Earning an engineering degree online is an excellent option for students seeking a flexible and affordable way to further their education. However, navigating the costs of college can be a challenge. Fortunately, many scholarships, grants, and financial aid options are available to help cut the cost of your online engineering degree.
When beginning your funding search, start with engineering-specific scholarships, as these may be the least competitive. Once you’ve applied for as many as possible, branch out to general scholarships to increase your chances of securing funding. Remember, the more scholarships you can apply for, the better.
30 Scholarships and Grants for Engineering Students
We’ve compiled a list of 30 funding opportunities for online engineering students at the federal, state, and school level. Though all of these scholarships are geared toward engineering, some target a specific engineering degree, student group, or academic year. Be sure to read through each one carefully to decide which scholarships you are eligible for and which will be the best fit for you.
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General Scholarships for Online Engineering Students
American Council of Engineering Companies of California
- Amount: Up to $10,000
- Description & eligibility: The American Council of Engineering Companies offers undergraduate- and graduate-level scholarships for California engineering students. Applicants must be entering their junior or senior year of study, enrolled full time, and working toward a degree in an engineering-related field. Preference will be given to those pursuing a career in consulting engineering or land surveying.
- Deadline: January 26, 2024
Barry Goldwater Scholarship
- Amount: Up to $7,500
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is for undergraduate sophomores and juniors who are working toward a research career in engineering and related fields. Applicants must be nominated by a representative of their two- or four-year college.
- Deadline: January 26, 2024
BMW/SAE Engineering Scholarship
- Amount: $1,500
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to incoming freshmen who are enrolled in an engineering program and involved in a STEM-related extracurricular activity. Special consideration will be given to applicants who are studying emerging technologies such as cybersecurity, electrification, quantum computing, blockchain, and others.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Donald and Barbara Mozley Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is available to any undergraduate student pursuing an engineering degree. Applicants must demonstrate their involvement in a STEM-related volunteer position or extracurricular activity. Seven scholarships will be awarded.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Dr. Friedrich Straub Memorial Scholarship
- Amount: Up to $3,000
- Description & eligibility: The Vertical Flight Society offers this scholarship to undergraduate and graduate students earning an engineering degree. Preferred applicants are pursuing a career in aircraft engineering.
- Deadline: November 6, 2023
Edison Scholars Program
- Amount: $12,500
- Description & eligibility: In partnership with Scholarship America, Edison International provides college scholarships for full-time students enrolled in engineering programs or related fields. Winners of this scholarship are eligible to participate in a paid summer internship through Southern California Edison. Up to 30 awards are given. Scholarships are renewable for up to four years for a total value of $50,000.
- Deadline: January 23, 2024
Edward D. Hendrickson/SAE Engineering Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Description & eligibility: Incoming college juniors and seniors who are studying engineering may apply for this scholarship. Ideally, applicants will be pursuing a career in the commercial vehicle industry, such as studying electric vehicles, predictive maintenance, fuel efficiency, and related fields.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Fred M. Young Sr./SAE Engineering Scholarship
- Amount: $1,000
- Description & eligibility: With an emphasis on leadership, this STEM scholarship is available to incoming freshmen who serve in a leadership role and can relate how their leadership skills were developed, the size of the team they led, and how these skills will benefit them in their careers. Students must be enrolled in an engineering program or pursuing a similar field of study.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Galvanize the Future: A Richard L. Brooks Memorial Scholarship
- Amount: $2,500
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is for both full-time and part-time undergraduate students earning a degree in civil engineering, structural engineering, or related fields. Applicants must write a compelling essay on a topic chosen by the scholarship provider.
- Deadline: March 31, 2024
Orangesoft Women in Technology
- Amount: $500
- Description & eligibility: Women who are currently enrolled in a STEM program at an accredited university may apply for this scholarship. Applicants must write a 500-word essay about how they plan to make a positive impact on the world through a future STEM career.
- Deadline: November 15, 2023, TBD 2024
Quad City Engineering & Science Council
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is for high school seniors studying STEM at a four-year, community, or junior college or at a trade school. Applicants must be Illinois or Iowa residents in specified counties.
- Deadline: January 23, 2024
Robert P. Wadell Transportation Engineering Scholarship
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is for undergraduate students, ideally those in their junior and senior years of study. Applicants must be enrolled in a civil engineering program with an emphasis on transportation engineering.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
WISE Scholarship
- Amount: $3,500
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is available to women in Washington who are earning a degree in STEM. Applicants should be interested in pursuing a postgraduate career in an approved STEM-related field, including biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and others.
- Deadline: November 17, 2023, TBD 2024
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School-Based Scholarships for Engineering Students
Associated Contractors of New Mexico Transportation Industry
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to University of New Mexico students who major in civil engineering, construction engineering, or construction management. Only New Mexico residents are eligible to apply and must be pursuing a career in the transportation engineering and construction industry in the state.
- Deadline: November 20, 2023, TBD 2024
California State University (CSU) Long Beach
- Amount: Up to $2,500
- Description & eligibility: The College of Engineering at CSU Long Beach provides numerous scholarship opportunities for engineering students, all with one application. Scholarship eligibility varies according to academic year and major.
- Deadline: March 10, 2024
Florida Atlantic University Engineering and Computer Science
- Amount: $1,000
- Description & eligibility: Students at Florida Atlantic University are eligible for several engineering-related scholarships according to their academic year and area of study. Many scholarships are geared toward a specific degree, including civil engineering, electrical engineering, ocean engineering, and others.
- Deadline: Annually, February 2 and October 8
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: In addition to tuition funding, winners of the Civil Engineering Scholarship also receive postgraduate job placement for one year within the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Winners must attend an approved university within Kentucky.
- Deadline: February 1, 2024
Mechanical and Civil Engineering Scholarships
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Minnesota State University offers numerous scholarships for engineering students based on different degrees (civil engineering, mechanical engineering, etc.) and funding amounts. Enrolled students complete their online scholarship profile, at which point they may apply for any awards for which they are eligible.
- Deadline: Rolling
Miami University Choose Ohio First
- Amount: Up to $6,000
- Description & eligibility: The Choose Ohio First scholarship may be granted to incoming freshmen, transfer students, or those seeking a graduate certificate at Miami University. Students must be enrolled in any of the engineering degree programs including computer engineering, electrical engineering, robotics engineering, manufacturing engineering, and mechanical engineering. In addition to financial support, the scholarship also equips students with peer and staff support and invitations to engineering-related events.
- Deadline: Rolling
Montana State University
- Amount: Up to $5,000
- Description & eligibility: Scholarships at Montana State University are awarded to high-achieving students within the university’s four engineering programs. In addition to academic achievement, these scholarships place an emphasis on applicants’ extracurricular contributions, communication skills, and leadership.
- Deadline: February 1, 2024
Northern Illinois University College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Students enrolled at Northern Illinois University are eligible to apply for numerous merit-based scholarships, including those specific to engineering. Applicants apply to the scholarship that aligns with their background or area of study, including electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering technology, mechanical engineering, and more.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Rice Engineering Undergraduate Support for Student Initiatives
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Rice University’s School of Engineering offers this scholarship to undergraduate students who show initiative in their academics. Applicants should demonstrate their involvement in an engineering project that supports their career goals.
- Deadline: Rolling throughout the academic year
STAR Scholarship
- Amount: Up to $13,500
- Description & eligibility: This renewable scholarship is available to University of Wisconsin-Madison students enrolled in the College of Engineering. In addition to providing financial assistance, the scholarship brings engineering students into a community of peers, professors, and staff who will help support winners in their professional goals. Support services include events, workshops, tutoring, and more. Approximately 50 incoming engineering students receive the scholarship.
- Deadline: Rolling
Texas A&M University College of Engineering
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Texas A&M offers a scholarship specifically for students majoring in engineering. Note that while the scholarship is available to all undergraduate students, incoming freshmen have different application requirements and submission deadlines.
- Deadline: December 1, 2023, for freshmen; February 1, 2024, for upperclassmen
Texas State College of Science and Engineering
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Texas State University offers several scholarships for engineering students at a variety of academic levels and areas of study. Though all scholarships are related to science and engineering, some are geared toward specific student groups such as ethnic minorities and women.
- Deadline: Varies
University of California-Davis
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: The College of Engineering at the University of California-Davis offers numerous scholarships to undergraduate engineering students. Each award has a unique focus to appeal to students from a variety of backgrounds, areas of study, and career goals.
- Deadline: January 10, 2024
University of New Mexico School of Engineering
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: The School of Engineering at the University of New Mexico provides scholarship opportunities for all undergraduate students, both during the academic year and summer months. Students may be enrolled in any School of Engineering majors to be eligible for these scholarships.
- Deadline: June 1, 2024, for the fall/spring semester; May 20, 2024, for the summer semester
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Grants for Engineering Students
AAUW Career Development Grant
- Amount: Up to $20,000
- Description & eligibility: This grant is available to women with a bachelor’s degree who are advancing their education or reentering the workforce in an engineering-related field. Funds may go toward tuition, books, transportation, and dependent care.
- Deadline: November 15, 2023, TBD 2024
Minnesota Future Together
- Amount: Up to $15,400
- Description & eligibility: This grant is offered to Minnesota residents who are enrolled in an approved degree program, including STEM and engineering. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and attend a college or university in the state of Minnesota.
- Deadline: Rolling, funds will be dispensed through 2024 or until the funds run out
Texas A&M Engineering Entrepreneurship
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Engineering students at Texas A&M can apply for an entrepreneurship grant to help fund their product idea or startup. This grant helps cover the cost of materials for early-stage engineering entrepreneurs.
- Deadline: Rolling
Key Ways to Increase Your Chances of Earning an Engineering Scholarship
Applying for scholarships is a competitive endeavor, but there are ways to set your application apart from others. Even if you’re applying for multiple scholarships, taking the time to polish each application as much as possible increases your chances of winning.
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Highlight Community Involvement & Extracurriculars
Scholarship providers value your involvement in the community. Not only does it show you’re a well-rounded person, but it also helps them get to know you, your interests, and your skills outside of academics. Many applications include essay questions about your past and current experiences in extracurricular and community activities. Make sure to write thoughtful responses that highlight which extracurricular activities you’ve participated in, what kind of community outreach you’ve done, and, most importantly, what you learned from those experiences. What skills did you develop? What challenges did you overcome? How do you plan to engage with your community in the future? Discuss your experience in as much detail as possible.
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Write an Impactful Essay or Personal Statement
Your essay is often the most persuasive part of your application. A well-written, thoughtful, and personal essay is much more appealing than a generic one. Most applications provide a topic prompt for your essay, so make sure to adhere to this topic closely and avoid wandering into unrelated topics. Whenever possible, use vivid examples from your own experiences that support the topic, and use illustrative language to help make your essay memorable. Essays are an opportunity to not only showcase your writing skills, but also to show your personality, life experiences, skills, and aspirations.
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Showcase What Makes You Unique
Scholarship reviewers want to see the person behind the application. What makes you unique? What interests, hobbies, or goals contribute to your personality? Maybe you’re passionate about oceanography or you’re an aspiring musician. If you have a skill or interest that’s meaningful to you and has helped shape your character, you’ll want to include it in your application. This is one of the most effective ways of avoiding a generic application, and it helps reviewers get to know you. Plus, showcasing your unique traits improves your chances of being selected by making your application more memorable.
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Source Solid Letters of Recommendation
Many scholarship applications request letters of recommendation from your teachers, employers, family members, or peers. When choosing your recommenders, make sure to closely adhere to the application’s requirements, and choose those who can accurately speak to your character and skills. Clearly communicate all necessary scholarship information to them, including any deadlines. You might also consider setting a reminder for yourself a week before the deadline to follow up with your recommender, if necessary, to ensure they’re on track. Be polite in your correspondence and offer assistance when needed.
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Follow Directions and Submit Early
Each scholarship application will have specific guidelines and requirements, so make sure to read through the entire application carefully. Once you’ve completed all sections and included any additional documents, review your responses to ensure you followed the directions correctly. When you’ve finished proofreading your application, send it in—the earlier, the better. Submitting your application ahead of the deadline signals to the reviewers that you’re organized and that can help keep your application top of mind.
