Apply for these STEM and medical scholarships

Top STEM and medical scholarships to apply for

Two of the fastest growing areas of employment are STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and medical/health care (doctors, nurses, technicians). To help make sure there are enough qualified professionals available, organizations, companies, and even the government are offering scholarships to students who are majoring in those areas.

Why you should look for scholarships

Scholarships are free money that you can use to pay for college—and you don’t have to pay them back! They’re an important part of funding higher education—according to How America Pays for College 2023, 29% of families’ college costs were covered by scholarships. They can be based on academic merit, financial need, or on almost any kind of skill, hobby, or interest. It’s worth taking the time to use a search tool to find the ones that you can apply for.

One easy way to search for scholarships is Scholly by Sallie.* It’s the top college scholarship app and has helped students find millions of dollars in scholarships. Best part? It’s free and super simple to use. You can start getting matched with scholarships in just minutes based on your accomplishments, interests, and background.

*By clicking the link, you'll visit our affiliate Scholly's site. Any information that we may collect or that you provide will be shared with Sallie Mae and will be covered under the SLM Education Services, LLC privacy policy and terms of use.

STEM scholarships

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that STEM-related jobs are projected to grow by 13.5% through 2026—adding another half-million jobs.^{footnote 1} They can be some of the best-paying careers, too. Check out these (and other) scholarships to help pay for your STEM-related college majors:

1. Science Ambassador Scholarship: Funded by Cards Against Humanity, these scholarships are awarded to female STEM students who create a STEM-related video. Full ride and partial scholarships are available.

2. Society of Women Engineers: This organization (SWE) offers scholarships to women in engineering, engineering technology, and computer science.

3. American Statistical Association: This group offers several scholarships to encourage LGBTQ+, women, and minorities to go into statistically oriented professions.

4. National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS): These scholarships recognize academic excellence, entrepreneurship, and leadership for students in the fields of literature, medicine, music, STEM, sustainability, visual arts, and more.

And…a great resource for federal government-related STEM scholarships: STEMUndergrads.science.gov (“Your gateway to federal opportunities for undergraduate students”).

Medical scholarships

Following the challenges of Covid-19, the medical industry has faced a healthcare-worker shortage, especially in nursing.^{footnote 2} In fact, the Association of American Medical Colleges estimates a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034 as demand outpaces supply.^{footnote 3} Medical school isn’t cheap; the average physician owes about $200,000 to $215,000 in total educational debt.^{footnote 4} So every dollar you can get as a scholarship is valuable.

Here are several scholarships for students interested in healthcare:

1. National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program: NIH offers several scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are studying for health-related careers.

2. American Psychological Association: This organization offers scholarships to disadvantaged students who are planning on careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research.

3. American Medical Women’s Association Premedical Awards & Scholarships: These pre-med scholarships are offered to female-identifying applicants who intend to attend medical school.

4. Johnson & Johnson: The company has information on a number of scholarships for students going into the nursing field (including state-specific scholarships).

5. The Association of American Medical Colleges The AAMC has a searchable database with scholarships and other programs available to medical and health professions students.

Don’t miss out on your free money 

A little bit of organizing can really help you keep on top of the scholarships you want to apply to. Start a simple spreadsheet with the name, particulars, what’s required (essay, application form, etc.) and most importantly, all deadlines. Putting in a little time now can help you get the scholarship money for your STEM or medical education that you need!