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There’s nothing better than free money — especially with the cost of many private colleges topping $70K a year. If you’re a woman trying to navigate the labyrinth of ways to fund your education, you might want to consider one of these scholarship programs first.
How we picked these top scholarships
When selecting these top scholarships for women, we looked for programs that were open to the most number of women, offered relatively high amounts and helped women in need. We also tried to find scholarships that were either renewable or had multiple recipients each year.
Adobe Research Women-in-Technology Scholarship
$10,000
September 27th
To qualify for this scholarship, you need to meet the following requirements:
Female student in at least your second year of undergraduate study or pursuing a master’s degree
Enrolled full-time for the upcoming academic year
Majoring in computer science, computer engineering or a closely related technical field
Strong academic record
Not related to an Adobe Research employee
The Adobe Research Women-in-Techonology Scholarship is geared toward women pursuing a computer science or technical degree. Applicants are selected based on their academic record, personal statement and letters of recommendation they submit with their application.
Take note that this scholarship isn’t open to rising high school seniors or first-year college students. You must be entering your second year of college or higher to qualify.
Leslie Andree Hanna Medical Scholarship
$5,000
February 10th
To qualify for this scholarship, you need to meet the following requirements:
Female student
US citizen
Attending medical school
3.25 GPA or higher
For female students who are pursuing a medical degree, the Leslie Andree Hanna Medical Scholarship is a perfect fit. The application process is based solely on merit, so the scholarship committee will be looking for students who excel in their field. The scholarship is not automatically renewable, but students can reapply each year if they continue to meet the criteria.
PEO Program for Continuing Education (PCE) Scholarship
$3,000
Not listed
To qualify for this scholarship, you need to meet the following requirements:
Female student
Citizen or permanent resident of the US or Canada
Enrolled in a certification or degree program
Living and studying in the US or Canada for your entire course of study
Has had at least 24 consecutive months as a nonstudent sometime in your adult life
Within 24 consecutive months of completing your educational program that will lead to employment or job advancement
Nominated for the award by a current PEO member or chapter
The PEO Program for Continuing Education Scholarship is geared toward women who’ve spent at least two years of their adult life out of school and have since decided to go back to earn their degree. On top of the eligibility requirements for the scholarship, prospective recipients have to be nominated by a current PEO chapter or member. In order to be nominated, applicants must explain why they’re interested in pursuing their chosen degree and discuss their employment goals once their education is completed.
Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards
$1,000 to $16,000
November 15th
To qualify for this award, you need to meet the following requirements:
Provide the main financial support for yourself and your dependents*
Show financial need
Enrolled in or accepted to a vocational or skills training program or an undergraduate degree program
Reside in one of Soroptimist International of the Americas’ member countries or territories
Not have a graduate degree
Not a Soroptimist member, related to a member or employed through Soroptomist
Soroptimist International of the Americas’ member countries or territories include:
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guam
Japan
Korea
Mexico
Northern Mariana Islands
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Puerto Rico
Taiwan
United States
Venezuela
*Dependents can include children, a spouse or partner, siblings and/or parents.
The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards are designed for women who are doing it all. If you support your family and are ready to pursue a degree to help further your career, this scholarship is tailor made for you. Awards go up to $16,000 — and unlike many scholarships, it’s not limited to US residents. Women from over 20 countries and territories are eligible. But keep in mind this is a one-time scholarship — previous recipients aren’t allowed to apply a second time.
Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Support Awards
$5,000
Late spring
To qualify for this scholarship, you need to meet the following requirements:
Female student
At least 17 years old
Mother with children under 18 years old
Pursuing a first-time vocational, associate, bachelor’s, professional, master’s or doctoral degree
Attending an accredited nonprofit US institution
Considered a low-income family
The goal of the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Support Awards is to open up access to education to low-income mothers. Five recipients are chosen annually based on their financial need, career goals, educational path and community service. If chosen, the award can be used for both tuition and living expenses while you’re enrolled in an eligible program.
Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship
$2,000
March 1st
To qualify for this scholarship, you need to meet the following requirements:
Female student
At least 35 years old
Considered low Income — as determined by the Department of Labor’s Lower Living Standard
Pursuing a technical, vocational, associate or first-time bachelor’s degree
Enrolled in or accepted to a nonprofit, regionally accredited institution
US citizen or permanent resident
To be considered low income, your household income must fall within these 2019-2020 guidelines:
Household size
Maximum annual household income
1
$23,500
2
$38,511
3
$52,863
4
$65,257
5
$77,014
6
$90,059
The Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship is a need- and merit-based program specifically designed to help low-income women over 35 years old pursue post-secondary education. Not only are multiple women chosen each year, but the award is renewable annually. The number of awards given each year varies depending on the number of applicants, though there have been over 1,000 scholarships awarded since 1978.
National Pathfinder Scholarship
$2,500
June 1st
To qualify for this scholarship, you need to meet the following requirements:
Female student
In at least your second year of undergraduate study or pursuing a master’s degree
US citizen
Founded by the National Federation of Republican Women in honor of First Lady Nancy Reagan, the National Pathfinder Scholarship awards five women with $2,500 each year. The scholarship is based on merit, with recipients selected based on their letters of recommendation, scholarly achievement, civic or political activism and career goals. Take note that high school seniors and first-year college students aren’t eligible to apply. And the award can only be received once.
Society of Women Engineers Scholarship
Varies
May 1st for first-year college applicants; February 15th for all other applicants
To qualify for this scholarship, you need to meet the following requirements:
Identify as female
Enrolled or accepted in an ABET-accredited program in engineering, computing, or technology
Plan to attend full time
Demonstrate financial need for tuition, fees and books
English transcripts
Students interested in pursuing engineering, computing or technology at the undergraduate or graduate level might find the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) a helpful resource. In 2018, over 238 new and renewed scholarships valuing over $830,000 were awarded through the SWE. The reason that number is so high is because you’re automatically considered for all associated SWE scholarships when you submit your application through the SWE portal.
How else can I pay for school?
Did your scholarship funds come up short? Here are some other ways to fund your degree:
Grants. Like scholarships, grants don’t need to be repaid. You can find options through both the state and federal government, as well as from the college you’re attending and outside organizations.
Federal student loans. The Department of Education offers federal loans specifically for education expenses. How much you can borrow varies depending on your year in school and whether you’re considered a dependent or independent student. These typically come with lower rates and more flexible repayment plans than their private counterparts.
Private student loans. These are also education-based loans, but they’re supplied through private lenders. Qualifying for a private student loan can be more difficult than a federal loan, and interest rates are typically higher. However, private loans are more flexible when it comes to borrowing amounts.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Women who are dedicated to their field of study or interested in going back to school to further their career have several scholarship options to choose from. While many are based on financial need, others consider your academics and community activism.
Not necessarily — the Department of Education doesn’t offer scholarships. However, scholarships provided through your college or other outside organizations might ask you to fill out the FAFSA to prove your financial need. Scholarships that are strictly based on merit might not require the FAFSA, though.
Regardless, if you’re planning on attending college, you should always start by filling out the FAFSA to see if you’re eligible for federal grants and loans.
This will vary greatly depending on the scholarships you qualify for and if those funds are renewable annually. There’s no limit to the amount of private scholarships you can receive. However, you can be taxed on any scholarship funds that surpass your need for covering education expenses.
Absolutely — most students have a financial aid package that includes many different types of funding. However, every school has a cost-of-attendance maximum. If you received enough scholarships to reach the maximum, you won’t be eligible for other types of funding such as federal loans or grants.
Deni Sharp is a freelance writer with years of experience in higher education, particularly student loans and financing. She has a passion for helping students navigate the trenches of financial aid so they can realize their full potential. In her free time, you can find her at home in Arizona hanging with her family and adorable pup, Theo.
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