16 College Grants and Scholarships

The average college tuition at public universities is as high as $23,000, and the average college tuition at private universities is as high as $42,000.¹ Obtaining a scholarship or grant can significantly reduce the cost of obtaining a college education.

If you are a woman in college or about to go to college, here are some scholarship opportunities you can apply for:

1. AAUW Scholarships and Scholarships
2. Customer First Academy Mom Scholarship
3. Deanna Kendrick Foundation Scholarship
4. International Scholarship for Female Executives
5. Federal Pell Grant
6. Come on girl! Grant
7. Janet Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund
8. National Negro Women’s Network
9. PEO Continuing Education Grant Program
10. PEO Star Scholarship
11. Society of Women Engineers Scholarship
12. Working Women’s Welfare Association Realize Your Dream Award
13. Veterans United Foundation Scholarship
14. WID Scholars Program
15. Women’s Independent Scholarship Program
16. Worthy Scholarships for Women

You may want to check out this article about 12 grants for single moms, including our $500 monthly Kickass Single Mom Giveaway.

What scholarships are available to women?

The following 16 scholarships are available to women, some of which have specific residency or other requirements:

AAUW Scholarships and Scholarships

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers numerous scholarships and grants to women pursuing higher education and supports community programs that empower women of all ages.

Prizes range from $2,000 to $50,000. Deadlines and requirements vary depending on the scholarship or grant.

Customer First Academy Mom Scholarship

The CustomersFirst Academy Mom Scholarship is available to mothers who are attending or plan to attend an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada.

The award is $1,000 and can be used for tuition, books, transportation or child care.

Deanna Kendrick Foundation Scholarship

The Deanna Kendrick Foundation Scholarship is open to women over the age of 30 attending or returning to an accredited college anywhere in the United States

Scholarships are available in amounts up to $500 per semester and up to $125 per quarter or summer term. Preference will be given to students attending Foothill/DeAnza College or Ozarks Technical Community College.

International Scholarship for Female Executives

Executive Women International (EWI) offers two scholarship programs: ASIST and EWISP:

• ASIST awards range from $2,000 to $10,000 and are available to adults seeking higher education who need assistance due to financial, social or physical challenges.
• EWISP is open to high school students and provides more than $100,000 in scholarships annually. Applicants must live near a participating EWI chapter.

Federal Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grants are available to students pursuing an undergraduate degree who demonstrate exceptional financial need but have not yet earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree.

Federal Pell Grant amounts change each year, and the amount you receive will depend on the cost of attendance, your financial need, and your status as a full-time or part-time student. The maximum award amount for the 2023-24 award year is $7,395.

If your parent died while on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or serving as a public safety officer, you may be eligible for additional funds.

Come on girl! Grant

Go Girl Grant! Provided by Girlfriend Factor, an organization that ensures all women have financial access to higher education and vocational training. To date, they have awarded more than $700,000 to 180 women.

Applicants to Go Girl! Grant must be at least 25 years old and must live and attend school in Coachella Valley, California. Women must demonstrate how this educational pathway helps them achieve specific employment goals.

Janet Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund

The Jeanette Rankin Scholarship Fund for Women is an award-winning financial aid program designed to support income-challenged women over 35 seeking a degree or industry certificate. The program supports continuing education efforts focused on inclusion of all women. Open to U.S. residents and permanent citizens.

National Negro Women’s Network

The National Black Women’s Hookup Corporation offers two scholarships:

• Anita Young Boswell PhD Scholarship – Awarded $1,000 to an African American student who excels academically and demonstrates care for the community while pursuing higher education
• Dr. WA Frazier “Sister to Sister” Scholarship – $1,000 to provide financial assistance to mature African American women pursuing higher education.

PEO Continuing Education Grant Program

The PEO Continuing Education Grant Program, offered by the Philanthropic Education Organization (PEO), provides need-based grants of up to $4,000 in the United States and Canada.

This education grant is provided to women whose education has been interrupted and who now wish to continue their education to improve their employability skills and improve their lives and the lives of their families.

To be eligible for a Program of Continuing Education (PCE) grant, you must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States or Canada and must be enrolled in an education program.

You must complete your education program within 18 consecutive months. You must also be sponsored by a local chapter of the PEO Sorority.

PEO Star Scholarship

The PEO STAR Scholarship is available to young women in their final year of high school to pay for tuition, fees, books, room and board, or other qualified college expenses. The $2,500 scholarship is non-renewable and may be paid directly to the winner or school of choice.

Society of Women Engineers Scholarship

For those who identify as women and are interested in pursuing an engineering degree, Society of Women Engineers scholarships range in value from $1,000 to $5,000.

Interested applicants only need to submit one application, but they will be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible.

SWE also offers scholarships in India, provided the students study in SWE-affiliated schools in India and courses recognized by the Washington Accord.

Working Women’s Welfare Association Realize Your Dream Award

The Working Women’s Mutual Aid Association’s “Live Your Dream” award is given to women who support their families. Working Women’s Welfare Club provides up to $16,000 in funding to Fulfill the Dream Award finalists to cover tuition, books, transportation and child care.

The Live Your Dream Award helps women continue their education to transform their lives and communities. Applications are open from August 1st to November 15th every year.

To apply, you must not have a graduate degree and must have financial need. Recipients must be passionate about achieving their educational careers and goals. You must be registered or accepted into an undergraduate degree program or vocational training course.

Veterans United Foundation Scholarship

The United Veterans Fund Scholarship awards scholarships to the surviving spouses or children of deceased service members and veterans. You may also qualify if you are a veteran who is 100% service-disabled. These need-based scholarships are available to those who are attending or currently attending an accredited college or university.

WID Scholars Program

The WID Scholars program, offered by the Women in Defense (WID) national security organization, is open to women pursuing careers in support of U.S. national security.

Potential applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate degree and must have achieved entry-level status by fall 2024.

Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.25, be a U.S. citizen, and must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career related to national security or defense.

Women’s Independent Scholarship Program

For female victims of intimate partner violence who have successfully separated from their partners, the Women’s Independence Scholarship Program was established in 1999 and has helped hundreds of women and their children.

Awards range from $500 to $2,000 per semester or quarter for undergraduate students and $1,000 per semester or quarter for master’s degree students.

Worthy Scholarships for Women

Jewelry buyback auction site Worthy.com awards three scholarships of $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000 each year to women over 30 attending school. Essay required. Learn more in Valuable Women’s Scholarship .

If you’re a single mom, check out our list of scholarships for single moms and our advice on whether you should help pay for college for your child.

Need more help? Check out our other helpful and free resources for low-income women and families: