Scholarships for Computer Science Students

Many organizations sponsor computer science scholarships, including professional associations, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Colleges and universities also offer institutional scholarships.

Scholarship eligibility criteria vary, but they frequently include intended major and minimum GPA. Extracurricular activities or work experience related to computer science contribute to a strong application.

Financial aid can help reduce the amount that students pay out of pocket. In 2018, 86% of bachelor's-level students received financial aid, including scholarships, grants, work-study opportunities, fellowships, and loans.

With demand rising for computer science graduates, students enjoy numerous funding opportunities. In addition to specific computer science scholarships, learners may qualify for general STEM scholarships.

High school guidance counselors and college financial aid officers help students identify scholarship opportunities aligned with their skills, backgrounds, and interests. These dedicated professionals guide students throughout the application process. Online resources such as the College Board and the CareerOneStop scholarship search tool provide a helpful starting point for additional independent research.

Establishing a centralized organizational system early on helps applicants keep track of their scholarships. After compiling a list of possible scholarships, students should decide which opportunities to prioritize. They may focus their effort on scholarships that offer larger awards, or they may choose to work on applications based on deadline date.

Financial aid experts recommend starting the scholarship application process as early as possible. Starting early allows applicants to gather and organize materials in time to meet varying deadlines. Additionally, getting a head start on writing essays and personal statements gives students time to craft engaging compositions, seek feedback, and revise carefully.

Students should request recommendation letters early in the process, as many instructors and coaches write multiple recommendations and may not honor last-minute requests. They also need to fill out the FAFSA and collect documents such as transcripts, financial statements, test scores, and proofs of acceptance or enrollment. Scholarship applicants may also need to locate documentation of extracurricular activities, awards, and honors.

To maximize their success, students should understand the different types of scholarships and tailor their applications to suit the emphasis and requirements of each award for which they qualify.

Merit-based scholarships select recipients based on academic achievement, including high grades. Need-based scholarships focus primarily on supporting students demonstrating financial need. Both types of scholarship may set additional criteria.

Many scholarships, such as computer science scholarships, cater to learners pursuing a specific course of study. Scholarships may also target students based on factors including extracurricular activities, residency, gender, and religion. Some scholarships support specific populations such as veterans, single parents, students from minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities.

Scholarships for computer science majors open and close at various times of year. While many deadlines fall in the spring, some scholarships require students to apply up to a year in advance. For high school students, that often means starting the application process before entering their senior year. Keeping track of deadlines prevents students from missing out on important opportunities or submitting an incomplete or sloppy last-minute application.

Many students use spreadsheets to organize their scholarship lists. Spreadsheets allow applicants to sort scholarships by deadline date. Marking important application dates in a planner or calendar can also help applicants avoid missing deadlines.

Students should aim to submit scholarship applications in advance of the deadline whenever possible. Setting a personal deadline before the actual deadline allows applicants time to correct unforeseen problems and resolve technical complications.

Another person, such as a family member or college counselor, should check over applications thoroughly before submission. This outside perspective can help scholarship applicants spot errors, refine their writing, and make sure that they follow directions correctly to fulfill the application requirements. This final review should include a spelling and grammar check.