How and Where to Find the Best Engineering Scholarships

Engineering is a big, brawny field of study encompassing dozens of distinctive niche specialties. Samples of popular engineering degrees include:

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Petroleum Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Materials Engineering
  • Plastics Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Construction Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Geospatial Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

Guess what? The fact that the field of engineering has so many specializations only sweetens the scholarship pot.

General Engineering Scholarship Programs and Sources

“Engineering” as a general subject header is as good a place to start as any. The real advantage in snagging an Engineering scholarship is in the hands of minority students and women. Why? African American, Hispanic, and Native American students, as well as women, have traditionally been way under-represented in ANY field of engineering. As such the scholarships opportunities are abundant. Particularly fertile are sources with a stake in diversifying- business and industry sources, colleges and universities, and professional organizations and societies.

Best Sources for Engineering Scholarships:

  • Government sources
  • Colleges and universities
  • Private business and industry
  • Professional associations and societies

Engineering is one of the so-called STEM subjects (Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math) generally considered to be those most needful of diversifying across the board. Scholarships are designed to offer incentive and encouragement to minorities and women who have formerly by-passed these male-dominated fields. Big demands are being forced on business and industry and the time to diversify their employee workforces is now.

Federal Scholarships

At the government level these scholarships are quite numerous and can be lucrative. **Remember, to qualify for nearly any type of federal or state grant, loan OR scholarship you must fill out and file the FAFSA.

  • Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship is a federally funded program that provides scholarship awards to academically outstanding students pursuing a course of study in math, science or engineering.
  • NASA, Department of Agriculture, NOAA, EPA, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Energy, all offer annual internship and scholarship opportunities to students in a variety of majors and in various degree levels. Depending upon your engineering specialty you could qualify for a scholarship or internship experience with one of these agencies.

Private Business and Industry Scholarship Awards Sources

Big business and industry must diversify ranks to remain competitive in a global business world. You better bet that scholarships are lucrative from some of the major industries in this country, including those for engineering students:

  • The Google Anita Borg Scholarships are aimed at helping female students pursuing IT-related degrees, including some computer engineering majors. First prize is $10,000. Other awards are $1,000 each.
  • The Gates Millennium Scholarship Program is one of the most popular and competitive programs available to minority undergrads pursuing engineering, math and science degrees. Eligible candidates must also be nominated for a prize, have a 3.3 GPA and be financially eligible to receive the Pell Grant.
  • National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) offers annual scholarships.

Professional Associations

Almost every industry has professional associations and societies to which both working professionals and students belong. Engineering organizations are abundant. Best news about these sources is they usually provide a number of scholarship programs for members. These might take the form of travel or research scholarships, some aimed at undergraduates, graduates or for working mid-career engineering pros. Here are a few examples of what you’ll find:

  • The Society for Women Engineers posts a well-known annual scholarship available for female students pursuing a degree in the field.
  • SAE International, “mobility engineering” association, sponsors a handful of valuable annual scholarships for student members in engineering sciences.

Example of a minority association offering student scholarships:

  • The American Indian Science and Engineering Society administers 4 distinct scholarships to Native American, Alaskan or Hawaiian Native students who are committed to studying engineering, computer engineering, or math and science. Awards vary.

Get more information on aerospace engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and petroleum engineering.