Women are significantly underrepresented in STEM professions and for the few who are pursuing science, technology, engineering or math careers – there are a lot of financial challenges. This is why many companies and organizations offer financial assistance and scholarships to fill the gap between men and women in crucial areas.

According to the The Only 4 percent of people who are computer- and math-related professionals and only 1 in 6 for those in construction and engineering jobs, these women represent just 14% and 6% respectively. Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, every dollar that a STEM man earns, a women makes 14 cents.

Rachel Morford is the president of Society of Women Engineers. She stated, “Increasing access and availability to higher education options represents one of our best strategies to reduce the gender gap” in STEM fields. Scholarships are a way to help women gain access to STEM education, whether they’re in the undergraduate or postgraduate levels. Scholarships are also vital to help ensure success in those programs, as they give students more opportunity to focus on their classwork, design projects, and pursue research or internship opportunities – all of which work to help keep women in STEM fields through graduation and beyond.”

Women in STEM can apply for scholarships

Many scholarships are offered by foundations, companies and organizations to female STEM professionals.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE), a leading support group for students whose gender identity is female, is pursuing ABET (Accreditation board for Engineering and Technology) Bachelors and Graduate Programs in engineering, technology and computer science.  SWE provided on-campus support and also gave out scholarships in 2020. 260+ new and renewed scholarshipsThey were valued at $1 million and went to over 2,000 female students worldwide. SWE simplifies the application process by allowing students to submit one submission. This allows them to qualify for any applications they are interested in.

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Microsoft found out that only 7% (compared to 15%) of all women who graduated from college in 2016 had a degree in science technology engineering or math. Women tend to opt for science-oriented degrees over engineering, mathematics, or other computer-based areas. are lower paid than men. Microsoft has many offers scholarships for womenThose who intend to enter the STEAM field at college (Science Technology, Engineering and Arts)

Sasha Ramani is associate director of corporate strategies at MPOWER Financing. She said, “Having access scholarships can help alleviate some burdens that women face today. It is vital that they receive an education that will give them the same place at a table with their male peers.” MPOWER Financing offers scholarships for women who are interested in STEM careers. “These can all help close the gaps for not only women – but those in underrepresented communities.”

There are many scholarships that women can apply for to pursue STEM careers, including the BHW Scholarship for Women in STEM and Virginia Heinlein Scholarship. The Science Ambassador Scholarship is funded by Cards Against Humanity.

Scholarships for female students pursuing engineering careers are available through the Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship, Lynn G. Bellenger Scholarship and UPS Scholarship for Female Students.

Application process

Kaylin Moss is a Marist College senior studying computer science. She applied for hundreds of scholarships that she discovered through social media, databases and internet searches. A Generation Google scholarship was awarded.

Moss says that the “application process was lengthy”  ̶  she had to answer three essay questions and submit a resume and academic transcript. The first essay was about the founding of Marist College Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. The second focused on her ideas for solutions to the many problems that underrepresented groups face in the field of technology. And the third was about her financial situation. 

The criteria used to judge applicants were their academic and leadership performance, financial ability, and commitment to diversity, inclusion and other aspects of the community.

Some scholarships will require you to write essays while others may ask for video or artistic works. The application process can be time-consuming. Moss suggests that applicants focus their efforts on scholarships which best suit the style and communication of them. So, if you love writing – go for the essays. Go for scholarships that require a video if you are a natural with the camera.

The applicant pool should be small to make it more likely that they will win the scholarship. To increase your chances of winning, students should also apply for smaller scholarships within their area.

Olivia Haberberger is an accounting and senior business systems student at University of Pittsburgh. She was awarded the Addison H. Gibson Foundation Grant grant and the Pitt Success Grant. 

Haberberger received the Pitt Success Grant on the basis of need. Haberberger only had to complete an annual FAFSA (free application to student aid), and reach a benchmark in cumulative GPA. Need was another factor that contributed to the Addison H. Gibson Foundation grant. Haberberger sent a thank-you letter in gratitude.

Success strategies

Haberberger advises students to be “advocate” for themselves and “consider the time and effort you will need to apply.”

According to, it’s crucial to begin researching as soon as possible and to stay organized so that you don’t miss any deadlines. scholarships.comStudents can use the site to search for financial aid and scholarships.

Education Quest Foundation advises against procrastinating. If you rush to complete your application, you run the risk of making errors. Students are advised to proofread their applications in order to eliminate spelling and grammatical mistakes. And, send it in early – sometimes that can make all the difference.

Rachel Morford emphasizes that it is important to “start researching and preparation early!” If you look at all the resources offered by the Society of Women Engineers, you will find that not only is there a primary application to receive scholarships, but many of the professional sections in your area may also offer scholarship opportunities that could be of interest.

Morford stated, “Talk to your school counselors or advisors as well as your career center at the college or university as they may know about available opportunities.”

Finance is often referred to simply as financing. the largest barrier to educationRamani said that DACA is a particularly important option for DACA- and international student. Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a policy that protects children brought here from abroad when they are young.

Ramani explained that “if you are serious about pursuing a STEM degree you should do some research to determine the available funding options.” Ramani said that the Society of Women Engineers offers a wealth of resources for aid, while universities may be able to share their resources. Funding is usually available. You just need to access it and decide what you think will work best for your situation.

Ramani said that MPOWER is a program designed to remove barriers from students’ lives. We evaluate the student’s ability and financial capacity to pay back their loans using unique criteria on both the lending and repayment side. It results in higher outcomes, and fewer defaults or deferments. On the scholarship side, we evaluate each student’s application against their accomplishments, goals, and needs. “

Grace Ulmer, a senior electrical engineering and linguistics student at Purdue University and recipient of The Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship – North America during her junior year, suggests “regularly looking for scholarships to apply to, and when you find one that interests you, put its date on the calendar!” 

Ulmer was not as impressed with the application process, but she had to reply to some questions regarding her grades. She also had to write an essay about why her chosen discipline is important and what it means for women.  

Ulmer chose to create three essays on projects that were important to her and how she overcame obstacles in order to finish them.  Her passion was for student groups she’s involved in, such as “TEDxPurdueU,” which holds an annual TED conference, and PurdueVotes which focuses on education and voter participation.

Also, she recommends looking into scholarships that are related to your interests. Some scholarships will allow you to present or record videos on topics that interest you.

Ulmer explained that these are excellent options for displaying who you truly are, and giving the selection committee the most accurate view.

There are many resources available to help you launch your career in STEM. These organizations offer everything, from career development and mentorship to help you break down the barriers that prevent women from STEM careers. These include:

Do not let anything, including the high cost of STEM educations, deter your efforts. Start networking, find out your goals and apply for scholarships. You can find many people and organizations that will help you get on the right track to a rewarding career in science technology, engineering, or math.

CNBC’s “College Voices″ is a series written by CNBC interns from universities across the country about getting their college education, managing their own money and launching their careers during these extraordinary times. Allison Martin is a two-term intern with CNBC’s product and technology team. Virginia Commonwealth University Senior, She’s a student pursuing dual degrees in computer science (with a concentration on data science) and psychology (with a double minor of actuarial science, mathematics). This series was edited by Cindy Perman.