Engineering Scholarships
Key takeaways:
- Some engineering scholarships are specific to certain engineering majors, while others may be open to any STEM major.
- Engineering scholarships may offer more than just tuition aid — many include mentorship, internships, or research opportunities.
- According to the National Center for Education Statistics, engineering is the 6th most common major in the U.S.
The number of engineering degrees awarded in the U.S. has nearly doubled since the start of the 21st Century alone. Although the demand for engineering majors is expected to continue to grow, the cost of obtaining an engineering degree can be a significant barrier to students looking to pursue a degree in this field.
Fortunately, there are many scholarships available to help prospective engineering students access these degrees. Many of these scholarships aim not only to maintain students’ interest in engineering, but to also ensure that obtaining an engineering degree is possible for all students, regardless of their financial background.
Jump to:
- 25 Best Engineering Scholarships
- What are engineering scholarships?
- How to apply for engineering scholarships
- What are the best engineering scholarships?
- Frequently asked questions about engineering scholarships
The 25 Best Engineering Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines in 2026
What are engineering scholarships?
Engineering scholarships are financial awards given to students pursuing a degree in engineering. Sometimes these scholarships are exclusively for engineering majors, while others may also include any students in STEM or a related field.
It’s important to note that each scholarship will have different requirements. While many engineering scholarships are open to any student pursuing engineering, others may have more specific requirements. For example, certain awards may be exclusive to students in particular fields of study within the engineering major, such as mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering.
Your eligibility may also be determined by your year in school, personal characteristics, financial background, or other factors. If you’re not sure if you qualify for a given scholarship, contact the scholarship provider.
How to apply for engineering scholarships
When you create a free account on Scholarships.com and add your demographic and academic information, you’ll be automatically matched to all of the awards you qualify for, including engineering scholarships. Sort your matches by deadline or amount to find scholarships as efficiently as possible. You can also use our scholarship directory to browse all of the engineering scholarships we offer.
Some engineering scholarships you may match with are competition based, and therefore have more application steps than a typical merit- or need-based scholarship. For example, the Collegiate Inventors Competition asks students to submit an invention that can be made into a working model or prototype. To be considered, applicants must write a description or abstract about their invention, provide a patent search and summary, and submit supporting materials such as charts, graphs, videos, or articles.
Scholarships that are need-based will likely require you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This makes your financial information available to scholarship providers and allows them to determine the amount of financial need you’re eligible for.
Always read each scholarship’s instructions carefully to ensure that you provide all required documentation. If you are unsure of what information you need to supply, contact the scholarship provider or your school's financial aid office.
What are the best engineering scholarships?
The best engineering scholarships will vary depending on each student's career interests, personal qualities, location, and more. Generally, scholarships for which only a limited number of people meet the criteria will be easier to win than awards with fewer eligibility requirements.
For instance, women engineering students pursuing a career in the hydropower industry might be the perfect fit for the Julie A. Keil Women in Hydro Scholarship, whereas engineers with an interest in robotics might apply for one of the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation Scholarships.
It’s a good idea to look into scholarships with larger applicant pools as well. For example, the ACEC Research Institute Scholarship for Engineering provides nearly 100 awards annually of up to $15,000 each. Students just need to be U.S. citizens pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering to apply.
There are also many scholarships that engineering students can apply to which are open to any student in the STEM field. For example, any high school student with an interest in STEM can prepare and submit an original STEM-focused research project to apply for the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.
Other scholarships offer career or internship opportunities as well as college funding. For example, recipients of the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship receive up to $40,000 to use towards an undergraduate degree in computer science or engineering, as well as an internship offer at Amazon the following summer.
Overall, applying to a large variety of scholarships you are eligible for, no matter how narrow or broad their qualifications, will increase your chances of winning an award and provide access to new opportunities.
Frequently asked questions about engineering scholarships
What are the best scholarships for women in engineering?
The best scholarships for women in engineering will vary; however, as only about 25% of engineering students are women, many scholarships exist to encourage more women to enter the field of engineering. For instance, the Society of Women Engineers Scholarship Program offers awards of up to $19,000 to both undergraduate and graduate women engineering students.
There are also awards designed for women in any STEM field. The Women at Microsoft Scholarship supports high school seniors who identify as cisgender or transgender women, non-binary, or genderfluid pursuing undergraduate studies in a STEM field.
Other scholarships have even more specific eligibility requirements. For example, the Women in Aerospace Foundation Scholarship is a $5,000 award for women undergraduate students majoring in aerospace engineering.
Can I apply for engineering scholarships if I’m a graduate student?
Although the majority of engineering scholarships are for students pursuing their bachelor’s degree in engineering, there are some scholarships for those working towards a master’s degree.
The Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship provides up to 5 years of graduate school funding to students pursuing a PhD in applied physical and biological sciences, math, or engineering. This merit-based scholarship is valued at around $250,000 and funds a graduate student’s research at any of its 40+ participating top U.S. universities.
Other scholarships are open to both undergraduate and graduate engineering students. The National Space Club and Foundation Keynote Scholars Program is a $20,000 award open to high school seniors through graduate students pursuing a career in STEM. Awardees also have the opportunity to deliver the keynote speech at the National Space Club and Foundation’s Goddard Memorial Dinner.
Are there engineering scholarships for specific types of engineering majors?
While many majors are open to applicants of any engineering major or even any major in STEM, there are some scholarships that are only available to certain engineering majors. For instance, the Y.C. Yang Civil Engineering Scholarship is exclusively for civil engineering majors.
Another example is the Diversity in Structural Engineering Scholarship which aims to support structural engineers who are part of historically underrepresented groups such as people of color, LGBTQIA+ students, and individuals with disabilities.
Applying to a mix of major-specific and general engineering scholarships can increase your chances of winning an award.
Am I eligible for engineering scholarships if I’m an international student?
The majority of scholarships for institutions in the U.S. are only available to U.S. citizens. However, there are some awards available to international students as well.
One example is the A1 Solar Scholarship, which is available to engineering students pursuing a degree in renewable energy. This scholarship is available to both U.S. citizens and non-citizens as long as applicants are enrolled in a U.S.-based college or university.
There are also other scholarships that don’t require international students to attend a U.S. institution. For example, the Microsoft Imagine Cup is a global competition in which teams of students with interests in computer science, computer engineering, design, or a related field create a functional software project. However, because this award has such a large number of applicants, it’s highly competitive.
As the majority of international scholarships will also be difficult to win, it’s a good idea to look into scholarship opportunities in your home country as well. Many countries’ departments of education have their own scholarships that can help cover tuition at a U.S. institution.
If you’re applying to a scholarship that doesn’t explicitly say whether or not international students are eligible, check with the scholarship provider to clarify.
Can I apply for engineering scholarships if I attend school part time?
Most engineering scholarships require students to attend school full-time to qualify. However, there are some scholarships that accept part-time students. One example is the Galvanize the Future Richard L. Brooks Memorial Scholarship which is open to both full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students.
Most scholarships will clearly state in their requirements whether or not they allow part-time students to apply. However, if you can’t find the information or are unsure of any wording, contact the scholarship provider directly to confirm.
Additionally, although not specifically for engineering students, scholarships for adult students are often geared towards "non-traditional" students such as those who are parents, in school part-time, or above the age of 25.