It was not until the mid-1800’s that women were granted college degrees in the United States, and not until over a hundred years later that they began to gain any true equality in the workforce and in their personal lives. Today the number of women attending college is about equal to that of men, and while gender equality has come a long way women are still often at a disadvantage when it comes to earning potential, and many women are still expected to fulfill traditional roles in the family while pursuing their educations. In order to level the playing field a little, women have many scholarship opportunities available to them to help cover educational costs.

Women who are pursuing a wide variety of careers and who come from very different backgrounds will be eligible for scholarships. Some are based on the major students choose, while others determine recipients on their financial need. Most will require women to submit FAFSA information, grades, or an essay written on a topic chosen by the donors.

There are many places women can look to get scholarship funding, from the university they are attending to the state in which they live. Women who are single mothers, older women who want to go back to school and women who plan to pursue a specific course of study may be eligible for a variety of additional award programs offered through private organizations.

There are scholarships available to women working towards undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees, making it easier for women at all stages of their life to get funding for school. Additionally, women who are pursuing a career in a traditionally male-dominated field like engineering may have some extra opportunities as organizations like the Society of Women Engineers want to encourage women to embrace the fields of science and math and give numerous and generous awards out each year to deserving women.

Scholarships for Women

• Jeanette Rankin Foundation Scholarship: Amounts vary and are awarded to a small number of women enrolled in college and who are 35 and over.
• Fresh Start Scholarship: $750 to $2,000 awarded each year to up to 10 female undergraduate students attending a Delaware college.
• National Society of Women Engineers Scholarships: $1,000 awarded each year to female undergraduate students majoring in computer science or engineering.
• CosmoGIRL! Of the Year Scholarship: $10,000 to a varied number of females aged 11-25 to be used for education.
• Possible Woman Foundation Scholarship: $2,000 to $4,000 to a woman over 25 looking to change or begin a new career.
• Girls Going Places Scholarship: $1,000 to $10,000 to 15 girls each year. Applicants must be 12-18 and have an adult who nominates them through an essay.
• Arrid Total Woman Scholarship: $3,000 to $10,000 to three female high school juniors and seniors.