According to the Education Data Initiative, the national student loan debt balance climbed to 1.76 trillion dollars in 2022. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of May 2021, the median salary for all computer science and information technology professions is $97,430. However, computer science majors can still end up in debt. Enter computer science scholarships, which make it easier for learners of all backgrounds, races, and genders to join this highly-qualified and paid field. Read on for our list of the top general, identity-based, and women’s computer science scholarships, along with how they can help you. SEE: Scholarships for minorities in STEM
(ISC)^2 Foundation Undergraduate Cybersecurity ScholarshipBetty Stevens Frecknall ScholarshipGoogle Student Veterans of America ScholarshipIEEE Presidents’ ScholarshipLockheed Martin STEM ScholarshipMicrosoft Tuition ScholarshipNSHSS STEM ScholarshipNational Society of High School Scholars STEAM ScholarshipPalantir Future ScholarshipRichard E. Merwin Student ScholarshipSMART Scholarship For ServiceThe Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation ScholarshipsUPE/Association for Computing Machinery Scholarship AwardUpsilon Pi Epsilon Scholarship AwardWayne V. Black Memorial Scholarship Award
AFCEA Undergraduate Diversity ScholarshipAmerican Indian Science and Engineering Society Intel ScholarshipBlacks at Microsoft ScholarshipEPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship ProgramESA Foundation ScholarshipGMiS STEM ScholarshipsGates Millennium Scholars ProgramGeneration Google Scholarship (North America)Hispanic Scholarship FundNACME Minority Scholarships and Engineering Scholarships for MinoritiesPalantir Future ScholarshipRalph W. Shrader Graduate Diversity ScholarshipThe Accenture American Indian Scholarship Fund
READ THIS: Scholarships for women in STEM
Adobe Research Women-in-Technology ScholarshipBuildium Women in Technology ScholarshipGeneration Google Scholarship for Women in GamingHoneywell ScholarshipMichigan Council of Women in Technology Undergraduate ScholarshipPalantir Scholarship for Women in EngineeringSWE Scholarship ProgramAWC Scholarship Fund for Women in ComputingWomen Techmakers Scholars ProgramWomen in Defense Scholarship
In conclusion
Finding viable computer science scholarships can seem intimidating at first, but taking things step-by-step helps. If you need help applying for scholarships, you can reach out to guidance counselors, admissions officers, and university recruiters to get suggestions.
Minimum GPA: Students typically need to maintain a baseline GPA, e.g. 3.0, to qualify for scholarship money.US Citizen or permanent resident: Most scholarships require candidates to be US citizens or permanent residents.Majoring in computer science: Computer science scholarships only accept computer science or IT-related majors.
Personal essayTwo or more letters of recommendation from professors or employersHigh school or college academic transcriptsApplication fee
1. Start early and stay ahead of deadlines
Remember to keep ahead of deadlines and manage your time carefully. The different scholarship application elements, such as writing essays, getting approval for letters of recommendation, and collecting documentation, take up time. Use time strategically. Don’t let things come down to the wire.
2. Stay organized
Keep organized. Don’t forget to use useful tools such as spreadsheets, planners, and calendars when keeping abreast of various application deadlines or things you need to include. A spreadsheet, for example, can sort information instantly and present it in a clearer format.
3. Choose which scholarships to prioritize
Prioritize scholarships based on sum amount and deadline. You want to spend all your available time up to application deadlines crafting a perfect application for the largest award possible. You can put smaller scholarships on the back burner.
4. Get feedback
Get feedback for your application, especially your personal statement/essay. A second pair of eyes can help clean up grammar, mechanics, and concision in your application whether or not writing is your strong suit. Extra feedback will always offer new tips for refining your application. As a final resort, students can access loans. Keep in mind that all loans – even subsidized ones – need to be repaid, unlike scholarships. To recap, alternate financial aid options include:
Federal grantsState grantsFellowshipsLoansWork-study programsMilitary aid
Though scholarship committees cannot realistically track how students spend scholarship money, it pays to follow these guidelines. Spending money irresponsibly on non-academic items such as new clothes can add up, and cause your scholarship funds to quickly run out. Observe scholarship guidelines to stay self-accountable. Remember that filling out the FAFSA can make applying to scholarships, grants, and other forms of aid easier and is often required. The number of online colleges that accept the FAFSA has increased in recent years, also.
