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10 top scholarships for engineering students
Build on your dreams with free money for college.
If your future plans involve a career in engineering, your education likely won’t be cheap. Thankfully, there are several scholarship opportunities available to students pursuing an engineering degree.
Our methodology: How we picked these scholarships.
We looked for engineering scholarship programs that are open to the broadest possible range of students and vary in eligibility requirements. We also looked at a full range of need- and merit-based scholarships while paying attention to award amounts and scholarships that are specific to a particular field or area of study.
AMS Freshman Undergraduate Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000; $2,500 each year for freshman and sophomore years.
- Deadline: February
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) Freshman Undergraduate Scholarship program is open to all high school students. It’s designed to encourage study in the atmospheric and related sciences and support young, talented minds. Women, disabled students, minorities and traditionally underrepresented individuals are encouraged to apply.
Barry Goldwater Scholarship
- Amount: Up to $7,500
- Deadline: Last Friday in January
Over the past 30-years, Goldwater Scholarships have been awarded to thousands of undergraduates. The Barry Goldwater Foundation will award approximately 450 scholarships in 2020 alone, and each year after that through 2023. You must submit a short student profile and preapplication to apply.
Astronaut Scholarship Foundation
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: March or April
The mission of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) is to retain the US world leadership in technology and innovation. To qualify for a scholarship, you have to major in engineering, math or in the applied or natural sciences, and you don’t have to be an aspiring astronaut to apply. Every year, more than 50 students win an award.
Donald and Barbara Mozley Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: March
Up to seven students each year walk away with the Donald and Barbara Mozley scholarship. You can win it more than once, but you need to apply each year to be in the running. High school seniors and college students at all levels who are pursuing degrees in engineering can apply for the scholarship. You’ll need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form showing financial need and submit a letter of recommendation.
Maureen L. and Howard N. Blitman, P.E., Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: March
The goal of the Maureen L and Howard N Blitman scholarship is to promote diversity in the field of engineering. Every year, an ethnic minority high school senior will receive the award upon acceptance into an ABET-accredited engineering program at a four-year college or university. The $5,000 award amount is divided into two $2,500 disbursements: one in the fall and one in the spring of the freshman year. Applications can be filed electronically.
Steinman Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: March
You must submit a completed application form, a resume of your experience and activities, at least one recommendation letter, your transcript and a 500-word essay on the importance of ethics in engineering to apply for the Steinman scholarship. The reward is paid out in one installment at the beginning of your junior year.
UNCF STEM Scholars Program
- Amount: $2,500 to $5,000
- Deadline: March
The United Negro College Fund grants 100 scholarships every year to African-American students who plan to major in a STEM field, including engineering. Award amounts vary with freshman and sophomores receiving $2,500 and juniors and seniors receiving $5,000 for each academic year. Scholarship winners also receive a $5,000 stipend for STEM-related internships or projects and academic mentoring.
SAE Heinz C. Prechter Automotive Excellence Scholarship
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: March
SAE International awards scholarships to engineering students, both undergraduate and graduate. The SAE Heinz C Prechter Automotive Excellence scholarship encourages young entrepreneurs in the automotive industry to pursue their passion for engineering. SAE offers two groups of scholarships, regional and national.
Auxiliary Legacy Scholarship
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: March
The Auxiliary Legacy Scholarship is awarded by the National Society of Professional Engineers Education Foundation. The Auxiliary Legacy scholarship is awarded annually to a female undergraduate student entering her junior year in a four-year ABET-accredited engineering program.
Eugene C. Figg, Jr. Civil Engineering Scholarship
- Amount: $3,000;determined annually
- Deadline: February
The ASCE issues scholarships to junior and senior civil engineering students at four-year, ABET-accredited universities. Applicants must show financial need, be academically successful and demonstrate leadership. Previous applicants can apply again for these awards if they continue to meet all other requirements of eligibility.
How else can I pay for school?
Every year, thousands of students apply for scholarships to help pay for college. The competition is stiff, but there are other ways to pay for school without piling on debt.
- Grants. The federal government, states and many colleges give out grants that don’t have to be paid back. Most grants are awarded based on financial need like the Federal Pell Grant. To apply, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Work Study. Sign-up for work-study jobs that either pay you an hourly wage or offer a reduction in tuition or other college expenses. The jobs might be on-campus working for the school directly or off-campus working for private organizations.
- Work part time. Take on a side hustle, part-time job or try freelancing.
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Bottom line
Some scholarships for engineering students are need-based, others are merit-based, and some are given to particular groups of people. A scholarship might cover your entire tuition or only a portion of your total costs.
If you need even more funds, check out our A-to-Z list of scholarships or our guide to student loans for more ways to pay for your engineering degree.
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