions were the leadership and energy he provided to the Chapter’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education Programs. In recognition of Chuck’s efforts and his service to the United States Air Force, in 2015 the AFCEA NOVA Chapter established our annual “Chuck Corjay Scholarship”, to be awarded annually to deserving students based on merit and military service.
Read also: STEM Graduate Opportunities
Scholarships for Underrepresented Groups
Several scholarships specifically target underrepresented groups in STEM, including women and minorities:
The Women In STEM Scholarship: The Women In STEM Scholarship is available to women who are pursuing an undergraduate or master’s degree and are majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. The Woman Forward in Technology scholarship is designed to empower women entering the STEM field, which currently only represents 24% women in the career workforce. Their mission is to help women pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in STEM programs achieve their education goals, which helps improve the diversity in STEM careers at large.
Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship: The Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship program provides opportunities to students who want to build their talents and change the world. Lockheed Martin will award up to 200 renewable scholarships of $10,000 each. Awards are open to individuals studying eligible engineering or computer science majors, who demonstrate financial need and come from underrepresented or underserved communities.
Microsoft's Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarship: Each year, Microsoft offers fifty-five BAM scholarships to high school seniors of African descent. Applicants must demonstrate leadership, a passion for technology, and financial need.
Navisite's Scholarship: Navisite, part of Accenture, awards three scholarships each year to women pursuing degrees in STEM. The application is open to women interested in various STEM fields, including electrical and chemical engineering, computer science, and data science.
Read also: Minority STEM scholarship opportunities
Hyundai's Scholarship: Each year, Hyundai awards five scholarships to women who submit the best essay on how EV tech will improve the planet and shift us toward a more sustainable future.
The HITEC Foundation Scholarship: The HITEC Foundation has a mission to support Hispanic students pursuing careers in technology. This scholarship covers many technology-related majors, including artificial intelligence, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and web development.
This tiered tuition scholarship: This tiered tuition scholarship is applicable for talented African-American high school students who aspire to earn STEM degrees and pursue careers in STEM fields. Amounts awarded are up to $2,500 per academic year for freshmen and sophomores, $5,000 for juniors and seniors, and an additional $5,000 for students whose academic programs require a fifth year.
ACS Scholars Program Scholarship: Underrepresented students pursuing degrees in chemistry or other chemistry-related fields can qualify for this renewable award. Winners are selected based on overall excellence in academics, leadership, extracurriculars, and community service.
Scholarships for Specific STEM Fields
Some scholarships are targeted towards specific disciplines within STEM:
Vectra AI Cybersecurity Scholarship: As AI technologies develop and grow in popularity, more and more students are becoming interested in studying AI at the collegiate level. Because AI itself is a technology, its study can be classified underneath the STEM umbrella. There are even some scholarships dedicated specifically to AI itself rather than STEM as a whole. One example is the Vectra AI Cybersecurity Scholarship, open to graduating seniors, current college students, and graduate students pursuing the study of AI.
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship: While this sounds like a scholarship available to engineering students only, it’s intended for students interested in electrical engineering, computer engineering, software engineering, or other computer science-related degrees. Winners will participate in a paid summer internship at Amazon.
Scholarships with Unique Requirements
Some scholarships have unique requirements or offer specific benefits:
SMART Scholarship: This unique scholarship is a long-term investment in your education, providing a pathway towards a tuition-free degree and a guaranteed job after graduation. With a SMART scholarship, students earn an annual stipend and participate in summer internships, leading to a career with the DoD.
National Security Agency (NSA) Scholarship: This is another recruitment scholarship leading to a career with the National Security Agency. You’ll earn a salary to offset the cost of your degree and participate in full-time paid summer internships between each year of college.
Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholarship: Some STEM scholarships require students to declare majors in STEM fields in order to receive or renew funding, but there are also STEM scholarships available to non-STEM majors. One STEM scholarship you can apply for without declaring a major in STEM is the Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholarship. This prestigious award for high school students is judged based on applicants’ scientific research.
Cards Against Humanity Scholarship: This scholarship, funded by Cards Against Humanity, awards five scholarships to women and non-binary students pursuing STEM degrees. High school seniors must submit a three-minute video to apply.
Scholarships for Specific Situations
The Gilman Scholarship Program: The Gilman Scholarship Program broadens the student population that studies and interns abroad by supporting undergraduates who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints. The program aims to encourage students to study and intern in a diverse array of countries and world regions. Veterans of military service are encouraged to apply, and preference is given to veterans when other factors are equivalent. Your generous contribution supports college students studying STEM and involved in military programs.
NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program: The main goal of the S-STEM program is to enable academically talented, low-income students to pursue successful careers in promising STEM fields. Ultimately, the S-STEM program seeks to increase the number of academically promising low-income students who graduate with an S-STEM eligible degree and contribute to the American innovation economy with their STEM knowledge. To be eligible, scholars must be domestic low-income students with academic ability, talent, or potential and demonstrated unmet financial need who are enrolled in an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree program in an S-STEM eligible discipline. Proposers must provide an analysis that articulates the characteristics and academic needs of the population of students they are trying to serve. NSF is particularly interested in supporting the attainment of degrees in fields identified as critical needs for the Nation. Doctoral (Ph.D.).
Tips for Finding and Applying for STEM Scholarships
The easiest way to find, apply for, and win STEM scholarships is by using Scholarships.com. When you create your free Scholarships.com account and indicate that you are interested in majoring in a STEM-related field, we will automatically match you with every scholarship open to students of your particular specialty. Once you have received your scholarship matches, it’s simple to apply. Just click on each match to review a full description of the award and the steps you’ll need to take in order to submit your application. Dante Parker, a software engineering major at the University of Michigan, applied for the Amazon Future Engineer scholarship after matching with it on Scholarships.com; Georgia Tech aviation student Leslie Nava did the same with AT&T’s oxyGEN award.
There are plenty of STEM scholarships for students without financial need; because the quantity of merit-based STEM scholarships available is so huge, it’s a good idea to narrow your search by demographic or academic specifications to find the best options for you.
Create a Scholarships.com account: The easiest way to find, apply for, and win STEM scholarships is by using Scholarships.com.
Search by demographic: Narrow your search by demographic or academic specifications to find the best options for you.
Look for opportunities throughout your college journey: Keep an eye out for scholarships throughout your college journey! You’ll be surprised at how many opportunities you’ll become eligible for as you work towards your bachelor’s degree.
Examples of Scholarship Descriptions
Here are some examples of scholarship descriptions:
MIT THINK Scholars Program: Description: This scholarship is appropriate for high schoolers of all grades interested in physics, mathematics, or life sciences. To apply, students must create an original two-minute video presentation explaining a scientific idea and submit peer reviews for five other submissions.
Regeneron Science Talent Search: Description: High school seniors use an original, independent research project to apply for this scholarship. The top 40 finalists receive a $25,000+ scholarship and trip to Washington, D.C., to present their research.
Science Ambassador Scholarship: Description: Seniors planning to attend a college and pursue a STEM degree can apply for this merit-based essay scholarship. Applicants need to submit a short essay describing who they are and why they should win the scholarship.
Generation Google Scholarship: Description: Google established this scholarship for future leaders in the field of computer science. Applicants must be high school seniors planning to major in computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field.
Hyundai's Sustainable Mobility Scholarship: Description: Students planning to attend college next year can apply for this scholarship by writing an essay about their favorite app or how an app they use has improved their day.
Cappex Easy Money Scholarship: Description: To qualify for this scholarship, students must demonstrate high grades, charitable impact, work experience, extracurriculars, and special circumstances they’ve overcome, such as economic or social hardships. Students must include an essay and be enrolled or plan to enroll in a STEM or sustainability degree program.
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