Empowering the Future: A Comprehensive Guide to Women in Technology Scholarships

Scholarships for women in technology are far more than mere acts of goodwill or "free money." They have evolved into a crucial instrument for bridging the gender gap in the technology sector. While it appears that more women are joining STEM fields nowadays, this trend does not reflect every sector of the industry. For example, as highlighted in articles on women in tech statistics, the proportion of women obtaining computer science degrees actually declined by 8% between 1997 and 2016.

Fortunately, colleges and employers are not just acknowledging this inequality but are also taking steps to bridge the gap through significant financial investments. As a result, there is a growing number of scholarships available for women in tech who are seeking financial support for their education.

The Current Gender Landscape in Tech

In the tech world, diversity has been a bit of an uphill battle. Historically, it’s been mostly white men on the software engineering scene, and honestly, not much has changed. A 2022 global survey tells us that a whopping 91.88% of software engineers are men. And specifically in the United States, it’s not much better, with just 22% of software engineers being women. Now, let’s zoom in even more. Black women make up only 3% of the entire female workforce in technology, and for Hispanic/Latinx women, it’s just 2%. There’s been some progress, and the number of women working in software engineering has been increasing, but the industry is still a long way from more balanced representation.

Why Tech Scholarships for Women Are So Important

Tech scholarships for women are crucial because they help level the playing field. They fund the education of current and future women in the industry to help fuel its growth over time as well as drive diversity, equality, representation, and inclusion. Here’s why they matter:

Equality: Tech scholarships make sure that women have the same chances as men to pursue careers in technology.
Expanding Access: Scholarships help expand access to education for women who otherwise wouldn’t have had it, particularly those in communities that don’t offer tech education or who don’t have the means to offer it to students.
Inspiration: Scholarships can inspire more women to consider tech careers. When they see others succeed, they’re more likely to believe they can do it, too.
Economic Opportunities: Tech jobs often pay well. By helping women enter this field, scholarships help provide women with better access to lucrative economic opportunities.

In a nutshell, tech scholarships for women help open doors that were once closed. They make tech a more inclusive and vibrant place where everyone has a chance to thrive.

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Scholarships for Female Coders

Women aiming to become web developers, computer programmers, or software developers need a deep understanding of coding. Moreover, collaborating with the relevant software development partner can provide valuable mentorship, resources, and real-world experience to help them succeed in the tech industry. Fortunately, coding bootcamps and organizations like the WomenTech Network can serve as pathways into the tech industry for them. However, the cost of these bootcamps can range from $9,000 to $28,000, making it more challenging to afford them than to complete the curriculum itself. This financial hurdle adds yet another obstacle for women aspiring to enter computer science. On the bright side, there are scholarships based on financial need specifically designated for female coders. Below, we've compiled a list of scholarships that can partially or fully cover the cost of coding bootcamps.

Claim Academy Scholarships

Claim Academy is dedicated to providing scholarships and financial assistance to all its students. Remarkably, some programmers receive scholarships just by being admitted to the programs. Any woman who is accepted into the Claim Academy Full Stack Software Developer Program will be awarded a $500 Women in Tech scholarship.

Coding Dojo Scholarships - $1,000

The "Women in Tech Scholarship" was created to assist women aiming to become coders by offering a $1,000 scholarship that can be applied towards their education.

DigitalCrafts Scholarship - Ranging from $1,000 to $1,500

DigitalCrafts is striving to make technology careers more accessible to underrepresented minority groups such as women, Latinx, and Black students. Their coding bootcamp program includes a $1,000,000 scholarship fund that provides automatic awards of $1,000 for part-time minority students and $1,500 for full-time students.

Flatiron School Scholarships - Receive a 50% Discount on Tuition

Women interested in enrolling in the coding programs at Flatiron School have several options available to finance their education:

The Women Take Tech Initiative scholarship offers a 50% tuition discount for female students.
Additionally, the Apply By Pi Scholarship provides further support to women enrolling in the organization's online web developer program.
The Flatiron School provides a scholarship in partnership with the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT). This scholarship is available to any woman who enrolls either part-time or full-time in the school's software development, data science, or cybersecurity programs.

Makers Academy Scholarship - $700

Minority students and women who join the academy's classes are eligible for a tuition discount. Through the Women Who Code initiative, black female-identifying students may be awarded £500 or $700 to assist with their tuition expenses.

Grand Circus Scholarship - $1,750

Grand Circus is utilizing scholarships to promote diversity within their programs and the broader tech industry. They offer several options, including:

NCWIT offers full and partial scholarships for women and gender non-conforming individuals. These scholarships are available to anyone identifying as female, non-binary, or genderqueer who lives in Michigan. Recipients can receive a full or partial scholarship and must apply through both Grand Circus and the NCWIT scholarship program.
The Grand Circus Diversity Scholarship is available to students from underrepresented communities aiming to join the tech industry. It is open to individuals who identify as women, Latinx, LGBTQ+, Native American, Black, or Veterans, with recipients receiving an award of $1,750.

Hackbright Academy Scholarships

Hackbright Academy offers scholarships that cover 50% of the tuition fee. Hackbright Academy is another coding program focused on empowering women in the tech sector. Specifically, the Hackbright Phenomenal Women Scholarship offers two partial scholarships, covering 50% of tuition, to women who exhibit strong technical skills and aspire to pursue careers as software engineers.

Scholarships for Women in Computer Science

Earning a degree in computer science can pave the way to numerous career opportunities, such as becoming a business analyst, a research and development scientist, an information security analyst, or a software tester. Additionally, women in tech who are particularly inclined towards pursuing a degree in computer science will find multiple scholarship opportunities available to them. Here are a few options worth considering:

LoadView Women in Computing Scholarship - $1,000

Dotcom-Monitor is dedicated to assisting women aiming to obtain an undergraduate degree in computer science. They provide a $1,000 scholarship to a selected applicant. Eligible women must be full-time students at a university in the US or Canada and should have either declared their major in computer science or completed two semesters in this or a related field.

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Women in Technology Scholarship (WITS) - $2,500

Since its inception in 2007, Visionary Integration Professionals (VIP) has been dedicated to fostering women's careers in technology through its scholarship program. The organization offers a range of services, including technology deployment solutions, management consulting, and system integration. Through the WITS program, VIP not only supports the tech industry but also promotes diversity and inclusion.

The WITS program provides a $2,500 scholarship to women aspiring to careers in management information, information technology, computer science, and similar areas. To qualify, candidates must be either enrolled in or accepted to a 2-year or 4-year program at a college in the United States. Evaluation criteria include academic achievements, community service, involvement in extracurricular activities, leadership experience, and responses to essay questions.

Eligibility Criteria for VIP’s 2025 Women in Technology Scholarship (WITS) Program:

Applicants must identify as a woman.
Applicants must be enrolled at, or accepted into, either a two or four‐year college or university within the United States for the current upcoming school year (at the time of award).
Students must be enrolled for classes at a college or university within the United States for the Fall semester (at the time of scholarship payment).
Students must be planning a career in computer science, information technology, management information systems, or another related field.
You must have a computer science, information technology, or another IT‐related major to be considered eligible.

Scholarships for Women in STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) encompass various disciplines and can pave the way to highly rewarding careers. Professions in the STEM sector include geographer, environmental engineer, forensic scientist, accountant, and computer network architect. The career possibilities for women in STEM are vast and numerous. Thankfully, there are substantial scholarships available to support women in their pursuit of these career paths.

Aysen Tunca Memorial Scholarship - $2,000

This scholarship is designated for female undergraduate students specializing in STEM disciplines. citizens, and members of the national Society of Physics Students. Although the scholarship is merit-based, priority will be given to those who are first-generation STEM students, are financially disadvantaged, or have had to overcome significant challenges to pursue their education.

BHW Scholarship - $3,000

The BHW Group, a technology company located in Austin, Texas, provides a scholarship opportunity for female college students pursuing either an undergraduate or graduate degree in mathematics, engineering, technology, or science.

Virginia Heinlein Memorial Scholarship - $3,000

Women from any nation are eligible to apply for this $3,000 scholarship, provided they are undergraduate students at an accredited four-year college or university and are pursuing a major in engineering, mathematics, or the physical or biological sciences.

Science Ambassador Scholarship - Covers up to Full Tuition

This scholarship not only has the potential to pay for all your tuition expenses, but it also doesn't require an essay submission. Instead, applicants must create and upload a three-minute video to YouTube, focusing on a STEM subject of their choice. Established by the creators of Cards Against Humanity, this scholarship is specifically for women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, or math. Additionally, partial scholarships are available.

Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship - Award Amount: $7,000

Established in 2010, this scholarship aims to support women pursuing careers in technology. Palantir, a software development firm, seeks to foster female leadership within STEM fields. During the current (2023-24) and upcoming (2024-25) academic years, they will grant 10 scholarships worth $7,000 each, along with the chance to participate in a virtual workshop. During this workshop, recipients will have the opportunity to interact with the company’s engineers and benefit from breakout discussions and professional development sessions.

Candidates are required to reside in North America, be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program, identify as female, and be pursuing a major in software engineering, computer science, or a related discipline. It's important to mention that individuals who have won this scholarship before are not eligible. Although the application period for the 2024 scholarship has ended, please keep an eye out for further information regarding the 2025 scholarship.

MPower Women in STEM Scholarship

The Women in STEM Scholarship funded by MPower Financing was created to directly address inequality in education. citizens who will use their STEM degree to benefit society and serve as role models for the next generation of women in STEM. permanent resident (Green Card holder). For legal study in Canada, students should be a Canadian permanent resident or have a valid Canadian study permit.

Further Scholarship Opportunities

Elevate Women in Technology Scholarship

This scholarship is funded by former technology executive Calvin Rosser. He founded this scholarship to move the tech industry in the right direction and empower the next generation of female leaders. This scholarship awards $500 to women at any education level and in any field of study, as long as they intend to pursue a career that leverages technology with the aim of making the world a better place.

AWS Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML) Scholarship Program

This scholarship program, formed from a partnership between Amazon Web Services and Udacity, aims to help underrepresented students (both high school and college) learn foundational concepts that can help prepare them for careers in tech, specifically in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Each year, 2,000 scholarships are awarded specifically for the Udacity AI Programming with Python” Nanodegree program. 500 of the top performing students in this program can earn a scholarship for a second

Empowering Women in Tech Scholarship

This application is open to female high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students. Applicants must specify their intended field of study and their current grade or degree level within your application. Applicants should provide a brief biography of no more than 250 words with your application, detailing future goals and why they deserve this scholarship.

Designli's Women in Tech Scholarship winners:

Janneke Baks, a senior at Arlington High School, excels in STEM subjects like calculus, computer science, and physics. Outside of academics, Janneke is a talented musician and competitive athlete.
Adrianna Relay was accepted to the incoming freshman class at Florida Atlantic University for a start in the fall of 2024. She wrote an essay about the importance - and challenges - of being a woman in tech. She has shown an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age while also excelling in high school and competitive gymnastics. As a high school student, Adrianna did excellent work to provide a better standard of childcare for children with special needs.

Michigan Council of Women in Technology (MCWT) Scholarship

This scholarship program encourages talented female students (high school seniors and current college/university students) to continue their higher education and ultimately help Michigan become the No. Annual awards range from $2,000 to $5,000, with the possibility of renewal, and are given to high school seniors and undergraduate or graduate college students.

To qualify, applicants must be enrolled in a full-time associate, undergraduate or graduate degree program in Michigan. Each applicant must be enrolled during the grant period in a full-time undergraduate or graduate degree program in a major such as Information Systems, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Digital Forensics, Cyber Security, and Data Science.

Winning Applications: Insights from Successful Candidates

Several examples of winning scholarship applications provide valuable insights into what makes a submission stand out. These applications highlight the candidates' passion for technology, their unique experiences, and their vision for the future.

Pardee RAND Graduate School (Albuquerque, NM): An applicant pursuing a dual degree in national security and technology policy expressed inspiration from AI's potential to improve information processing and decision-making in national security. The candidate's experience as an Air Force intelligence officer provided firsthand insight into the challenges of processing vast amounts of intelligence data and the need for ethical technology policy.
Jackson State University (Jackson, MS): A candidate recounted their experience during the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal, which sparked their interest in machine learning for civil engineering, particularly in geotechnical applications. Their work at the Geo-Infra Research Institute on a machine learning framework for slope stability prediction showcased their practical skills and commitment to building more resilient societies.
Mountain House High (Tracy, CA): A high school student highlighted the potential of femtech to improve women's health and wellness. The applicant's creation of an app based on menstrual cycles demonstrated their entrepreneurial spirit and desire to empower women with information about their bodies.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI) / New York University (Ringwood, NJ): A candidate with experience as a PGT-A Lab Technician discussed how sequencing technology has made the world a better place. Their work at a genetic testing company, CooperGenomics, involved using NextSeq machines to diagnose embryos as euploid or aneuploid, showcasing their understanding of advanced genetic technologies.
University of Oregon (Lawrenceville, GA): A candidate expressed inspiration from the technological advancements in aviation. Despite being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and told they couldn’t become a commercial pilot, they are pursuing a Master’s degree in aerospace engineering to contribute to producing fuel-efficient and cost-effective aircrafts.
University of Florida (Land O' Lakes, FL): A candidate highlighted green technology and its potential to create an environmentally friendly future. Their interest in wind power and their ideas for mitigating its impact on animal populations demonstrated their commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship.
Capella University (Marshall, VA): A doctoral student expressed a balanced view of technology, acknowledging its benefits while also recognizing its potential negative impacts on privacy, security, and the environment. Their research on predictive analytics for insider threat monitoring and their desire to educate others through blogging showcased their critical thinking and commitment to making a difference.

Tips for Crafting a Winning Application

Scholarship selection committees receive many applications. Candidates should look for opportunities to stand out in competitive fields. Here are some tips:

Follow the application instructions. Selection committees use failures to follow the instructions as a way to narrow down the applicant pool.
Use your essay to elaborate on the Student Aid Index (SAI) listed on your FAFSA.
Address the selection criteria. How do you meet them?
Tell a story. Use your scholarship essay to explain obstacles and victories in your life, particularly if you can relate it back to being a woman. Well-written stories can help make you memorable, but make sure you align with the essay prompt.
Avoid negativity.

Additional Resources and Support

Scholarship funding is just one of many resources available to women in computer science programs. Other options include finding community-based support groups that promote gender diversity and inclusion or choosing the right college with adequate equity. Many success stories can be found on the Women in Tech Resources & Blog, not only about scholarships but also about women in tech overall.

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