College Scholarships & Resources for Women
A great career often starts with a college degree. But no matter what type of degree you choose, college is a major investment. Scholarships are a great way to cut down on the cost of school, and fortunately, many organizations are willing to help women pay for their college educations via scholarships. This guide looks at the variety of scholarships available to women and offers advice on how to land some of the top scholarships for students in medical and health programs.
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Scholarships and Grants for Women Students
Grants, scholarships, and loans are common types of financial aid, but loans come with many drawbacks. When you borrow money for school through student loans, you not only have to pay back the loans, but also have to pay interest. Grants and scholarships, on the other hand, are the type of aid you don’t have to pay back.
While most grants are income-based, scholarships are based on factors such as academic merit. Some scholarships are also reserved for certain demographics, like those specifically for women. Here we’ll explore several scholarships for women as well as key tips to help you land them.
American Association of University Women Career Development Grants
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers Career Development Grants to support specifically for women who are trying to advance their careers, change careers, or re-enter the workforce. The scholarships focus on women pursuing degrees in education, health and medicine, and STEM fields.
Amount: $8,000-$20,000
Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship
The Army Women’s Foundation offers a Legacy Scholarship Program for current and former women soldiers and their descendants. Recipients of this scholarship can receive assistance for certificate programs, community college courses, undergraduate degrees, and graduate degrees. Additionally, the LTC Nancy Porr Scholarship is specifically for eligible recipients pursuing a nursing ADN, BSN, or graduate level degree in healthcare. The scholarship is granted based on numerous factors including academic potential and financial need.
Amount: $2,000-$5,000
Leslie Andree Hanna Medical
The Leslie Andree Hanna Medical scholarship is specifically for women who are attending medical or osteopathic school. The recipient of this award is chosen based on their academic merit, and they must have a minimum GPA of 3.25 to qualify. This award is presented annually and provides a one-time scholarship to an aspiring female doctor.
Amount: $5,000
Jeannette Rankin National Scholar Grant
The Jeannette Rankin Foundation provides female students ages 35 and older with the opportunity to receive the Jeannette Rankin National Scholar Grant. Women who have financial needs can apply for up to $2,500 to help pay for their vocational education, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree.
Amount: $2,500
Curry Award for Girls and Young Women
The Curry Award for Girls and Young Women is one of the many scholarships offered by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. This scholarship is for women between the ages of 18 and 26 who live in San Mateo County, CA, and have overcome many obstacles to get an education.
Amount: $1,000
Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Support Award
The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation offers Education Support Awards for young mothers who need assistance paying for school. This foundation awards scholarships each year to five low-income women to help them pursue a vocational, associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in their chosen field.
Amount: $5,000
P.E.O. Star Scholarship
The Philanthropic Educational Organization, or P.E.O., has a mission of motivating, educating, and celebrating women. They offer the Star Scholarship for women in their senior year of high school to help them attend college. To win this award, students must be recommended by someone in a P.E.O. chapter.
Amount: $2,500
Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award
Soroptmist provides women with access to the education they need to overcome economic hardship. The core values of this organization include gender equality, empowerment, education, and diversity. The Live Your Dream Awards are for women who provide the primary financial support for their family and have a demonstrated financial need.
Amount: $1,000-$16,000
Women’s Independence Scholarship Program
The purpose of the Women’s Independence Scholarship Program is to stop the cycle of partner abuse by financial empowerment through access to education. Women who are survivors of intimate partner abuse and are physically separated from their abuser are eligible to apply for funding to help pay for tuition, textbooks, and other fees.
Amount: $500-$2,000
Executive Women International Scholarship Program
Executive Women International exists to change the roles of women in business and awards over $200,000 in scholarships each year. Women with a demonstrated financial need who live within the boundaries of an EWI chapter are qualified to apply. Students are chosen based on their academic achievements, leadership qualities, and extracurricular activities.
Amount: $2,000-$10,000
The Keys to Landing Your Scholarship
Scholarships are fantastic sources of financial aid because they don’t have to be paid back. It’s also emotionally rewarding to get one, as it shows that someone (or a whole committee) believes in you. Landing a scholarship, however, takes a bit of diligence and commitment on your part. Here are some tips for setting yourself up for success.
Key #1: Get your application in early.
The earlier you send in your application, the more likely you’ll get a discerning eye on it. Why? As the deadline nears, the avalanche of applications pours in. If the committee looks at entries as they come in and yours is early, your entry may garner more assessment time. If it comes in with the near-deadline avalanche, weary recipients may spend less time with it—which could negatively impact your chances.
Key #2: Apply for local scholarships.
Apply to all the scholarships you are qualified for, but don’t discount smaller scholarships offered by local organizations and businesses. Those smaller dollar amounts can add up fast. Community-based scholarships, such as the ones offered by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, also have less competition.
Key #3: Employ an extra set of eyes—or two.
Having someone else look over your application can help you catch errors you might not see on your own. This is especially true with essays and personal statements, where it’s easy to miss minor mistakes. Frequent errors in your application could impact your chance of getting a scholarship.
Key #4: Create a great essay that reflects who you are.
Almost everything else about the application comprises numbers—e.g., grade point average, scores, even financial info. The essay is where you can break free of the pack and stand out as an excellent candidate. Focus on writing about who you are and what you can bring to the table.
Key #5: Ask for letters of recommendation early.
Colleagues, former professors, community leaders, and others who might agree to write you a recommendation letters are likely very busy people. Ask for letters of recommendation well before you even start your application and remind your contacts of the deadline. It’s better to receive them too early than too late.
Essential Funding Resources for Women Students
The process of securing funding for school may include finding scholarships, grants, or other financial aid resources. However, there’s more to being financially prepared than locating funding. To help you keep your finances on track, we’ve provided a list of budgeting, saving, and other financial resources you can use for college.
Budgey
Budgey is an app that allows you to create simple budgets so you can stay on track to pay for school. It’s perfect for college students because all you have to do is name your desired budget, choose spending categories, and input when you get paid.
Clever Girl Finance
Clever Girl Finance for women who want to achieve financial freedom. They offer many free resources for women regarding managing their money and becoming debt-free.
The College Financial Lady
The College Financial Lady’s blog and podcast include numerous resources on paying for college expenses and saving money while in college. The host also offers a free masterclass on planning for an affordable college education.
Discounts & Freebies Every Nursing Student Should Know
Securing funding for college isn’t just about paying tuition. It’s also about having the money to pay for living expenses. If you’re a current nursing student, EduMed’s guide to discounts and freebies for nursing students can help you save.
The Essential FAFSA Checklist for College Students
If you think you might qualify for financial aid, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This checklist from EduMed walks you through each step you need to take before applying.
Credit Karma
Credit Karma is another budget app that’s perfect for college students. This app allows students to track their monthly spending and income, receive bill reminders, and monitor their credit score.
The Online College Student’s Guide to Financial Aid
Finding ways to pay for college can be overwhelming, but EduMed’s guide to financial aid for online college students can help you explore your options. This guide provides a wealth of advice and knowledge regarding financial aid resources and online programs.
Women’s Institute for Financial Education
The Women’s Institute for Financial Education provides financial education and resources that may benefit women in college. These resources include a financial calculator, cost of living calculator, and information on budgeting.
