Home > Financial Aid > College Scholarships > Scholarships by Major > Physics Scholarships

Physics Scholarships

Inertia. Absolute zero. Critical mass. Scalar quantity. If these terms appear frequently in your homework and exams – and the answers you give garner A’s from your teachers – you could have a promising career in physics ahead of you. But before you consider changing your name to Albert or Isaac, ask yourself this: Do you have the funds to pay for the schooling that will get you there?

Physics scholarships (and scholarships in the related fields of math, computer science, engineering and technology) are readily available to majors displaying drive, ingenuity and academic success. Good thing, since most careers in this field require graduate degrees (here are the top schools for them, according to U.S. News and World Report) and lots of research. Fellowships and internships are both excellent ways for students to gain valuable experience in their desired concentrations and earn stipends at the same time.

As for additional financial aid, there’s plenty out there. Harvard’s Department of Physics guarantees full financial support for all graduate students if they “remain in good standing and complete assigned duties in a satisfactory manner” and American University, Washington State and Ohio State all offer university-based physics scholarships. There are external funding options, too, like the ones awarded by the National Society of Black Physicists and the Art of Problem Solving. See below for some of the physics scholarships in the Scholarships.com database but for more, complete a free scholarship search.

Banatao Family Filipino American Education Fund

  • Application Deadline: 3/2/2021
  • Amount: $20,000
  • The Banatao Family Filipino American Education Fund will award five scholarships of $5,000 to qualified incoming freshmen enrolled at four-year colleges or universities. Each scholarship is renewable for a total of four years on the basis of satisfactory academic performance in a full-time undergraduate program. Awards are for undergraduate study only. Applicants must be incoming freshman [...] More

Catching The Dream Program

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $5,000
  • Founded in 1986, Catching the Dream strives to help improve the quality of life in Indian communities through the higher education of Indian people. We provide scholarship funds for students who demonstrate academic achievement, clearly defined goals, leadership, the determination to succeed, and the desire to return to their communities and help others realize their dreams. Catching the Dream, [...] More

Elms College STEM Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 2/1/2021
  • Amount: $10,000
  • The Elms College Elm STEM program, supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation, awards scholarship funds to students who major in STEM fields and attend Elms College full-time. In order to apply, you must be a prospective full-time, first-year student at Elms College; be a prospective major in biology, computer information technology, chemistry, or mathematics, except for clinical [...] More

EPP Undergraduate Scholarship Program

  • Application Deadline: 1/31/2021
  • Amount: $45,000
  • The EPP Undergraduate Scholarship Program targets students who have completed their sophomore year, attending minority serving institutions (MSIs), and have recently declared, or about to declare a major in atmospheric, oceanic, or environmental disciplines that support these sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen currently enrolled or accepted as a full-time, second-year student in a four-year [...] More

Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 1/31/2021
  • Amount: $9,500
  • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings (Hollings) scholarship program is designed to: (1) increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education and foster multidisciplinary training opportunities; (2) increase public understanding and support for stewardship of the ocean and atmosphere and improve [...] More

Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program

  • Application Deadline: 3/13/2021
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program is open to underrepresented, low-income and first-generation college-bound students. Students must be pursuing an undergraduate degree full-time in transportation, math, science, engineering, architecture, environmental design, PreMed, psychology, Spanish language/literature. The applicant does not have to be a U.S. citizen but must have a minimum 3.5 [...] More

Gladys Carol Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/31/2021
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The Gladys Carol Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors, high school graduates, and current undergraduate level students who are United States citizens or permanent residents. They must be pursuing a full-time STEM (science, technology, engineering or math) degree at an accredited, non-profit public or private four-year college or university in the United States. A minimum cumulative [...] More

James M. & Erma T. Freemont Scholarship Program

  • Application Deadline: 2/3/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Freemont Foundation Scholarship Program is available to graduating high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students. Selected from a nationwide pool of applicants, qualified recipients will become Freemont Scholars.
    Eligibility: Must be a graduating high school senior (must plan on attending a HBCU) or an undergraduate students (must currently attend a HBCU); graduate students are [...] More

Jesse L. Jackson-Fellows Toyota Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/1/2021
  • Amount: $25,000
  • The Jesse Jackson Fellows-Toyota Scholarship is a renewable scholarship that awards up to $25,000 dollars annually to deserving African-American college sophomores. Students who are interested in applying for the scholarship must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA, be a business or STEM (Science, technology, engineering and/or math) major that can be applied to the automotive industry, [...] More

National GEM Consortium Fellowships

  • Application Deadline: 11/15/2020
  • Amount: $16,000
  • GEM offers MS and Ph.D. level students an outstanding opportunity and access to dozens of the top engineering and science firms and Universities in the nation. The GEM Fellowship was designed to focus on promoting opportunities for individuals to enter the industry at the graduate level in areas such as research and development, product development, and other high-level technical careers. GEM [...] More

National Space Club Keynote Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 12/2/2020
  • Amount: $10,000
  • The National Space Club and Foundation has offered the opportunity for a student to give the keynote address at the National Space Club and Foundation's annual Goddard Memorial Dinner, one of the space industry's most prestigious gatherings. In addition to speaking at the Goddard Memorial Dinner, the individual selected will also receive a scholarship, in the amount of $10,000. The student must [...] More

Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship Fund

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2021
  • Amount: $2,000
  • The Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship is available to graduating seniors from public high schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties in Washington state (and a US citizen). Application forms are only available through these high schools and candidates for the scholarship are nominated by their school each year. Scholarships are renewable for four years of college in the state of Washington. [...] More

Oregon Space Grant Consortium Scholarship and Fellowship Program

  • Application Deadline: 5/24/2020
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium (OSGC) is pleased to provide students attending our member colleges and universities opportunities to apply for scholarship and fellowship awards that support their academic goals and recognize their achievements. Opportunities are open to new and continuing students in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and STEM [...] More

SEG Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2021
  • Amount: $10,000
  • Through the generosity of our donors, there are approximately 75 different scholarships. Half are unrestricted scholarships; the rest have specific donor intentions that include consideration for major/minor, university, career intention, involvement in student activities, year of study, or particular research field. Applicants must be either attending high school and planning to enter college [...] More

Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research program has been providing undergraduate and graduate students with valuable educational experiences for more than 80 years. By encouraging close working relationships between students and faculty, the program promotes scientific excellence and achievement through hands-on learning. For more information, or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider’s [...] More

SMART Scholarship for Service

  • Application Deadline: 12/1/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service is a scholarship for service program that provides students with a stipend (starting between $22,500 and $38,000 per year), full tuition, health coverage, book allowance of $1,000, and other education expenses. SMART has been established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to support the education, recruitment [...] More

SVC Foundation Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 12/4/2020
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The SVC scholarship fund is intended to further the education of any individual who is entering or is currently enrolled in a course of study related to vacuum coating technology at an accredited educational institution may apply. Past scholarship winners are welcome to re-apply, provided that they still meet the required criteria. Preference will be given to practitioners, undergraduate and [...] More

The Rubber Division, ACS Undergraduate Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2021
  • Amount: $5,000
  • Rubber Division, ACS offers two Undergraduate Scholarships to students entering their junior or senior year for the fall-spring academic year. In addition, the former Connecticut Rubber Group offers a Russell Mazzeo Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship. Applicants for these scholarships may have a major area study in chemistry, physics, chemical or mechanical engineering, polymer science or any [...] More

Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $32,000
  • The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship seeks to attract talented, committed individuals, with backgrounds in the STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—into teaching in high-need secondary schools in Pennsylvania. The Fellowship has also prepared over a thousand teachers in Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio. Eligible applicants include current undergraduates, [...] More

ZONTA Milwaukee Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 6/15/2020
  • Amount: $1,000
  • Founded in 1919, Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy. With more than 30,000 members belonging to more than 1,200 Zonta Clubs in 67 countries and geographic areas, Zontians all over the world volunteer their time, talents and support to local and international service projects, as well as scholarship programs [...] More

Latest College & Financial Aid News

Scholarship Deadlines Extended Due to COVID-19

April 2, 2020

by Izzy Hall

Just as schools have closed their doors due to coronavirus, charities and non-profit organizations have had to shutter down. While they might suspend board meetings, community fundraisers or award ceremonies, chances are they haven't shut down their scholarship offerings - in fact, many non-profits have extended their scholarship application windows from mid- or late March into April, May or even June. If you've been applying for scholarships this spring and missed out on some March or early April deadlines, check your account - you may find that some scholarships have had their due dates pushed back, giving you more time to submit an application. [...]

Coronavirus News Update for Students, Families, Colleges

March 31, 2020

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

From student loans to college athletics, Scholarships.com is keeping you updated on all of the latest information on the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on high school and higher education. If you're tired of reading about COVID-19, take a break by checking out your latest scholarship matches and earning money for college here. [...]

Coronavirus Impact on SAT, ACT, and AP Testing

March 26, 2020

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

As a high school student in the midst of the standardized testing season and living through the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be wondering what the future holds for standardized test scores, AP courses, and the college admissions process. A recent survey conducted by The College Board revealed than 91 percent of 18,000 polled enrollees still want to take their AP tests. In fact, in 900 pages of comments responding to the AP survey, AP students "begged to be allowed at least one championship bout with an AP test." [...]

Last Reviewed: April 2020

More