This snapshot pulls from CollegeWhale’s scholarship database and planning tools to show how many scholarships are available for STEM majors, the total dollars listed, and how early-career pay compares to typical college costs.
We currently list 21 active scholarships tied to STEM programs, sourced from professional groups, nonprofits, and private sponsors. New awards are added regularly.
The scholarships currently listed total approximately $118,000 in advertised award value. Many programs offer renewable or variable awards, so available funding may be higher over time.
Early-career median pay for STEM graduates is about $100,000 per year. We estimate a typical 4-year net college cost around $108,584.
That means first-year earnings are roughly 92% of total college cost, with an estimated payback period of 1.1 years (before taxes and living expenses).
The average cost of in-of-state college in the United States is $27,146 per student per year, including books, supplies, and daily living expenses. Out-of-state students pay $45,708 per year. Private, nonprofit university students pay $58,628.
According to data provided by educationdata.org as of 8/2025. Our ROI calculation is based on in-state average tuition. Median pay statistics are provided by bls.gov
The CollegeWhale Scholarship FastFind™ makes it easy to discover the best STEM scholarships — fast. Filter by award amount, deadline month, and estimated time to apply, then instantly download your personalized list. No sign-ups, no personal info, no spam — just real, verified scholarships.
The Betty Stevens Frecknall Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students pursuing degrees in computer science, information systems, or related technology fields. Established in honor of Betty Stevens Frecknall, a pioneering woman in computing, this scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate academic
Award: Varies Deadline: May Est. Application Time: Low (28 min)The LinkedIn Possibilities in Tech Scholarship is designed to support students with bold ambitions who are pursuing careers in technology. Created to expand access to the tech workforce, this scholarship goes beyond financial support by offering long-term guidance, skill development,
Award: $40,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: Low (10 min)The SENEDIA Scholarships are a set of awards offered by SENEDIA® (Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance) to support students pursuing education in fields that are integral to the defense, technology, engineering, and advanced manufacturing sectors. These scholarships recognize academic
Award: Varies Deadline: March Est. Application Time: Med (88 min)The Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarship was created to expand access to STEM education for students from underrepresented communities who demonstrate strong academic achievement, leadership, and a commitment to careers in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Named in honor
Award: $5,000 Deadline: April Est. Application Time: Med (48 min)The AFCEA Educational Foundation offers the STEM Major Scholarship to support full-time undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) majors who demonstrate strong academic performance, leadership potential and interest in fields such as cybersecurity, communications, intelligence or homeland
Award: $2,500 Deadline: May Est. Application Time: Med (48 min)The Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship is designed to increase the diversity of the U.S. academic faculty by supporting individuals pursuing research-based doctoral study (Ph.D. or Sc.D.) in eligible fields such as the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.
Award: $27,000 Deadline: December Est. Application Time: Med (48 min)The National Space Grant College and Fellowship Project—commonly known as NASA Space Grant—is a nationwide program established in 1989 to promote education, research, and public engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with a particular emphasis on aerospace and
Award: Varies Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)The Teradata H.O.P.E. in Tech Scholarship is designed to help students who have faced significant challenges and are pursuing degrees in STEM fields. By providing this financial support, Teradata seeks to foster a more inclusive and diverse technology industry, ensuring
Award: $2,500 Deadline: May Est. Application Time: Low (10 min)The Ed Dwight Scholarship, offered through the NAACP’s Inspire Initiatives, provides funding to outstanding students pursuing undergraduate degrees. Named in honor of Ed Dwight — the first Black astronaut candidate, trailblazer in the American space program, accomplished author, and sculptor
Award: $2,500 Deadline: April Est. Application Time: Low (13 min)The Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), provides merit-based scholarships to students pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees in approved STEM disciplines. In addition to full tuition coverage, recipients
Award: Varies Deadline: August Est. Application Time: Low (10 min)The $6,000 Scholarship for Black Women in STEM is a targeted educational award created to support Black women pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The scholarship addresses the persistent underrepresentation of Black women in STEM
Award: $6,000 Deadline: July Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)Name: OHM Advisors Diversity Scholarship Award Amount: $1,000 educational scholarship. The number of scholarships awarded varies based on the...
Award: $1,000 Deadline: November Est. Application Time: Med (58 min)This comprehensive collection of STEM scholarships and grants for the 2026 - 2027 school years, curated from our regularly updated databases. To explore all available scholarship matches, visit our Scholarship Database and Grant Database, which both offer easy-to-use filters, current deadlines, and detailed eligibility information to help you discover the best STEM scholarship opportunities.
STEM scholarships support students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — fields that drive innovation, scientific discovery, and economic growth. These awards help students reduce educational expenses while gaining access to advanced research opportunities, industry internships, and mentorship programs.
Offered by universities, federal agencies, corporations, and nonprofit organizations, STEM scholarships are designed to cultivate highly skilled professionals who can solve complex global challenges. Whether you’re studying cybersecurity, biochemistry, software engineering, aerospace, robotics, or applied mathematics, these scholarships make STEM education more affordable and accessible.
CollegeWhale Tip: The highest-dollar STEM scholarships are often tied to research or workforce commitments. If you’re open to federal lab internships or public service, your funding opportunities expand dramatically.
STEM scholarships are financial awards that support students earning degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics disciplines. These programs recognize students with strong quantitative ability, research potential, leadership skills, and demonstrated interest in technological advancement.
Many STEM scholarships go beyond tuition assistance and include research stipends, lab placements, professional development funding, and paid internships.
Federal STEM grants are awarded by agencies dedicated to scientific advancement and national security.
Federal awards often include research stipends and work experience at national laboratories.
These programs help close representation gaps in engineering, computer science, and advanced technology fields.
Many of these awards include mentoring, internships, and multi-year funding support.
These awards are especially valuable for students planning graduate research careers.
Highly competitive programs may require formal research proposals or faculty nomination.
The SMART Scholarship (Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation) provides:
This program is ideal for students pursuing engineering, cybersecurity, aerospace, or advanced defense technologies.
Many universities also provide institutional STEM scholarships specifically for international applicants.
CollegeWhale Tip: When applying for need-based STEM scholarships, itemize research and lab-related costs — not just tuition. Review committees understand that STEM degrees carry higher material expenses.
Applying across federal, corporate, diversity-focused, and institutional categories significantly increases your chances of receiving funding.
Data & content oversight by Lauren Nichols
Co-Founder of CollegeWhale, specializing in scholarship data systems and financial aid research.