March 8 marks the annual observation of International Women’s Day. Since the first International Women’s Day in 1911, one of those enduring achievements has been the effort to increase the number of women graduating from college.
To keep that effort going, The Scholarship Coach has rounded up a variety of scholarships geared toward girls and women. Whether you’re a high school student, a college undergrad or a woman returning to school after some time off, these programs can help you achieve your dream of a degree.
Check out [additional college scholarships geared toward women.]
The Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund is the national education fund of the American Business Women’s Association, and it offers nearly a dozen annual scholarships and essay contests. The organization’s awards range from $2,000 all the way up to the $10,000 National President’s Scholarship, offered to a college upperclasswoman studying political science.
Whatever your major or grade level, the SBMEF scholarship listing should be one of the first places you check. These lucrative awards are open for application through May 15.
Another women-in-business organization, Executive Women International, also sponsors a sizable scholarship. The Executive Women International Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors in more than two dozen cities with EWI chapters, and winners on the local chapter level are also entered into the corporate-level competition for awards up to $5,000.
Learn about [unique college scholarship programs for women.]
Deadlines vary and only one student per high school is allowed to apply. High school sophomores and juniors should take note of this one now so they’re ready for upcoming award cycles.
High school juniors and seniors may also want to look into the national scholarship competition from Girls Inc., an education and mentoring organization for girls ages six to 18.
The scholarship program has awarded more than $4.2 million since it was founded in 1993 by a bequest from pioneering aviator Lucile Miller Wright. Last year, Girls Inc. awarded 28 scholarships to college-bound women in fields ranging from STEM to social work.
Applicants must be members of a local Girls Inc. chapter, which are located in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Check out the national website to find a chapter near you.
The programs above are available for women regardless of major or field of study. If you’re in college, or you know what you’re planning to study when you get there, a quick online search for scholarships for women in your is also a good idea. Companies, advocacy groups and women’s professional organizations all tend to offer subject-specific scholarships to national or regional applicants.
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For women pursuing a career in a financial field, the Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting offers an array of scholarships at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels. Available awards include the $2,000 Institute of Management Accountants scholarship, which includes complimentary CMA exam registration; and the Laurels Fund, which provides Ph.D. accounting students with up to $5,000.
If you hope to work in media, check out scholarship options from the Alliance for Women in Media. The Emerging Voices program offers a $2,500 scholarship plus the opportunity to become a blogger for the Alliance’s website, and the Empowering America competition provides a $3,000 award for the most compelling and unique video celebrating American women.
These are just a few of the specific scholarships available to women in college, so make sure you research your areas of expertise, from aviation to video games. With a little work now, your next International Women’s Day celebration may be a prelude to college graduation.
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Where to Net Scholarships for Women at All Levels of Higher Education originally appeared on usnews.com
