Technical School Scholarships

Use Scholarships to pay for Technical School

Technical degrees are not for everyone. If you have your mind set on a technical program, chances are you are looking for ways to reduce the cost of tuition. While computer science is the poster-child for technical degrees, there are many others. Engineering, Physics, and Math degrees all fall under the Technical umbrella. Closely related technical sciences include Chemistry, Biology and Architecture.

Technical Giants Provide Scholarships

Microsoft and technology go hand in hand. Microsoft Corporation offers a half million dollars in annual scholarships for select technical undergraduates. Students must major in engineering, math, physics, and of course, computer science or computer engineering. Students are allowed to attend any approved technical school program that leads to a bachelor’s degree. Scholarships are both merit and need-based, geared to minorities and women, traditionally underrepresented populations in the field. All must maintain high grade point averages. Winning applicants are sometimes offered internships at Microsoft, but not every year. Application information is available on the Microsoft website.

Gas prices have an effect on every American household. Higher gas prices have spurred the pursuit of convenient, but alternative fuels. So it comes as no surprise that national oil companies have begun to offer scholarships that encourage students to study geology, geophysics, and petrochemical-related engineering disciplines. The Shell Oil Company offers $20,000 scholarships over 4 years for just such students. Winning applicants are asked to complete their internships at Shell Oil Company for the yearly funding. Application information is available online.

Women in Technology

Skilled women are still a rare find in the technical community. Due to this, women can often find scholarships from organizations that are designed to increase the number of women pursuing these types of degrees. One such organization is the Alpha Omega Epsilon National Foundation (AOE). AOE’s Engineering and Technical Science Scholarships offer a cumulative amount of $5000 annually. Applicants must work toward a bachelor’s degree and major in computer science, math, chemistry, biology, biochemistry or architecture.

The Society of Women Engineers offers over $300,000 in annual scholarships disbursed in increments up to $10,000. Scholarships are awarded to students in engineering, or computer science fields. To be eligible, students must enroll in a bachelor’s or graduate degree program. For sophomore and later students, a 3.0 grade point average must be maintained. For freshman, there is no reported GPA requirement. Scholarships may be renewed from year to year provided that the recipient maintains application requirements. Applications and further information is available on the SWE website.

If you have decided technology is the program for you, there are scholarships available to ease your financial burdens. Look for large companies that hire technical professionals or for scholarships through professional organizations.