With the average cost of college tuition topping $23,000 for public and $42,000 for private institutions,1 earning a scholarship or grant can significantly reduce the cost of obtaining a college education.
If you are a woman in college or going to college, these are some scholarship opportunities you can apply for:
- AAUW grants and scholarships
- CustomersFirst Academy Scholarship for Moms
- Deana Kendrick Foundation Scholarship
- Executive Women International Scholarships
- Federal Pell Grants
- Go Girl! Grant
- Jeanette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund
- National Hook-up of Black Women, Inc.
- P.E.O Program for Continuing Education Grant
- P.E.O. STAR Scholarship
- The Society of Women Engineers Scholarship
- The Soroptimist Live Your Dreams Award
- Veterans United Foundation Scholarship
- WID Scholar Program
- Women’s Independence Scholarship Program
- Worthy Women Scholarship
You may want to check out this post on 12 grants for single moms, including our $500 monthly Kickass Single Mom giveaway.
What scholarships are available to women?
The following 16 scholarships are available to women, with some having specific residency or other requirements:
AAUW grants and scholarships
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has a number of fellowships and grants for women pursuing higher education and supports community projects that empower women of all ages.
Awards range between $2,000 and $50,000. Deadlines and requirements vary based on the scholarship or grant.
CustomersFirst Academy Scholarship for Moms
The CustomersFirst Academy Scholarship for Moms is for mothers who attend or are planning to attend an accredited college or university in the U.S. or Canada.
The award is $1,000 and can be used for tuition, books, transportation, or child care.
Deana Kendrick Foundation Scholarship
The Deana Kendrick Foundation Scholarship is for women over 30 who are enrolled in or returning to an accredited college anywhere in the U.S.
Scholarship awards are up to $500 per semester or $125 per quarter or summer semester. Preference is given to students attending Foothill/DeAnza College or Ozarks Technical Community College.
Executive Women International Scholarships
Executive Women International (EWI) offers two scholarship programs: ASIST and EWISP:
- ASIST awards range from $2,000 to $10,000 and are for adults seeking higher education who need assistance due to financial, social, or physical challenges.
- EWISP is for high school seniors and provides more than $100,000 in scholarship money each year. Applicants must live near a participating EWI chapter.
Federal Pell Grants
Federal Pell Grants are available to students pursuing an undergraduate degree who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree.
Federal Pell Grant award amounts change yearly, and the amount you get will depend on the cost of attendance, your financial need, and your status as a full-time or part-time student. The maximum award amount for the 2023-24 Award Year is $7,395.
If your parent died while serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or as a public safety officer, you may be eligible for additional funds.
Go Girl! Grant
The Go Girl Grant! is provided by the Girlfriend Factor, an organization that aims to make sure higher education and occupational training are financially accessible to all women. To date, they have awarded more than $700,000 to 180 women.
Applicants for the Go Girl! Grant must be 25 years old or older and must live and go to school in the Coachella Valley in California. Women must demonstrate how this educational path can help them achieve a specific employment goal.
Jeanette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund
The Jeanette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund is an award-winning financial aid program bolstering income-challenged women aged 35+ seeking a degree or trade certificate. The program supports continuing education efforts with a focus on inclusion for all who identify as women. Open to U.S. residents and permanent citizens.
National Hook-up of Black Women, Inc.
National Hook-up of Black Women, Inc. offers two scholarships:
- Dr. Anita Young Boswell Scholarship – $1,000 awarded to African-American students who excel academically and demonstrate care for their community while continuing a postsecondary education
- Dr. W. A. Frazier “Sister-to-Sister” Scholarship – $1,000 to provide financial help mature African-American women who are pursuing a postsecondary education.
P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education Grant
The P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education Grant is offered by the Philanthropic Education Organization (P.E.O.) to provide need-based grants in the U.S. and Canada for up to $4,000.
This education grant is for women whose education has been interrupted who are now looking to continue their education to enhance job skills for employment and better their lives and their families' lives.
To be eligible for the Program for Continuing Education (P.C.E.) Grant, you must be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States or Canada and must be enrolled in an education program.
You must be in within 18 consecutive months of completing your education program. You must also have the sponsorship of a local chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.
P.E.O. STAR Scholarship
The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship is for young women in their last year of high school for tuition, fees, books, room and board or other qualified college expenses. The $2,500 scholarship is not renewable and can be paid directly to the recipient or the school of choice.
The Society of Women Engineers Scholarship
For those who identify as a woman and are interested in pursuing a degree in Engineering, the Society of Women Engineers Scholarship is valued from $1000 to $5000.
Interested applicants only have to submit one application, but they will be considered for all of the scholarships they are eligible for.
SWE also offers scholarships in India, provided that the students are enrolled in SWE India Affiliate School and Washington-accord accredited program.
The Soroptimist Live Your Dreams Award
The Soroptimist Live Your Dreams Award is for women who are breadwinners in their families. Soroptimist provides up to $16,000 for the Live Your Dreams Award finalist to use toward tuition fees, books, transportation, and child care.
The Live Your Dreams Award aims to help women continue their education to transform their lives and communities. Applications are open from August 1 to November 15 each year.
To apply, you must not have a graduate degree and must have a financial need. Recipients must be passionate about achieving their educational career and goals. You must be enrolled in or have been accepted to an undergraduate degree program or vocational training program.
Veterans United Foundation Scholarship
The Veterans United Foundation Scholarship awards scholarships to surviving spouses or children of deceased service members and veterans. If you are a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability, you may also be eligible. These needs-based scholarships are for those who are enrolled or enrolling in an accredited college or university.
WID Scholar Program
The WID Scholar Program is offered by the Women in Defense (WID) National Security Organization and is for women who are pursuing careers supporting U.S. national security.
Prospective applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate degree and must have attained junior status by the fall of 2024. Graduate students are also eligible.
Applicants must carry a GPA of at least 3.25, be a citizen of the United States, and must demonstrate interest in pursuing careers related to national security or defense.
Women’s Independence Scholarship Program
For female victims of intimate partner violence who have successfully separated from their partners, the Women's Independent Scholarship Program was founded in 1999 and has helped hundreds of women and their children.
Awards range from $500-$2,000 per semester or quarter for undergraduate students and $1,000 per semester or quarter for master’s degree students.
Worthy Women Scholarship
Every year, the jewelry buyback auction site Worthy.com gives away three scholarships — for $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000 — to women aged 30+ enrolled in school. Essay required. Learn more at Worthy Women Scholarship.
If you are a single mom, check out our list of scholarships for single moms and our advice for whether you should help your kids pay for college.
Need more help? Check out our other helpful and free resources for low-income women and families:
SOURCES
- “See the Average College Tuition in 2023-2024,” by Emma Kerr and Sarah Wood for U.S. News and World Report. Sept. 20, 2023. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/paying-for-college-infographic
