6 Science Scholarships for STEM Majors

Tips from an Irvine College Consultant:  6 Science Scholarships for STEM Majors

Science and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are becoming more and more popular as a field of study at the college level. Additionally, there are many entry-level job opportunities in the fields of science and technology. It’s no wonder why students want to study these fields in college but first they have to find a way to pay for tuition. Every penny counts when it comes to paying tuition and fees.

Regardless of the specific scientific field, students should look at every scholarship option available to them; there are many large and small scholarships for students interested in studying science and technology (READ: “College Scholarships 101: Burgers and Donuts?”).

1. American Chemical Society Scholars Program

This scholarship is geared for high school seniors as well as college students who happen to be a minority. As one would guess from the title, this program will help students study chemistry or a major field of study related to chemistry, including environmental science and chemical technology. The American Chemical Society Scholars offers a maximum award of $20,000 ($5,000 per year over a period of four years.)

2. Davidson Fellows Scholarship

This scholarship is specifically for students who are 17 years of age or younger and who have completed projects in math or science fields (as well as literature, music, and philosophy). In order to successfully apply to the scholarship, students will need to prove that their project has the potential to make a significant and positive contribution to the community or society at large. The maximum award is $50,000.

3. EngineerGirl! Essay Contest

This scholarship asks girls and boys alike to write an essay about a different subject each year. This is where an Orange County math or science tutor comes in handy because many students heavily geared towards math and science need help expressing themselves in the written word, especially if they are required to write about a topic unrelated to the sciences. In the case of the EngineerGirl! Engineering Essay, students are asked to write about how technology can be integrated into another subject. This scholarship is available to students in grades 3 through 12 and offers a maximum award of $500.

4. FIRST Robotics Competition

Taking robotics as an elective or during a summer program has become increasingly popular the past few years. The creation of robotics is a great way for students to use multiple parts of their brain and utilize their skills in both artistic design and technology. In the case of the FIRST Robotics Competition, students are expected to work with an adult mentor to build a robot that can complete some sort of task. The FIRST Robotics Competition and Scholarship Program (related to the FIRST Robotics Competition) offers over 160 scholarship opportunities, some of which include a full tuition scholarship at tech universities around the country. This scholarship is geared towards high school juniors and seniors as well as students already enrolled in college.

5. Young Naturalist Awards

This scholarship is research-based and is intended to increase participation in the sciences. Applicants will be required to create and complete a scientific investigation that includes observations and predictions. This is geared towards students who are willing to make trips outdoors or outside of the classroom to gather data and analyze it. In addition to conducting the project, students need to write an essay of anywhere between 500 words and 20 pages (depending on their grade level). This award is geared towards students in grades 7-12 and offers a maximum award of $2,500.

6. Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship Program

This program is geared toward students who have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (that’s a B average) and who are interested in studying engineering, chemistry, or other scientific fields. This scholarship is meant to be used by minority students in order to increase their advancement in these innovative fields. Students must currently be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate school. The maximum award is $10,000.

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