IT scholarships are ideal if you want to pursue technology careers in data science, computer science, or another technical field. There are numerous career opportunities in the IT field that require advanced education from college institutions, which can be expensive. Continue reading to learn how to get an IT scholarship and how to apply for lucrative IT scholarships for high school students.
Below you will learn what requirements these scholarships typically have and how to get an IT scholarship. Whether you are an incoming freshman, a high school senior, or a graduate student, apply for these IT scholarships to reduce the cost of college expenses.
What Is an IT Scholarship?
An IT scholarship is a financial award offered to deserving college students or high school senior students who want to pursue technology careers. IT scholarships are also available for students attending a vocational school or a coding bootcamp. A scholarship award is an excellent way to alleviate the financial burden of high tuition and college expenses.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average tuition for a four-year public institution is $9,400 and it is $36,700 for a private college. These amounts exclude housing, food, and living expenses, which can be very expensive. With that, 44 percent of students at public four-year colleges had students loans in 2019. Further, 58 percent of students at private four-year schools took out loans. Thankfully, scholarship recipients are able to lessen or eliminate the need for a student loan.
Common IT Scholarship Requirements
- Academic Performance. A key requirement for IT scholarships is a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or more. You will need to submit official college transcripts or SAT scores that meet the minimum requirements.
- Personal Essay. Another common requirement is a personal essay where you can emphasize your career goals in the tech industry and IT education. In addition, you may be asked to answer specific essay questions.
- Letters of Recommendation. In addition to filling out the application form, most IT scholarships will require one or two letters of recommendation from your school professors or STEM teachers.
- United States Legal Resident or Citizen. IT scholarships for American students require their applicants to have citizenship or permanent residency in the country.
- Full-Time Enrollment. IT scholarships for an undergraduate or graduate degree require applicants to be full-time students in technology or computer-related majors.
How to Find IT Scholarships
There are tons of ways to find IT scholarships that include individual research and academic faculty guidance. Whether you want to get a bachelor’s degree in computer science, an associate degree in network administration, or attend a software engineering bootcamp, IT scholarships will help you. Below are some of the tips you can use to find IT scholarship opportunities.
Aid From College Boards or College Institutions
Your university is a great avenue to find IT scholarships. They often offer several internal scholarships for students with good academic standing and financial aid requirements. You can get in touch with your school’s bursar to find any opportunities.
Search on the Internet
The Internet is a great research tool that you can use to find lucrative IT scholarships. You can search for STEM scholarships as technology subjects qualify for the award. You can also search on free scholarship finder tools to get more accurate results.
Contact the IT Department Professors at Your School
Internal scholarships at universities aren’t just limited to the bursar office, subject departments also allocate tuition assistance funds for each academic year. You can get in touch with your IT professors or department advisors to find out about any scholarships and the award amounts.
Tips to Find IT Scholarships for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in pursuing an IT education, then these tips will help you find IT scholarships for high school applicants.
Consult Your School’s University Counselor
The first tip is to consult your school’s university counselor about your financial aid needs and potential scholarship opportunities. Your counselor will help you throughout the application and research process.
Competitive Award for Scholarship Essay Contests
Several STEM and general subjects scholarships are offered using essay contests. Look up essay contest scholarships that are open to high school students and submit your best work to stand a chance.
Network with University Recruiters
High schools host several university recruitment fairs where you can get an opportunity to meet your dream school’s representatives. Ensure you attend these fairs and network with the recruiters to inquire about potential scholarship and financial aid opportunities.
10 Best IT Scholarships in 2022: Overview
| Scholarship Name | Who Is Eligible | Amount Covered |
| AFCEA STEM Major Scholarships for Undergraduate Students | Sophomore or junior full-time students, United States permanent resident or citizen, 3.0 GPA | $2,500 |
| Betty Stevens Frecknall Scholarship | United States permanent resident or citizen, full-time information technology undergraduate, 3.0 GPA | $2,000 |
| Boster Scholarship | Students interested in pursuing or currently enrolled in two to four-year degree programs in biotechnology | $1,000 |
| Edwards Lifesciences Foundation Scholarship Program | United States permanent resident or citizen, Resident of Orange County, California, Salt Lake County, Puerto Rico, or Utah, 3.0 GPA, Plan to enroll in a STEM undergraduate degree | $2,500 per academic year |
| Elevate Women in Technology Scholarship | High school or undergraduate woman, United States permanent resident or citizen | $500 |
| Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship | 3.0 GPA, United States citizen, Second year in full-time four-year degree, third year in full-time five-year degree | Up to $9,500 per year |
| Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship | High school or college freshman or sophomore with 2.5 GPA, four-year degree major in computer science or computer engineering | $10,000 |
| Ralph W. Shrader Graduate Diversity Scholarship | Minority of female, full-time sudent enrolled in the second semester or later in a graduate program, 3.5 GPA, United States citizenship | $3,000 |
| SMA Native American STEM Scholarship | Copy of Certificate Indian Blood,3.0 GPA, commitment to four hours of community service | $1,500 per academic year |
| The Kris Paper Legacy Scholarship | Graduating female high school seniors or returning female college students majoring in IT, from the Greater Kansas City area, 3.2 GPA | $1,500 |
Top 10 IT Scholarships: In Detail
1. AFCEA STEM Major Scholarships for Undergraduate Students
- Awarded by: Armed Forces Communications Association
- Deadline: May 31st, 2022
The AFCEA STEM scholarship awards $2,500 to undergraduate students who excel in technology, math, engineering, or science majors. This scholarship is offered to sophomores and juniors with full-time enrollment and a 3.0 or higher GPA. To qualify, you must have a good academic record and meet certain applicant profile requirements.
2. Betty Stevens Frecknall Scholarship
- Awarded by: Foundations For IT Education
- Deadline: May 31st, 2022
If a career in information technology, computer science, or software engineering is your goal, this scholarship will help you finance your college education. Qualified students with full-time enrollment in IT majors and a 3.0 or higher GPA are eligible for this scholarship.
3. Boster Scholarship
- Awarded by: Boster Antibody and ELISA Experts
- Deadline: June 30th, 2022
Biotechnology is a growing IT-based field that offers lucrative jobs such as bioinformaticians, food science technicians, and biomanufacturing engineers. If you want to apply for an IT-based scholarship in the field of biology, then this Boster scholarship is for you. Eligible students with biotechnology majors can apply for a $1,000 award.
4. Edwards Lifesciences Foundation Scholarship Program
- Awarded by: Edwards Lifesciences Foundation
- Deadline: April 19th, 2022
The advantages of STEM education include lucrative careers, rewarding compensation rates, job security, and tons of career advancement opportunities. This scholarship is offered to Orange County, Utah, Salt Lake County, Puerto Rico, or California residents to promote STEM education. This is a biannual scholarship of $2,500 per semester available to exceptional students planning to enroll in a full-time STEM degree program.
5. Elevate Women in Technology Scholarship
- Awarded by: Calvin Rosser
- Deadline: April 30th, 2022
This scholarship is for female students who want to pursue an IT education that does not have a minimum GPA requirement. This scholarship offers a $500 grant to eligible students who want to pursue a career in technology. This is open to both high school seniors and current college students. There are tons of coding bootcamp scholarships and grants that offer financial assistance for female students and this is one of them.
6. Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
- Awarded by: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Deadline: September 1st, 2022 for the 2023 scholarship
The Ernest F. Hollings scholarship application is offered to undergraduate students with a sophomore or junior standing. Applicants must be enrolled in a four-year program and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
This scholarship is offered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration where pursuing a sustainable technology subject might increase your chances of landing this award.
7. Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship
- Awarded by: Lockheed Martin
- Deadline: April 1st, 2022
This Lockheed Martin scholarship grant is available to full-time college students pursuing a STEM degree. Computer engineering and computer science are amongst the listed IT subjects that are eligible for this award. This is a no-essay scholarship that only requires a letter of recommendation. This is also a fantastic opportunity for students who want to intern with Lockheed Martin. Applications open in January for the following school year.
8. Ralph W. Shrader Graduate Diversity Scholarship
- Awarded by: Booz Allen Hamilton
- Deadline: May 21st, 2022
Booz Allen Hamilton consulting firms offer this graduate diversity scholarship for STEM students. Eligible applicants need to prove their academic achievement and have a minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher. You will also need to submit college transcripts, an undergraduate degree, two letters of recommendation, and a resume to meet the application requirements.
9. SMA Native American STEM Scholarship
- Awarded by: Souder Miller & Associate and Granite Construction
- Deadline: June 11th, 2022
This STEM scholarship is awarded to Native American students who are pursuing a full-time four-year degree in eligible majors. Eligible applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, provide a Certificate of Indian Blood copy, and submit two letters of recommendation.
SMA offers $1,500 every academic year for four years during your accredited college enrollment. Award winners will also need to commit to four hours of community service annually to maintain their eligibility.
10. The Kris Paper Legacy Scholarship
- Awarded by: Kris Paper
- Deadline: April 15th, 2022
The Kris Paper Legacy award is offered to female students from the Kansas City area who want to build a career in technology. This competitive award is offered to female high school seniors or returning college technology students enrolled in a two or four-year accredited college.
This legacy also applies to students in vocational or technical schools who require funding for education in a computer-related field. You must meet the basic eligibility requirements for the scholarship, which include a minimum 3.2 GPA and financial aid requirements.
Should I Apply for an IT Scholarship?
You should apply for an IT scholarship if you want a debt-free college education or technology education in order to pursue lucrative career opportunities in tech. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow by 13 percent between 2020 to 2030.
You can achieve your academic goals while remaining financially stress-free, as well as meet your career objectives in this safe and rewarding IT field. A scholarship financial award is also an excellent addition to your tech resume, highlighting your academic achievements.
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
IT Scholarships FAQ
There are several technology-based fields that are covered in IT scholarships including management information systems, computer science, software engineering, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence. The financial award decision is based on meeting the subject eligibility criteria.
The common requirements for IT scholarships include technology field full-time credit hours enrollment, financial aid needs for college expenses, letters of recommendation, official transcripts, application deadline requirements, and a personal statement. Of course, you must also apply before the scholarship deadline.
There are tons of IT scholarships that are offered to applicants belonging to minority communities, people of color, and first-generation college students. There are also essay contest awards and merit-based scholarships.
The common IT scholarship criteria are high academic performance, interest in a career in computing, financial need, reference letters, and excellent personal essays.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
