Computer Science Scholarships (2026) — Verified Apply Links

Bag the scholarship, skip the stress. Below is a hand-picked list of legit CS scholarships for high school seniors, college students, and grad students.

Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship (HS seniors → CS/Engr majors)

• Why it slaps

  • Big-name scholarship + potential Amazon internship

  • Up to $40,000 over 4 years; national reach

• Amount: Up to $40,000 total

• Deadline: Apps typically open in fall; Jan close (varies each year)

• Apply/info: https://www.amazonfutureengineer.com/scholarships — AFE US

Generation Google Scholarship (U.S./Canada — CS/CE undergrads)

• Why it slaps

  • Flagship Google award for CS students

  • Strong on leadership + impact; clear criteria

• Amount: Up to $10,000 (US)

• Deadline: Annual window (2025 cycle closed; timelines vary)

• Apply/info: https://www.google.com/about/careers/applications/buildyourfuture/scholarships/generation-google-scholarship — Google
  Alt official host page with current cycle notes: https://www.iie.org/programs/generationgoogle/ — IIE

AFCEA STEM Major Scholarships (college students in CS/STEM)

• Why it slaps

  • Multiple national STEM tracks (incl. cyber/CS)

  • One portal → several awards; strong defense/tech network

• Amount: Varies by track (commonly $2,500+)

• Deadline: Annual; application link posts on AFCEA page each cycle

• Apply/info: https://www.afcea.org/stem-majors-scholarships — AFCEA International

UPE/ACM Scholarship Awards (ACM student members; undergrad/grad)

• Why it slaps

  • CS honor society + ACM recognition looks great on resumes

  • Real awards + national visibility

• Amount: UPE/ACM awards typically $1,500 each (UPE general: $1,000–$3,000)

• Deadline: UPE/ACM often Sept; UPE general often Oct (check page)

• Apply/info: https://upe.acm.org/scholarship/ — upe.acm.org

IEEE Computer Society — Richard E. Merwin Student Scholarship

• Why it slaps

  • Rewards student leaders in IEEE-CS branches

  • Ambassador role + national network

• Amount: Up to $1,000 per award; two cycles/year

• Deadline: Typically Apr 30 and Sep 30

• Apply/info: https://www.computer.org/volunteering/awards/scholarships/merwin/ —  IEEE Computer Society

CyberCorps®: Scholarship for Service (SFS) — Cybersecurity (CS-adjacent)

• Why it slaps

  • Full tuition + stipend (UG $27k, Grad $37k) up to 3 years

  • Federal/state/tribal cyber job placement after graduation

• Amount: Tuition/fees + $27k–$37k stipends + $6k pro allowance

• Deadline: By participating university (varies)

• Apply/info: https://sfs.opm.gov — SFS

DoD SMART Scholarship-for-Service (CS/CE/AI/EE — UG→PhD)

• Why it slaps

  • Full tuition + $30k–$46k stipend, paid DoD summer internships

  • Guaranteed civilian DoD job upon graduation

• Amount: Full tuition + $30k–$46k stipend + allowances

• Deadline: Opens late summer/fall; closes Dec–Jan (varies)

• Apply/info: https://www.smartscholarship.org —  Smart Scholarship

NCWIT Aspirations in Computing — High School Award (HS; CS interest)

• Why it slaps

  • Major national recognition for HS technologists

  • Opens doors to partner scholarships, internships, and mentors

• Amount: Recognition + swag; some affiliates offer cash awards

• Deadline: HS cycle typically Sep–Oct

• Apply/info: https://www.aspirations.org/award-programs/aic-high-school-award —  aspirations.org

Hispanic Scholarship Fund (major-agnostic; CS eligible)

• Why it slaps

  • Big, reputable program; renewable potential

  • Works alongside Pell/state aid; extensive scholar supports

• Amount: $500–$5,000 (typical, need/merit based)

• Deadline: Annual Jan–Feb window (varies)

• Apply/info: https://www.hsf.net/scholarship —  hsf.net

NSBE Scholarships (multiple; HS→grad; CS welcome)

• Why it slaps

  • $500–$12,000 partner awards; spring/fall cycles

  • Central portal; lots of industry partners

• Amount/Deadlines: Vary by award; cycles usually spring & fall

• Apply/info: https://nsbe.org/scholarships/ (hub) + portal https://nsbe.smapply.io/ —  National Society of Black Engineers, nsbe.smapply.io

SHPE — ScholarSHPE (Hispanic/Latine; CS/STEM)

• Why it slaps

  • One common app for multiple industry scholarships

  • Fits CS pathways (software, data, cyber)

• Amount/Deadline: Varies; annual cycle

• Apply/info: https://shpe.org/engage/programs/scholarshpe/ —  shpe.org

Google PhD Fellowship (Grad/PhD — CS research)

• Why it slaps

  • Tuition + stipend (region-specific) + Google Research mentor

  • Strong signal in ML/Systems/HCI/etc.

• Amount/Deadline: Varies by region/year; see official page

• Apply/info: https://research.google/programs-and-events/phd-fellowship/ —  Google Research

NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship (PhD — CS/AI/HPC/Graphics)

• Why it slaps

  • Up to $60,000 + required NVIDIA research internship

  • Excellent visibility for AI/ML and systems folks

• Amount/Deadline: Up to $60k; 2026–27 apps open with Sept 15, 2025 deadline (per NVIDIA blog)

• Apply/info: https://research.nvidia.com/graduate-fellowships — (Deadline reference: NVIDIA blog.) NVIDIA, NVIDIA Blog

ACM SIGHPC Computational & Data Science Fellowships (MS/PhD — data/comp sci)

• Why it slaps

  • Increases diversity in computational & data science

  • Prestigious ACM program; advisor nomination often required

• Amount/Deadline: Varies by year; see program page

• Apply/info: https://www.sighpc.org/opportunities/fellowships —  sighpc.org

Note: Identity-specific awards (e.g., Blacks at Microsoft, HOLA at Microsoft, Women at Microsoft) are great fits for CS too; we list them on their identity pages, but you can also apply directly: BAM, HOLA, WAM — all verified today. Microsoft

🔖 Helpful resources (official & practical)

• FAFSA (Federal Aid): File early to unlock Pell/Work-Study and auto-qual for many need-based scholarships — https://studentaid.gov/ — ✅ Verified Aug 20, 2025.

• NSF S-STEM (campus-run scholarships): Many CS departments fund students via NSF S-STEM; search your school site + “S-STEM computer science.” Program overview: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/s-stem-nsf-scholarships-science-technology-engineering-mathematics — NSF – National Science Foundation

• NCAE-C campus map (for SFS/CySP leads): Find universities that host federal cyber scholarships — https://maps.caecommunity.org — sighpc.org

• IEEE Computer Society student awards hub: More scholarships/contests — https://www.computer.org/volunteering/awards/scholarships/ — IEEE Computer Society

FAQ (short + real) 💬

1) Which “big” CS awards can cover most costs?
SMART (DoD) and SFS (CyberCorps) are the heavy hitters: full tuition, $27k–$46k stipends, and guaranteed public-sector roles (service commitment applies).  Smart Scholarship, SFS

2) I’m a high school senior. Best starting points?
Start with Amazon Future Engineer and Generation Google, then scan your state flagship CS department for NSF S-STEM awards. AFE US, Google, NSF – National Science Foundation

3) Are identity-based scholarships worth it if I qualify?
Yes. Programs like BAM/HOLA/WAM, HSF, NSBE, and SHPE stack great with general awards and often come with mentoring and internships. hsf.net,  hpe.org, National Society of Black Engineers

4) Where do I find campus-specific CS money?
Search your university site for “department scholarships” or “S-STEM computer science.” Many schools run their own NSF-funded CS awards each year. NSF – National Science Foundation

5) Grad school in CS — what should I target?
Check Google PhD Fellowship, NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship, and ACM SIGHPC Fellowships (data/comp). These are prestige + funding + industry ties. Google Research, NVIDIA, sighpc.org