Where are the Best Physics Scholarships?

Physics is one of those branches of science that doesn’t draw massive numbers of students, and only those hard-nosed science scholars have the mettle to continue into graduate and post-graduate Physics studies.

Does STEM scholarships mean anything to you? Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math—that’s the exploded acronym. STEM scholarships have proven successful as incentive tools to increase the number of under-represented students in these fields. Those students that benefit the most are African American, Hispanic, and Native American. In some instances women are included as “minority students.

Physics students have abundant scholarship chances at every level of the educational pipeline.

Minority Scholarships for Physics Students

Check out these scholarships specifically tailored to minority students:

  • The U.S. Department of Energy sponsors the Minority Educational Student Partnership Program—a series of paid summer internships aimed at giving minority physics students an advantage when it comes to career strategy. Qualified students may be undergraduate and graduate students.
  • Minority Physics students interested in pursuing careers in NOAA, may qualify for the federally-funded Educational Partnership Program. Undergraduate and Graduate scholarship opportunities are available.
  • The very popular and competitive Gates Millennium Scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to minority students studying a range of math and science subjects.
  • The American Indian Science and Engineering Society offers special scholarships specifically for Native American students studying in technology, the sciences, math or engineering.

Government Scholarships for Physics Students

Diversifying the sciences, math, and engineering fields is a primary mission of federal and state governments. Besides the couple popular federal scholarships listed below you are advised to check with your state higher education office for any current scholarship opps for science students.

  • NASA maintains a massive list of funding opportunities for students in various related fields of study, including Physics. You’ll discover paid internships, scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students.
  • Goldwater Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students enrolled in science and math degree programs. The aim is to increase the number of students pursuing these career pathways.

Private and Professional Sources

Private sources, specifically the professional associations you can find, are powerful scholarship generators. Funding may vary, but any amount of aid is worth it. Professional organizations usually require you to be student members to qualify.

  • The American Physical Society invites undergraduate students or high school seniors who are African American, Hispanic or Native American to apply for scholarship funds usable for their college expenses.
  • Future Physics teachers, check out the scholarships from the American Association of Physics Teachers. Chance is to compete for $2,000 scholarships for undergrad student physics teachers.