Scholarships for Women
25 scholarships · Updated November 2026
These scholarships are reserved for women, from high school seniors to graduate students and mothers returning to school. Many target fields where women are underrepresented, including engineering, computing, accounting, aviation and the skilled trades.
Women's organizations like P.E.O., Soroptimist and Zonta have funded women's education for decades, and professional groups add field-specific awards. If you're in a STEM or trades program, look at those sponsors' student memberships, which can open more awards. Our breakdown of how to find college scholarships covers more places to look.
Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program
Offered by Distinguished Young Women (America's Junior Miss)
SPIE Optics and Photonics Scholarships
Offered by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics
Automotive Women's Alliance Foundation Scholarship
Offered by Automotive Women's Alliance Foundation
STLE Booser, McCoy, and Klaus Tribology Scholarships
Offered by Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE)
GFWC of Massachusetts Woman Returning to School Scholarship
Offered by General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts
ARFORA Dr. Eleanor Bujea Undergraduate Scholarship for Women
Offered by Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (A.R.F.O.R.A.)
Thompson Scholarship for Women in Safety
Offered by ASSP Foundation (American Society of Safety Professionals)
GFWC of Massachusetts Memorial Education Fellowship
Offered by General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts
Scholarships for Women By The Numbers
- Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program
Based on the 25 listings above. Typical award is the median top amount each sponsor publishes.
Who Qualifies For Scholarships For Women?
Most scholarships for women require that you identify as a woman and attend, or plan to attend, an accredited school. Many add a field of study, a minimum GPA or membership in the sponsoring group. Field-based awards rarely ask about income, while programs for mothers and returning students often weigh financial need.
Scholarships For Women In STEM And Aviation
Engineering, computing and aviation have the deepest benches. The Society of Women Engineers awards scholarships to women in engineering and computing, the Zonta Amelia Earhart Fellowship funds women earning doctorates in aerospace fields, and the Ninety-Nines fund women pilots. Women in Aviation International also awards dozens of named scholarships each year, and our STEM scholarships page lists more awards open to women.
Scholarships For Mothers And Women Returning To School
The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award supports women who are the main financial support for their families, and the P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education helps women whose education was interrupted. The Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund serves low-income women 35 and older, and the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation supports low-income mothers. Our adult learners page lists more awards for nontraditional students.
Scholarships For Women Of Color
Programs for students of color, like the ALA Spectrum Scholarship in library science, are open to women, and professional groups such as the National Association of Black Journalists fund women entering their fields. Our scholarships for Black students page lists more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Scholarships For Women Returning To School?
Yes. The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award supports women who are the main financial support for their families, and the P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education funds women whose education was interrupted.
Are There Scholarships For Women In STEM?
Yes. The Society of Women Engineers awards scholarships to women in engineering and computing, and the Zonta Amelia Earhart Fellowship funds women earning doctorates in aerospace fields.
Are Scholarships For Women Legit?
The ones on this page are, and each comes from the sponsor's own site. A real scholarship never charges a fee to apply or to release an award, so walk away from any offer that asks for payment.
Are There Scholarships For Women Over 30, 40 Or 50?
Yes. Most scholarships have no age limit, and some target older women, including the Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund for low-income women 35 and older and the P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education.
What Is The Difference Between Scholarships For Women And Grants For Single Moms?
Both are free money you don't repay. Grants for single moms usually means federal Pell Grants and state grants based on financial need, which you get by filing the FAFSA. Scholarships for women come from private groups and stack on top of that aid.
Get The Latest In Paying For College News
New scholarships, financial aid changes, and money tips for students — free from The College Investor.
More Ways To Browse
Why Trust The College Investor
The College Investor has helped millions of readers navigate paying for college and student loans since 2009. Every scholarship in our database is individually reviewed by our team before it goes live, and re-checked regularly so deadlines and links stay current.
Our Scholarship Standards
A listing here means our team checked that the award is real, currently active, and actually pays out. We won't list a scholarship that:
- Charges any kind of fee to apply
- Makes you join a paid membership, or sign up for an app or service, just to be eligible
- Has a privacy policy that would let the sponsor sell or misuse your information
- Collects essays, ideas, or contact details mainly to feed the sponsor's marketing
- Can't show a winner from the past 12 months, or offers no way to reach the sponsor
One nuance: established companies and nonprofits that run applications through their own systems may still be listed, even though creating an account there is part of applying.
Spot a listing that doesn't meet this bar? Email [email protected] and we'll review it. You can also read our editorial guidelines.