Why Black Women in STEM Have a Scholarship Advantage
Black women pursuing STEM degrees occupy a uniquely powerful position in today's scholarship landscape. Corporate funders — especially major technology and engineering companies — are actively competing to fund and recruit Black women in STEM. The combination of racial identity, gender, and STEM focus makes Black women eligible for three separate categories of scholarship funding: general scholarships for Black students, STEM-specific scholarships for underrepresented minorities, and scholarships specifically for women in science and engineering. A single applicant can qualify for all three simultaneously.
Google Scholarships for Black Women in Technology
Google operates several scholarship programs targeting Black women in computer science and adjacent STEM fields. The Google Generation Scholarship provides $10,000 to Black students in technology fields and includes mentorship from Google engineers. Recipients are also considered for Google internship opportunities. The application typically opens in September and closes in December.
Microsoft HBCU Scholarship Program
Microsoft's HBCU scholarship program specifically targets Black women and men in computer science, data science, and engineering at HBCU institutions. Awards of $5,000 are paired with internship pipeline opportunities at Microsoft. Preference is given to students who demonstrate community involvement and a commitment to increasing diversity in technology.
Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Scholarships
The Society of Women Engineers distributes over $1 million in scholarships annually to women pursuing engineering and engineering technology degrees. Multiple SWE scholarships specifically prioritize underrepresented minority women, making Black women strong candidates. SWE scholarships range from $1,000 to $10,000 and are available at all degree levels from freshman through graduate school.
UNCF STEM Scholarship Programs
UNCF administers several STEM-specific scholarship programs that prioritize Black women. The UNCF-Microsoft Scholarship, the UNCF-Google Scholarship, and multiple corporate-funded UNCF awards all provide significant funding to Black STEM students. Because UNCF scholarships are primarily awarded to students at UNCF member institutions, HBCU STEM students should check the UNCF portal as a priority resource.
National GEM Consortium Fellowships
For Black women pursuing graduate degrees in STEM, the National GEM Consortium is the most important fellowship program in the country. GEM Fellows receive full tuition support plus a competitive stipend at member universities, paired with paid summer internships at sponsor companies including NASA, Boeing, and major pharmaceutical companies.
Professional Organization Scholarships
The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) distributes over $500,000 in scholarships annually. The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) offers fellowships to women at all career stages. The Black Women in Science Foundation provides grants to Black women in biological and biomedical sciences. Each of these organizations operates independently of UNCF and TMCF — meaning Black women in STEM can pursue them simultaneously with other applications.