As a student, you work hard throughout your school years to maintain good grades, participate in school and community activities, and achieve high scores on college admission exams. The end goal for many is to attend a college or university to advance their learning. However, many students are unable to attend the college of their choice due to the financial costs associated with earning a college degree.
With rising costs for tuition, room and board, and books, it’s easy to get discouraged towards the path to college. Thankfully, there is a great deal of funds available to students through scholarships from numerous organizations that can aid with the financial burden college can place on students and their families. Here at MathSP, we encourage students to pursue STEM college degrees for a number of reasons. First off, studying STEM = High Paying Jobs! This means that upon graduation from college with a STEM-focused degree, you are five times more likely than any other major to get a job after college. Secondly, careers in the STEM field have been growing at a consistent rate over the past few years. So much so that The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that STEM jobs will grow 17 percent by 2018, nearly double the growth for non-STEM fields. This is why we’ve compiled a list of scholarships available to high school students going to college to pursue a degree with a STEM focus. We encourage you to start looking into these early on to ensure you’re prepared to apply for these opportunities. Remember that the early bird catches the worm!
United Negro College Fund (UNCF) STEM Scholars Program
Website: http://UNCF.org/stemscholars
Application Deadline: February 3, 2016
The UNCF STEM Scholars Program is a ten-year initiative designed to identify and provide scholarship and academic support for 500 African American high school students who aspire to earn STEM degrees and pursue careers in STEM fields. 100 scholarships will be awarded to African American students. Tiered tuition scholarships offered are $2,500 per academic year for freshmen and sophomores, $5,000 for juniors and seniors, and an additional $5,000 for students whose academic programs require a fifth year. For additional details on the program and the scholarships available, visit https://scholarships.uncf.org/Program/Details/3c41df47-d142-4e21-8d79-e10bd880a347.
National Society of High School Scholars Foundation STEM Scholarships
Website: http://nshssfoundation.org/scholarships/stem-scholarships/
Applications Accepted: Early 2016
The NSHSS Foundation provides STEM scholarships for underrepresented groups in order to help reduce financial barriers for those with academic and leadership potential and the desire to pursue STEM careers. They provide a list of degrees within STEM disciplines that applicants must be pursuing in order to be eligible for the scholarship at http://nshssfoundation.org/scholarships/stem-scholarships/.
The Generation Google Scholarship
Website: https://www.google.com/edu/scholarships/the-generation-google-scholarship/
Applications Accepted: Early 2016
The Generation Google Scholarships aids to help aspiring computer scientists excel in technology and become leaders in the field. Students awarded this scholarship will receive $10,000 for the upcoming school year. A requirement of scholarship recipients is to attend Google’s Computer Science Institute (CSSI) in the summer of 2016. Recipients are selected based on the overall strength of their essays and application materials.
Buick Achievers Scholarship Program
Website: http://www.buickachievers.com/
Applications Accepted: January 2016
The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program rewards students who have succeeded both inside and outside of the classroom — and who may not be able to attend college without financial assistance. The program offers up to $25,000 per year to 50 first-time or existing college students, renewable for up to four years. For those students entering a qualified five-year engineering program, an additional year will be awarded to scholarship recipients. The majority of the scholarships will be awarded to students majoring in STEM disciplines. For a list of the eligible majors and more information on how to apply, visit the scholarship website at http://www.buickachievers.com/.
Great Lakes National Scholarship Program
Website: www.scholarsapply.org/greatlakes
Applications Accepted: Early 2016
The Great Lakes National Scholarship Program awards $2,500 scholarships to as many as 750 new and continuing students in qualifying STEM majors. The program is open to high school seniors or graduates who are United States citizens or permanent residents with plans to enroll in a full-time STEM field of study at an accredited non-profit public or private two-year or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school in the United States for the entire academic year. Additional information regarding this scholarship will be released closer to the opening date when applications can be submitted.
This is a small sampling of STEM scholarship opportunities available to high school students. A quick Internet search will unearth a large number of scholarships and grants that students can and should take advantage of. There’s no limit to the number of scholarships you can apply for. The more scholarships you apply to, the greater your chances of getting a few to help in easing the financial costs associated with college. Keep in mind that many scholarships require you to submit your PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores, and MathSP continues to provide the preparation you need to score your best. High test scores make you more desirable and competitive to colleges and universities as well as scholarship programs. Learn more about our Test Prep Coaching for ACT, PSAT & SAT college admission exams.