Computer Science Scholarships

Are you curious about the workings of your computer software? Dream about coding your own game one day? Or maybe you already know some programming languages and want to learn even more. Either way a degree in computer science will set you up for success no matter the career you choose. Computer science is quite a broad field and covers a variety of subjects, but it’s probably one of the most important and rapidly growing fields in the world. If you think about how many things require some form of computation, you can see why programmers are so in demand. Like engineers, computer scientists are often at the forefront of innovation – they’re always looking for ways to improve and create something new. Even in industries that you wouldn’t imagine require computers, such as agriculture, there is space for programmers.

Computer science involves a lot of mathematics but it’s not just a branch of mathematics. Computer science is the study of computers and computational systems. It involves the development of algorithms, software applications, computer systems, and networks. Computer scientists use their knowledge and skills to solve complex problems in areas such as robotics, machine learning, information security, and data science.

A positive for students pursuing a career in computer science is that the job market is expected to have one of the highest growths. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the computer industry are expected to grow by 10% over the next 10 years, which is higher than the average. In 2022, there were 449,400 positions and it’s projected that by 2032 there will be 43,800 new jobs. Not only are there a multitude of employment opportunities, but they’re well-paying opportunities too. The mean wage for 2022 was $100,530, compared to the overall average of $46,310 for all occupations. Some states are more popular for computer science careers and also pay higher salaries. So if you’re interested in pursuing a career, the best places for you are California, Texas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia, with California and D.C. having the highest salaries at $126,000.

The entry-level qualification for a career in a computer science field is a bachelor’s degree. With the rise in the use of technology and the growth of programming, it will be difficult to be employed without formal education. Most positions don’t require graduate qualifications, but if you want to move into higher positions you may want to get your master’s degree.

So, you’ve decided what you want to study but the big question of how you’ll pay for it all looms. Getting a degree is synonymous with student debt – the cost of college is so high that the current total student loan debt in the U.S. is $1.766 trillion. This isn’t too surprising as the cost of college has risen dramatically in the last decade – tuition rose from $10,179 in 2011-12 to $14,307 for the 2021-22 year. So how do you avoid student debt? Well, there are a few ways to lower your costs, such as studying in-state at a public institution, but the most popular way is to apply for grants and scholarships. Scholarships are a great option because they do not have to be repaid at the end of your education. You can also apply for multiple scholarships to cover more of your education costs.

What is a Computer Science Scholarship

Scholarships for computer science are very popular as it’s a growing and expanding industry. Organizations and businesses want to nurture and encourage education in these fields so that there is a diverse and large pool of graduates ready to enter the workforce. Many scholarship sponsors understand the financial burden of getting a degree and have created scholarships to assist those who need aid or provide opportunities to those who maybe wouldn’t have one without the scholarship. No matter your need, there’s bound to be a scholarship or two that can help you achieve your educational goals and set you on the right path to being a great programmer.

Like other STEM subjects, computer science is a competitive world. There are so many opportunities, but there are more people applying for them. Basically, the supply is a bit higher than the demand. But don’t let that discourage you. Here’s how to make the most out of all those scholarship opportunities.

How to Apply

Applying for scholarships is an easy process. And Schoalroo has made it easier by gathering computer science scholarships for you. You can save all the scholarships that you are eligible for by creating a Scholaroo account and also track your saved scholarships.

Here are the basics of applying for scholarships:

1. Check eligibility: You don’t want to waste your time applying for a scholarship that you’re not even eligible for. So make sure that you’ve read through all the criteria before you start the application. If you’re unsure about anything don’t hesitate to reach out to the organization for clarification.
2. Read and understand the application requirements: Some applications are straightforward, and all you have to do is fill out a form, but most require a bit more than that. You’ll need to submit several documents. These are the usual requirements:
   – Scholarship Application Form: Scholarship application is unique for each scholarship and is a must to be considered as an applicant. It usually asks for general information about the application like their name, date of birth, education, address, and so on. It may also contain a few short answer questions relevant to the scholarship.
   – Essay: Many scholarships require an essay along with the application form. Applicants can make themselves stand out via their essays. Therefore, you should take proper time and put in good effort when writing one. It’s important that your essay is original, and represents your personality and opinions.
   – Letters of Recommendation: A letter of recommendation can be written by your personal or professional references. Some scholarships specifically demand letters of recommendation from teachers. The letter contains reasons for why the applicant is a deserving one. It assesses the applicant’s qualities, characteristics, strengths, capabilities, and academic performance, which kind of acts as a character certificate when applying for scholarships.
   – Grade Transcripts: Many scholarships whether they are merit-based or need-based usually require school transcripts that show the academic performance of an individual. You can get a copy through your school’s website or the office and attach it to the application form.
   – Resume: A resume is where an applicant can highlight their skills and accomplishments. It does not have to have work experiences only but can also include mentions of any societies or extra-curricular activities that you have been a part of, and any special courses that you have completed that equipped you with a certain skill.
   – Financial Information: Many need-based scholarships may ask you to provide financial information that may include information about your family income and any financial aid that you may have received.
   – FAFSA: Some scholarships require applicants to apply for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for them. These are mainly need-based scholarships.
   – Portfolio or Video Submission: There are a few scholarships that ask for video or portfolio submissions. This usually applies to art major scholarships as videos and portfolios are how an applicant can show their skills. Some scholarships do not have other requirements and are like a contest where participants have to make a project and provide a picture or video of it to enter and win.
   – School Verification: A school verification letter verifies which school the candidate is attending or has attended, the dates when they started and finished a program, and also includes a list of any certificates or degrees earned.
   – Standardized Test Scores: Occasionally, you may need to provide a copy of your SAT or ACT scores. These are standardized test scores that most colleges and universities require for admission.
3. Get organized: Once you’ve saved your scholarships, note their submission deadlines. Order them by those dates so you don’t miss any and start working on the ones due first. Timing is very important and the earlier you apply the better it is. It is always wise to start early too because it may take time to complete all the submission requirements like writing essays and getting letters of recommendation in hand. Time should, especially, be invested in scholarships that require an essay as it takes a lot of time, planning, and effort to write a good one.
4. Proofread and have it reviewed: Please don’t submit the first thing you wrote down. Take your time to proofread and edit your work. Remember that you want to put your best foot forward – this will be the scholarship committee’s first impression of you, so make it a good one. It’s also a good idea to have one or two people read your work and give you feedback – ask a teacher, parent, sibling, or trusted friend.
5. Finally, time to submit: Now that your application is ready, it’s time to submit. Make sure all documents are sized and formatted correctly according to the guidelines provided by the scholarship sponsors. Ensure that all your donuts are ready, legible, and correct. Luckily most applications are completed online so you don’t need a dozen copies of everything. Keep track of your application status and remember that it takes time before you’ll hear back. If it’s been too long, you can reach out and enquire with the organization.

Tips for Applying

1. Develop your network: Computer science scholarship committees are often looking for applicants who have an established network with people in the industry, so it’s important to start building connections early on. Attend networking events, reach out to professionals in the field, and join organizations that support students in computer science.

2. Work on projects and/or internships: Having a portfolio of projects and/or internship experiences can help you stand out to scholarship selection committees. Working on an open-source project or volunteering your coding skills to helpful causes can demonstrate your commitment to the field.

3. Keep up with advances in the computer science industry: Staying knowledgeable on new trends and developments in the field is key to scholarship success. Keeping track of industry news, attending conferences and webinars, and engaging with thought leaders in computer science will help you stay on top of your game.

There are many fields where women are underrepresented, these are largely STEM fields. Often these majors were not considered suitable for women and are known to be male-dominated fields. Computer science is one of these fields. Comp sci is a field that needs more diversity, especially as it becomes one of the most important industries. Women have been underrepresented in the field of computer science for far too long. Despite making up half of the population, women account for only a small fraction of computer science graduates and professionals in the tech industry.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 22,953 women earned bachelor’s degrees in computer and information sciences. This makes up only 21.9% of the total degrees conferred – there were 81,921 male graduates. And while the number of women in computer science has been increasing every year, the difference between the number of male and female students remains the same as more men are also pursuing computer science degrees. So why are there so few women? Well, there’s no simple answer but there are a few contributing factors. For one, as a male-dominated field, it may be that women are not as welcome as men would be and are made to feel as though they don’t belong. Social factors play a part too – many STEM fields are considered suitable for men only and women are not encouraged to pursue these fields. The lack of female mentors and peers makes it less likely for younger women to decide to pursue their passion. From a young age, boys are more likely to be encouraged to pursue fields such as engineering and computer science.

Women in computer science scholarships are one way that some organizations are attempting to get more women into CS. By offering financial aid to women specifically, they are removing a financial barrier and also encouraging more women to pursue a CS major. Scholarships can help more women enter previously male-dominated fields thus increasing gender diversity.

Here are the top women in computer science scholarships:
NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing
WIFLE Scholarship Program
Society of Women Engineers Scholarships
Women in Technology Scholarship
Live Your Dream Awards
Emerge Scholarships
Be the Boss Scholarship

As a high school student, whether you’re a freshman or senior, you’re probably already looking ahead to college. Well, good news – Now is the perfect time to start researching and even applying for scholarships.

Computer Science Scholarships For High School Seniors

High school seniors are usually the target market for scholarships as they will be the incoming class of college freshmen. For high school seniors keen to study computer science, here are a few of the best computer science scholarships:
ULTATEL Scholarship
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Lockheed Martin Vocational Scholarship
Chevron Corporate Scholarship
National Merit Scholarship
Coca-Cola Scholars Program ScholarshipExceptional Youth Scholarship
Savor Summer College Scholarship

Scholarships for computer science are important because they provide students with the financial assistance needed to pursue their passion in the field and help them gain a competitive edge for future employment. Scholarships also increase access to higher education and empower more people in developing countries to learn tech skills that can lead to better economic opportunities. So if you’re already in college and are looking for ways to pay for tuition, consider computer science scholarships.

Computer Science Undergraduate Scholarships

If you are a college freshman, -sophomore, -junior, or -senior, then these undergraduate scholarships are for you. As an undergraduate student, you’re probably a little stressed – okay, a bit more than a little. Don’t let the cost of tuition add to that. Check out these computer science scholarships.
Goldwater Scholarship
Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship
Procter & Gamble STEM Scholarship
Love Your Career Scholarship

While most jobs in the computer science industry only require a bachelor’s degree, there are more senior roles that require a master’s or more. It’s never a bad idea to continue your education, so getting a graduate degree in computer science can be a good idea. But paying for your education is still a big hurdle. Scholarships and fellowships are an ideal solution to covering your tuition costs.

Scholarships For Master’s In Computer Science

If you’ve decided to further your education and get a master’s degree, you probably need some financial assistance. Luckily, there are plenty of corporations and organizations looking for highly qualified individuals in the comp sci field and are happy to help them cover the cost of studying. Here are a few of the top master’s scholarships.
Jasin Graduate Scholarship
NANOG Scholarship Program
AMS Graduate Fellowships
Generation Google Scholarship (North America)
SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program

As a computer science graduate, you have a lot of opportunities when it comes to career choice. There are so many different streams that fall under the banner of computer science but it may take time for you to find your niche. During your studies, you were likely exposed to these many different streams so you should have an idea of what you enjoy. The most popular career choices include software engineering, data science, computer information systems, and computer engineering.

Software Engineer Scholarships

The Sprout Social UNCF Scholarship Program is worth between $5,000 and $11,000.
The Intel Scholarship Program that awards up to $10,000.
The Papa John’s Scholarship awards $5,000.
The Science Application International Corporation Scholarship is worth up to $5,000.
The NETGEEK Pro Scholarship Program that awards $1,000 to students.

Data science scholarships

The ​​CME Group Foundation offers the CME Group Foundation Scholars Program to students and is worth $20,000.
Wellington Management awards between $7,500 and $15,000 through the Wellington Management HBCU Scholars Program.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund in partnership with SAIC offers the Science Application International Corporation Scholarship of up to $5,000.

Computer information systems scholarships

The AFCEA Educational Foundation offers the $3,000 Ralph W. Shrader Graduate Diversity Scholarship.
The RICOH Scholarship Program is offered by Ricoh USA and is worth $2,500.
The Intel Scholarship Program is a great program that awards up to $10,000.

Coding scholarships

The Milliman Opportunity Scholarship is worth $5,000.
The Delaware Department of Education offers the$5,000 Delaware Career Based Scholarship
The ULTATEL Scholarship is worth $2,500.

Computer Engineering Scholarships

Oracle Corporate Scholars Program
AABE National Scholarship
TEC Scholarship

Head to our Computer Engineering Scholarships page to see all the opportunities available.

Scholarships For IT Majors

MUFG Union Bank Scholarship Program
Procter & Gamble General Scholarship
Cyber Security Scholarship

Head to our Information Technology Scholarships page to see all the opportunities available.

The United States has a long history of underrepresentation in the field of computer science, especially among minorities. The statistics regarding the number of minority students graduating from computer science are concerning. According to recent data, only around 11% of African American and Hispanic computer science degree earners were awarded in 2018-2019. This is significantly lower than the roughly 26% of minority students enrolled in college-level computer science courses that year, which shows that many of these students are not graduating with a degree.

This has serious implications for the future of the tech industry and its ability to innovate and remain competitive in an increasingly technological world. Without a more diverse set of perspectives in the field, there will likely be fewer opportunities for groundbreaking innovation, leading to stagnation rather than progress. Despite efforts to increase diversity in tech, there is still a significant lack of African Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities represented in the industry. To help address this issue, many organizations have created scholarships for minority students who are interested in pursuing a degree or career path related to computer science. These scholarships provide financial support as well as mentorship opportunities that can help these students succeed and reach their goals. By providing resources such as these scholarships, we can create more equitable access to technology education and open up new possibilities for people from all backgrounds. Some examples of companies offering funding are Microsoft, Oracle, and Chevron. The Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships offers up to $20,000, while the Oracle Developer Scholars Program awards $10,000. Head to our scholarships by demographic page to see what is available for specific demographics.

To be eligible for a scholarship, students must meet certain requirements such as having a minimum GPA, being of minority descent, and having an interest in computer science. The specific criteria vary by organization, so it is important to research each one to find out what the eligibility requirements are. Additionally, some organizations offer additional resources such as mentorships, internships, and job placement assistance.

Now that you’ve chosen to major in computer science, you may want to know the best school to attend. The cost of obtaining a college or university degree in computer science varies greatly depending on the institution chosen. Generally speaking, many universities and colleges charge between $2,500 and $30,000 per annum for computer science, with most bachelor’s degrees estimated to cost between $80,000 and $100,000 for tuition alone. The good news is that because computer science is such a popular field there are so many great programs. The most well-known and renowned are listed below.

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Stanford University
• University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
• Harvard University
• Princeton University
• University of Washington
• Cornell University
• Columbia University
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• California Institute of Technology
• Georgia Institute of Technology

The previously listed schools are pretty popular – so getting into the cop sci program is highly competitive. Here are a few lesser-known schools that also provide great education. While you may want to get into a well-known school, at the end of the day getting a job comes down to individual skill more than anything.

• Harvey Mudd College
• University of Virginia
• Virginia Tech
• New York University
• Northeastern University
• Ohio State University, Columbus
• Pennsylvania State University, University Park
• University of Colorado Boulder
• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• Arizona State University
• Rutgers University, New Brunswick

We’ve searched our database to find the best-value scholarships. We wanted to find the scholarships that have a lot of prestige – for example, the orgnizers are a renowned in the world of tech. We also wanted to give students the best chance of securing funding for as many of their college years as possible. So here’s our list of the 10 best computer science scholarships.

There aren’t many grants specifically for students studying computer science. If you need financial aid, then you can apply for federal grants. Besides FAFSA, students can also apply for the Pell Grant – you can only use this for your undergraduate studies for your first degree, and if you are in financial need. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is another federal grant for students who display financial need. All you need to do is file your FAFSA and your college will determine how much aid you need.

If you’re looking for more financial aid, consider contacting your college or university’s financial aid office. Many schools offer their own scholarships – some are just general, merit scholarships while others can be for specific majors.

For example, the University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science offers UMD Computer Science Scholarships. There are a variety of awards available to undergraduates.