With technology becoming an ever larger part of our everyday lives, the number of electrical, mechanical and computer engineers is on the rise. Engineering overall is a highly secure field to enter and with all the opportunities for advancement its no wonder students want to enroll in engineering programs. While some engineering programs can be quite costly students can help reduce their expenses through college grants.

Engineering grants are awarded both on the basis of merit and to students who can demonstrate a true financial need. In both cases students will likely need to meet a minimum GPA in order to qualify. Those at the top of their class may find it much easier to win funding either for research or for undergraduate study. Some grants are given out to specific divisions of engineering and students can take advantage of their major to pursue additional grant funding.

There are some national programs available like the National SMRT program which gives out grants to students in the math, science and technology fields. Students must demonstrate financial need to be eligible for these awards.

Because engineering has been a field that has only in recent years experienced a growth in diversity, many programs are in place to draw in women and those from minority groups to engineering programs. Major corporations like IBM and Google offer scholarships to students from these groups to help encourage them to pursue rewarding careers in engineering and computer programming.

Students will find that there are also numerous grant programs offered through the military, and from private organizations like the American Society for Engineering Education. Students both at the graduate and undergraduate level will be able to find funding for all kinds of study.

Engineering College Grant

• NASA Nebraska Space Grant Consortium: $250 to $750 awarded each year to 5 undergraduate and graduate students attending a Nebraska college.
• American Society for Engineering Education: Varied grant awards offered to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing an engineering degree.
• American Society of Civil Engineers National Fellowships: Varied grant programs available to students in civil engineering fields of study.
• Biomedical Engineering Net Grants: Varied amounts available to undergraduate or graduate students researching biomedical issues.