3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing Scholarships: 30 Verified Awards for 2026
January deadlines
1) FEF Internship/Co-Op Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This one is a smart fit for additive-manufacturing students because employers in 3D printing, tooling, foundry tech, process engineering, and advanced manufacturing care a lot about real shop-floor experience. If you already landed an internship or co-op in a metalcasting or manufacturing environment, this scholarship rewards the exact kind of hands-on learning that makes an additive résumé stronger. It is especially useful for students building toward process engineering, production, applications engineering, or hybrid manufacturing roles.
Amount: Up to $2,500
Deadline: January 4, 2026 for the current listed cycle
Apply/info: https://fefinc.org/scholarships.html?id=20&view=scholarship.
2) Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the cleanest direct hits on the whole page. It is built specifically for college and graduate students with a strong interest in additive manufacturing, and the application wants applicants to show projects, experiments, research, outreach, and future ideas in AM. It is not traditional tuition money, but it gives the winner high-value industry access, conference learning, travel, and networking that can open doors faster than a small cash award.
Amount: Covers conference registration, hotel, airfare, and related AMUG conference participation costs
Deadline: January 16, 2026 for the 2026 cycle
Apply/info: https://www.amug.com/guy-e-bourdeau-scholarship/.
February deadlines
3) SME Education Foundation Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: If you want the broadest manufacturing scholarship application on this page, this is it. One application can place you into multiple SME scholarships tied to manufacturing and engineering, and the major list includes manufacturing-focused pathways that line up well with additive careers. For students who are still deciding whether they want to work in design, process, tooling, automation, or manufacturing systems, this gives you strong coverage without making you guess at one narrow niche award.
Amount: Scholarships range from $2,500 to $20,000
Deadline: February 1, 2026 for the 2026–27 cycle
Apply/info: https://scholarships.smeef.org/applications/.
4) MakerBot Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most on-topic scholarships here because it explicitly names additive manufacturing. It is a great match for students from underrepresented, low-income communities who want to build careers in industrial engineering, manufacturing, or additive manufacturing. If your site visitors want something that feels like a real 3D-printing scholarship instead of just a nearby field, this is the one to put near the top.
Amount: $20,000 total, paid as $5,000 per year over four years
Deadline: Runs through the SME Education Foundation scholarship system, which had a February 1, 2026 deadline for the 2026–27 cycle
Apply/info: https://www.smeef.org/about-smeef/newsroom/press-releases/2025/ultimaker-and-sme-education-foundation-launch-the-makerbot-scholarship-paving-the-way-for-the-next-generation-of-innovators/.
5) Stephen Ducharme Student Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This one makes sense for students interested in metal additive manufacturing, casting, and materials-heavy production paths. A lot of additive careers are not just about the printer; they are about what happens with alloys, thermal behavior, surface quality, finishing, and manufacturability after the print. This scholarship rewards students in metalcasting-related studies, which can make it a sleeper fit for students who want to work where additive and traditional metal processes meet.
Amount: Not listed on the current official page
Deadline: February 1, 2026
Apply/info: https://fefinc.org/scholarships.html?id=19&view=scholarship.
6) George A. Roberts Scholarships
Why It Slaps: Materials science is one of the most important academic pipelines into additive manufacturing, especially for powder-bed fusion, binder jetting, metal AM, ceramics, and advanced alloys. This scholarship is a strong match for junior and senior undergrads who want a materials-heavy route into 3D printing rather than a pure design route. It is one of the better high-value options for students who care about metallurgy, microstructure, performance, and qualification.
Amount: Up to seven scholarships of $6,000 each
Deadline: February 28
Apply/info: https://www.asmfoundation.org/students/scholarships/.
7) Lucille & Charles A. Wert Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a premium materials scholarship with a solid award ceiling, and that matters because additive manufacturing increasingly rewards students who understand materials deeply, not just CAD or printer operation. If your readers are leaning toward materials science, metallurgical engineering, or another discipline that supports advanced manufacturing, this is the kind of scholarship that can actually move the cost needle. It also carries strong credibility because it sits inside a long-running ASM scholarship program.
Amount: Full tuition for one year, up to $10,000
Deadline: February 28
Apply/info: https://www.asmfoundation.org/students/scholarships/.
8) William Park Woodside Founder’s Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is another strong-fit scholarship for students taking the materials route into additive manufacturing. For metal AM, especially, the people who understand materials behavior, processing, and failure modes are often the ones who become the most valuable engineers later. This award is a great fit for serious materials students who want a respected scholarship tied to leadership and academics, not just financial need.
Amount: Full tuition for one year, up to $10,000
Deadline: February 28
Apply/info: https://www.asmfoundation.org/students/scholarships/.
9) Acta Materialia Scholarships
Why It Slaps: Additive manufacturing keeps pulling students toward research-heavy questions like microstructure control, materials qualification, post-processing, and performance prediction. That makes this scholarship a smart one for students who may head into graduate study, R&D, aerospace materials, biomaterials, or advanced manufacturing research. It is not branded as a 3D-printing scholarship, but it absolutely sits in a field that feeds the technology.
Amount: Two scholarships of $5,000 each
Deadline: February 28
Apply/info: https://www.asmfoundation.org/students/scholarships/.
10) David J. Chellman Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This award is useful for students who want a smaller but still meaningful scholarship from a trusted materials organization. Because it is based on academic merit and financial need, it can work well for students who are serious about technical study but still need practical help covering costs. For additive-manufacturing students in materials or aerospace-adjacent pathways, it is a solid bookmark.
Amount: One award of $2,500
Deadline: February 28
Apply/info: https://www.asmfoundation.org/students/scholarships/.
11) ASM Outstanding Scholars Awards
Why It Slaps: Not every student will win the biggest named scholarship, so this award matters because it gives high-performing materials students another legitimate route to funding. If your readers are doing well academically and building a materials, metallurgy, or advanced-manufacturing track, this is worth applying for alongside the bigger ASM awards. It is also a smart “stacking” target for students trying to combine several smaller wins.
Amount: Three scholarships of $2,000 each
Deadline: February 28
Apply/info: https://www.asmfoundation.org/students/scholarships/.
12) Edward J. Dulis Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is not the flashiest award on the list, but smaller scholarships like this often matter because they are easier to stack and can help cover books, lab fees, travel, software, or materials. For students in materials and manufacturing lanes, that makes it more useful than it looks at first glance. It is also backed by the same ASM ecosystem that gives the award real technical relevance.
Amount: One award of $1,500
Deadline: February 28
Apply/info: https://www.asmfoundation.org/students/scholarships/.
13) John M. Haniak Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a good targeted option for Pennsylvania-connected students who want a materials-based path into manufacturing and possibly additive work later. Regional or residency-linked scholarships are often underused, which can make them worth more than they look on paper. If your readers fit the Pennsylvania requirement, this is absolutely worth adding to the shortlist.
Amount: One award of $1,500
Deadline: February 28
Apply/info: https://www.asmfoundation.org/students/scholarships/.
14) ASME Scholarships for Community College, 2-Year Technical, and Associate Degree Programs
Why It Slaps: This is a huge win for students who want to enter additive manufacturing through community college or technical education instead of a four-year university. That route is especially common in CAD, mechatronics, prototyping, machine tech, automation, and manufacturing support roles tied to 3D printing. Because ASME uses a universal application and accepts closely related engineering studies, this is one of the better “bridge into AM” options for two-year students.
Amount: Varies by scholarship
Deadline: February 27, 2026 for the listed undergraduate cycle
Apply/info: https://www.asme.org/asme-programs/students-and-faculty/scholarships/community-college-2-year-associates.
15) ASME Scholarships for 4-Year Baccalaureate Students
Why It Slaps: Mechanical engineering remains one of the clearest degree paths into additive manufacturing, especially for design for AM, product development, testing, tooling, robotics, and applications engineering. This ASME route gives students access to multiple scholarships through one application, which is efficient and realistic for busy applicants. If a student likes 3D printing but is majoring in mechanical engineering, this is one of the best umbrella programs to keep on the page.
Amount: Varies by scholarship
Deadline: February 27, 2026 for undergraduate applicants in the listed cycle
Apply/info: https://www.asme.org/asme-programs/students-and-faculty/scholarships/4-year-baccalaureate-graduate-students.
March deadlines
16) ASME Graduate Scholarships
Why It Slaps: Graduate study is where a lot of serious additive-manufacturing work happens, especially in lattice design, materials research, computational modeling, process optimization, and qualification. If your readers are moving into a master’s or graduate engineering program, this is a strong, relevant funding track. It is especially good for students whose 3D-printing interest is shifting from hobby or classroom work into research and technical specialization.
Amount: Varies by scholarship
Deadline: March 2, 2026 for graduate applicants in the listed cycle
Apply/info: https://www.asme.org/asme-programs/students-and-faculty/scholarships/4-year-baccalaureate-graduate-students.
17) ASME INSPIRE / Charles W.E. Clarke Scholarship
Why It Slaps: High school seniors looking at 3D printing often do not find many true niche scholarships, so this is one of the better early-entry engineering options to surface. It rewards students heading into engineering or STEM-related study and specifically looks for financial need plus STEM involvement. That makes it a great front-door scholarship for students who discovered engineering through robotics, CAD, maker projects, or school 3D-printing labs.
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: March 15 for the high school senior cycle
Apply/info: https://www.asme.org/asme-programs/students-and-faculty/scholarships/available-high-school-scholarships.
18) ASME INSPIRE / STEM Global Action Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This one is more specific, but it is still worth listing because it gives eligible high school seniors a larger award than the standard Clarke scholarship. For site visitors who came up through hands-on STEM programming and are now aiming for engineering study that could lead to additive manufacturing, this is a strong opportunity. It also helps you show readers that early-stage engineering scholarships do exist even when the 3D-printing label itself is rare.
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: March 15 for the high school senior cycle
Apply/info: https://www.asme.org/asme-programs/students-and-faculty/scholarships/available-high-school-scholarships.
19) AWS National Scholarships
Why It Slaps: This is not the first scholarship people think of for additive manufacturing, but it belongs here because welding and joining are highly relevant to wire-arc additive manufacturing, metal fabrication, and industrial production. AWS also explicitly notes that some national scholarships can apply to students in mechanical, industrial, aerospace, and materials science programs when the career objective is welding-related. For students interested in metal AM, fabrication, and industrial hardware careers, this is a serious funding lane.
Amount: More than 130 donor-funded scholarships totaling over $700,000; individual awards start at $2,500 and go higher
Deadline: March 1
Apply/info: https://www.aws.org/career-resources/students/scholarships/national-scholarships/.
20) Jean Bye – AFS Women in Metalcasting Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the stronger women-focused manufacturing scholarships on the list, and it is especially useful for students interested in metals, casting, foundry processes, and industrial production. For additive students who are moving toward metal AM, powder processing, casting-additive hybrid workflows, or materials-heavy manufacturing, this is a very relevant scholarship. It also adds a welcome diversity angle for students looking for women-in-industry opportunities.
Amount: Not listed on the current official page
Deadline: March 1, 2026
Apply/info: https://fefinc.org/jean-bye-scholarship.html.
21) PMMI Electrical Engineer Scholarship
Why It Slaps: A lot of additive-manufacturing jobs are not only about design or materials. They also touch controls, machines, sensors, motion systems, industrial hardware, and production equipment. That is why an electrical-engineering scholarship like this can be a strong indirect fit, especially for students interested in industrial printers, automation, manufacturing systems, or machine integration roles.
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Apply/info: https://www.pmmifoundation.org/scholarships.
22) John A. Kowal Memorial Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Automation is a sneaky-good pathway into additive manufacturing because modern production lines need people who understand controls, integration, data, and machinery. This scholarship is aimed at electrical engineering, automation, and related fields, which makes it especially relevant for students who see 3D printing as part of a bigger smart-manufacturing future. If your readers like robotics, factory systems, or industrial tech, this is a smart add.
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Apply/info: https://www.pmmifoundation.org/scholarships.
23) PMMI Mechanical Engineer Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Mechanical engineering is still one of the safest and strongest degree choices for students aiming at additive manufacturing careers. It supports product design, design-for-manufacture, machine design, prototyping, testing, and production optimization, all of which matter in AM. This scholarship is broad enough to be accessible but technical enough to stay highly relevant.
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Apply/info: https://www.pmmifoundation.org/scholarships.
24) PACK EXPO Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This scholarship has wider eligibility than some of the other PMMI awards because it covers engineering, packaging, processing, mechatronics, and related fields. That makes it a good fit for additive students whose interests lean toward production systems, product design, packaging prototypes, automation, or manufacturing equipment. Six awards at $5,000 each also makes this one feel more attainable than a one-winner scholarship.
Amount: Six scholarships of $5,000 each
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Apply/info: https://www.pmmifoundation.org/scholarships.
April deadlines
25) AWS Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships
Why It Slaps: For graduate students working near metal additive manufacturing, this is a big-money opportunity that deserves attention. The fellowship supports master’s and Ph.D. research in welding or joining-related research, and that overlaps with wire-based additive, joining science, thermal processes, and industrial metals work. If a student is already moving into advanced research, this can matter far more than a small scholarship.
Amount: $35,000 per year
Deadline: April 15, 2026
Apply/info: https://www.aws.org/career-resources/students/fellowships/.
26) Non-Ferrous Founders’ Society Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a solid fit for students who care about metalcasting and the broader ecosystem around metal manufacturing. Additive-manufacturing careers in metals often reward students who understand conventional metal processes, alloys, and production logic, not just printers. That is why this scholarship can make sense for students building toward foundry, materials, production, or hybrid manufacturing roles.
Amount: Current official page does not publish a fixed award amount
Deadline: April 20, 2026
Apply/info: https://fefinc.org/scholarships.html?id=22&view=scholarship.
27) M5D Skolaski Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most directly relevant scholarships on the page because the official SPE listing says preference is given to students with interest and/or experience in 3D printing and additive manufacturing. That makes it a rare, honest-to-goodness AM-specific scholarship worth bookmarking even if the annual cycle timing can be easy to miss. For polymer, design, product-development, and maker-to-manufacturing students, this is a standout.
Amount: Not published on the current official page
Deadline: SPE’s general scholarship cycle has used an April 1 deadline; the 2026–27 cycle is currently closed, so verify the next opening on the official page
Apply/info: https://www.4spe.org/Scholarships/.
28) Plastics Hall of Fame Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a very useful scholarship for students whose additive-manufacturing interests lean toward plastics, polymers, mold making, plastic technology, or product development. Polymer-based 3D printing is still one of the most accessible ways students enter the field, so a plastics scholarship with a published $5,000 award is extremely worth surfacing. It is especially good for students who want a materials-plus-manufacturing route rather than a pure mechanical-engineering lane.
Amount: $5,000 each
Deadline: The published SPE Foundation cycle used an April 1 deadline; verify the next opening on the official page
Apply/info: https://www.4spe.org/Scholarships/.
May deadlines
29) ASM Technical / Community College Scholarships
Why It Slaps: This is one of the best options on the page for students at technical colleges and community colleges, and that matters because a lot of additive-manufacturing talent starts in two-year programs. The fields listed by ASM include materials science and materials-related applied technologies, which line up well with manufacturing, mechatronics, plastics, and materials-support roles around 3D printing. It is also one of the cleaner “yes, community-college students count” scholarships to recommend.
Amount: Up to 20 scholarships at $500 each
Deadline: May 1
Apply/info: https://www.asmfoundation.org/who-we-are/collegiate/technical-community/.
30) H.H. Harris Foundation Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a strong option for students focused on metallurgy and casting of metals, which keeps it relevant to the metal side of additive manufacturing. Metal AM engineers who understand alloys, foundry logic, and process behavior often have an edge, especially in production settings. This is not the biggest scholarship on the page, but it is a nice fit for students headed into serious metal-process work.
Amount: The average grant last year was more than $1,000 per student
Deadline: May 29, 2026
Apply/info: https://www.afsinc.org/college-scholarships.
FAQs
Are there really scholarships just for 3D printing?
Yes, but not many. The cleanest direct fits I found were the MakerBot Scholarship, the AMUG Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarship, and the M5D Skolaski Scholarship. Most of the rest of the best matches sit one step wider in manufacturing, materials science, mechanical engineering, plastics, metalcasting, or automation.
Which majors should students search if they want to work in additive manufacturing?
The strongest search terms are additive manufacturing, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, metallurgical engineering, plastics or polymer science, mechatronics, automation, and sometimes welding or metalcasting. Official scholarship pages on this list already use many of those degree paths, which is why broader manufacturing scholarships can be a smart fit for 3D-printing students.
Are there good options for high school seniors?
Yes. The best verified ones here for high school seniors are the ASME high school scholarships and the broader SME Education Foundation scholarship system, which also includes the MakerBot opportunity through the same manufacturing scholarship pipeline.
Can community-college students use this page?
Absolutely. ASME’s 2-year scholarship route, ASM’s technical/community college scholarships, and several manufacturing-focused programs on this page clearly include two-year, technical, or applied-technology students. That matters because a lot of additive-manufacturing talent comes from technical education, not only four-year engineering programs.
Which scholarships should a student apply to first if they want the closest match to additive manufacturing?
My fastest shortlist would be MakerBot, AMUG Guy E. Bourdeau, M5D Skolaski, SME Education Foundation, ASM materials scholarships, and ASME mechanical-engineering scholarships. That mix gives students one direct-additive option, one conference-and-networking option, one polymer/3D-printing option, and several broad but highly relevant manufacturing and engineering tracks.
