Computer Science Scholarships for High-School Women (NCWIT + More) — 2026

January

1) STEM Scholarship for Women
Why It Slaps: This is a strong early-January target because it is built specifically for women in STEM and still welcomes high-school seniors, which instantly makes it more usable than many women-in-tech awards that start only after college enrollment. It is also flexible on school type, allowing certificate, associate, and bachelor’s pathways, so students who are choosing between a four-year CS degree and a more applied tech route still have a real fit here. If you want a women-focused scholarship that does not demand a giant résumé of national awards, this is one of the cleaner first applications to knock out.
Amount: Up to $7,000
Deadline: January 15, 2026
Apply/info: STEM Scholarship for Women

2) CWIT Scholars (UMBC)
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most serious college-specific plays on the board for women going into computing because it is not a tiny one-time check. It is a four-year scholarship program wrapped with mentoring, community, networking, and a built-in support system for women in technical majors, which matters a lot if a student wants both money and belonging once college starts. For applicants already interested in UMBC, this is the kind of opportunity that can materially change the total cost and overall experience of a CS degree.
Amount: $5,000 to $15,000 per academic year for in-state students; $10,000 to $22,000 per academic year for out-of-state students
Deadline: January 15 (the official page currently lists this as the last posted incoming-freshman deadline)
Apply/info: CWIT Scholars

3) Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: This is one of the strongest national options for a high-school woman planning CS because it combines a serious multi-year award with a paid summer internship at Amazon. That combination is rare: most scholarships give cash, but not a built-in door into real industry experience. It is also more accessible than many elite STEM awards because the published GPA floor is modest and students can qualify through coursework or the Amazon assessment, which broadens the lane for applicants who are strong but not perfect-on-paper.
Amount: Up to $40,000 total, plus a paid summer internship
Deadline: January 22, 2026
Apply/info: Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship Program

4) Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a standout state-specific tech scholarship because it is clearly built for women pursuing computing degrees, not just STEM in the broadest possible sense. The eligible majors list is unusually relevant for this page, including computer science, software engineering, cybersecurity, digital forensics, and related fields, so CS applicants do not have to guess whether they fit. It is also attractive because the awards can renew and come with mentoring and internship support, which makes it stronger than a simple one-time award.
Amount: Up to $5,000; MCWT says annual awards generally range from $2,000 to $5,000 with possible renewal
Deadline: January 31, 2026
Apply/info: MCWT 2026–2027 College Scholarship Application

5) GET IT Girl College Technology Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a narrow-pool scholarship, and that is exactly why it deserves attention. If a Michigan student already participated in the GET IT Girl program, she is not competing in a giant national crowd; she is applying inside a much more targeted lane built around girls who already showed up for technology exposure and skill-building. It is a smart fit for CS-bound seniors who have the program history and want a scholarship that clearly values that prior engagement.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: January 31, 2026
Apply/info: GET IT Girl College Technology Scholarship

February

6) Rocky Mountain Section SWE Entering Freshman Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a strong regional play for Colorado and Wyoming seniors because it explicitly includes women planning computer science at ABET-accredited programs. Smaller geographic pools are often where serious applicants can outperform the crowd, especially when they have solid grades, service, and a clear computing goal. If you are in the Rockies and heading toward CS or engineering, this is exactly the kind of targeted scholarship that can beat a more crowded national application.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 1, 2026
Apply/info: Rocky Mountain Section SWE Entering Freshman Scholarship

7) ACPE Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This one is especially good for students who can point to actual technology use or a real project from high school, not just vague interest in “doing CS.” The prompts reward students who can explain what they built, what problem they were solving, and how technology has already shown up in their school or community. For Oregon and Washington seniors who have a genuine maker or problem-solver angle, this is a very real opportunity rather than a generic application dump.
Amount: Up to $3,000
Deadline: February 15, 2026
Apply/info: ACPE Scholarship 2026

March

8) Wesley Holland Annual Scholarship in Engineering
Why It Slaps: This is not a national scholarship, but it is a useful college-specific play for students already aiming at Mississippi State. The eligibility language explicitly includes computer science, which matters because many engineering scholarships leave CS students in a gray area. It is a strong example of the kind of university-based money smart applicants should layer on top of bigger outside scholarships, especially when it gives preference to students planning to engage with engineering communities like SWE.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 1, 2026
Apply/info: Wesley Holland Annual Scholarship in Engineering

9) Matrix Research Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a smaller regional scholarship, but those can be exactly where a strong applicant wins. Women receive preference, the Greater Dayton geography narrows the field, and the award welcomes high-school seniors headed into STEM, making it useful for a CS-bound student from the region who also has financial need. If your strategy is to stack multiple realistic wins instead of chasing only giant national names, this belongs on the list.
Amount: Up to $3,000
Deadline: March 6, 2026
Apply/info: Matrix Research Scholarship

10) Samantha Jennings-Jones Memorial Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Cybersecurity is one of the cleanest adjacent lanes for a high-school woman interested in computer science, and this scholarship gives that route real weight. It also stands out because it still includes high-school seniors while many cyber scholarships skew older or only toward current college students. If your interests sit at the intersection of CS, security, networks, digital defense, or information assurance, this is a very credible target.
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: March 15, 2026
Apply/info: Samantha Jennings-Jones Memorial Scholarship

11) Society of Women Engineers Scholarship – Emerging First Year Scholars
Why It Slaps: This is one of the better freshman-entry SWE routes because it is designed to help women early, before they are already deep into college. It is especially useful for students who need both merit and need to matter in the decision, and for applicants whose intended major sits inside the ABET engineering/computing world. For a high-school senior targeting computer science, this is a serious national application and not just a filler add-on.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Apply/info: SWE Scholarship – Emerging First Year Scholars

April

12) Antelope Valley Section SWE Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a strong regional option because it explicitly says computer science counts. That matters. Too many local SWE-style awards are vague, but this one clearly names CS and keeps the pool geographically smaller, which is good news for serious applicants in the Antelope Valley area. If you want an application where your location actually improves your odds, this is one to move early.
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: April 2, 2026
Apply/info: Antelope Valley Section SWE Scholarship

13) ITWomen Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: This is one of the best local-fit scholarships on this page for South Florida seniors because it is built specifically for female high-school seniors going into information technology or engineering. The value is stronger than it first looks because it is renewable over four years and comes with a mentor and a network, not just money. For a student from Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach who wants a tech career and real support, this is a high-priority application.
Amount: $8,000 over four years ($2,000 per year)
Deadline: April 3, 2026
Apply/info: ITWomen Scholarship Program

14) ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the clearest current cybersecurity scholarships for women accepted to college in the U.S. It is a strong fit for students who want to frame their computer-science story around security, privacy, defense, or cyber operations rather than general software engineering. Because the sponsor is a real security company and the award size is meaningful, this is one of the better “CS with a cyber angle” opportunities available right now.
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: April 8, 2026
Apply/info: ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship

15) The Women@Microsoft Fargo Hoppers Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a narrower regional scholarship, which is exactly why it can be valuable. Women accepted at colleges in Minnesota, North Dakota, or South Dakota get a smaller field than a national Microsoft-branded opportunity would usually have, and that makes the odds more interesting for a strong applicant. If you are Upper Midwest-based and can tell a compelling STEM story with leadership and financial need, this is worth real effort.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 8, 2026
Apply/info: Women@Microsoft Fargo Hoppers Scholarship

16) San Diego County Section SWE Entering Freshman Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a particularly good regional award because it explicitly includes computer science and engineering technology, not only traditional engineering majors. The essay asks applicants to explain why engineering matters to them and what they want to accomplish, which gives motivated students room to stand out even if they do not have a perfect résumé. For San Diego County and Temecula-area seniors, this is exactly the kind of targeted scholarship that should not be left on the table.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 10, 2026
Apply/info: San Diego County Section SWE Entering Freshman Scholarship

17) Progress Mary Székely Scholarship for Women in STEM
Why It Slaps: This is one of the biggest-dollar awards on the page and one of the best direct-fit scholarships for women in computing because it specifically lists computer science, software engineering, IT, and computer information systems. It is also targeted by geography, which often creates better odds than giant national pools. For a Massachusetts senior with financial need and a real computing plan, this is a premium application.
Amount: Up to $40,000
Deadline: April 11, 2026
Apply/info: Progress Mary Székely Scholarship for Women in STEM

18) Edwin A. Jaffe Women in Technology Memorial Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a useful local/community-college route for high-school seniors who want an affordable tech launch rather than a traditional four-year-only plan. That matters because some of the smartest computer-science money moves start with a lower-cost associate path and then transfer. If a student is Tech-Prep connected and planning Bristol Community College, this is a practical fit with less wasted effort than a broad national application.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 14, 2026
Apply/info: Edwin A. Jaffe Women in Technology Memorial Scholarship

19) BG STEM Scholars Program
Why It Slaps: This is a smart scholarship for girls who can show leadership, service, and character rather than only raw test-score energy. It also includes both juniors and seniors, which makes it useful for younger readers building an early pipeline. For a future CS major with community involvement and a credible STEM story, this is a strong mid-sized opportunity.
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: April 15, 2026
Apply/info: BG STEM Scholars Program

20) WiseGeek Women in STEM Scholarship
Why It Slaps: The award size is smaller, but this is exactly the kind of fast, realistic scholarship that belongs in a smart stack. It is specifically for female high-school seniors and does not require the kind of intimidating profile that many national tech scholarships seem to expect. Smaller awards still matter, especially when they are easier to finish and can cover books, a laptop upgrade, or part of a first-term bill.
Amount: Up to $500
Deadline: April 16, 2026
Apply/info: WiseGeek Women in STEM Scholarship

21) Generation Google Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most recognizable computing scholarships on the page, and it is a real fit for graduating seniors who came through CSSI and want a serious CS-branded award. The scholarship is especially attractive because it targets students in groups historically underrepresented in tech, which makes it highly relevant for women in computer science. If you have the program eligibility, this is a priority-level application, not a casual extra.
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: April 23, 2026
Apply/info: Generation Google Scholarship

22) ESA Foundation Computer and Video Game Arts and Sciences Scholarships
Why It Slaps: This is a strong fit for students whose version of computer science leans toward game development, interactive systems, graphics, creative coding, or technical work inside the gaming industry. The ESA Foundation specifically serves future video game professionals, so this is much more targeted than a generic STEM scholarship for a student who already knows she wants to build games or tools around them. If your CS story is creative, technical, and game-adjacent, this is one of the best niche options on the page.
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Apply/info: ESA Foundation Scholarships

May

23) Admiral Grace Murray Hopper Memorial Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Grace Hopper’s name matters in computing for a reason, and this scholarship is one of the clearest freshman-entry awards aimed directly at women headed into computer science or computer engineering. It is not giant money, but it is unusually on-theme for this page and carries symbolic weight that can also look good on future résumés and bios. For a CS senior applying to ABET-accredited programs, this is a clean, direct fit.
Amount: Up to $1,500
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Apply/info: Admiral Grace Murray Hopper Memorial Scholarship

24) Paula Loring Simon Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is another very usable SWE freshman award for women heading into computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering. It works well for applicants whose interests overlap hardware, systems, embedded work, or CS-plus-engineering paths rather than only pure software. If a student wants multiple solid SWE-aligned applications instead of putting all her energy into one, this belongs in the same batch as Hopper and Harrod.
Amount: Up to $1,250
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Apply/info: Paula Loring Simon Scholarship

25) B.J. Harrod Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the better SWE freshman awards for applicants who are academically strong and want a scholarship that explicitly includes computer science. The GPA bar is meaningful, so it helps separate serious applicants from the crowd. For a high-performing senior headed into CS or engineering technology, this is a very sensible May application.
Amount: Up to $3,000
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Apply/info: B.J. Harrod Scholarship

26) GE Foundation Engineering Scholarship Program for Freshmen
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most useful “broader engineering but still CS-relevant” scholarships on the page because it explicitly includes computer science and information systems/technology. It is also stronger than average because the published amount is meaningful and underrepresented students get preference. For a female high-school senior joining SWE and entering an ABET-aligned program, this is a strong mainstream scholarship target.
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Apply/info: GE Foundation Engineering Scholarship Program for Freshmen

27) SWE New Jersey Section Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a broader engineering scholarship rather than a pure CS award, but it is still a worthwhile entry for New Jersey seniors whose interests cross between computer science, engineering technology, robotics, systems, or hardware-adjacent computing. The regional restriction is its real advantage, because smaller geography can mean a more manageable applicant pool. If you are a New Jersey senior and your academic path touches tech or engineering, it is still worth the application.
Amount: Up to $2,000
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Apply/info: SWE New Jersey Section Scholarship

28) Endeavour’s Women in Tech Group Engineering Scholarship – High School
Why It Slaps: This is another broader STEM entry, but it is explicitly for female high-school seniors and is unusually welcoming to applicants who can point to research, advocacy, or standout work. That makes it a better fit for students who did something visible in STEM clubs, maker spaces, competitions, outreach, or school/community tech projects. If your CS story includes action and not just interest, this scholarship gives you room to use that.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: May 15, 2026
Apply/info: Endeavour’s Women in Tech Group Engineering Scholarship – High School

October / fall cycle

29) NCWIT Aspirations in Computing High School Award
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most important name-brand honors for girls in computing, and it belongs on any serious high-school women in CS page even though it is an award more than a traditional tuition scholarship. The value here is bigger than the cash piece because the recognition, community access, and long-term résumé signal can compound into later scholarship, internship, and admissions wins. If a student has real computing activities, projects, leadership, or persistence stories, this should be treated as a must-apply fall opportunity.
Amount: Varies by award level; national winners receive cash and a trip, while regional awardees receive recognition plus a medal/certificate
Deadline: The currently posted cycle closed October 28, 2025; watch the next fall opening
Apply/info: NCWIT Aspirations in Computing High School Award

December

30) Science Ambassador Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most distinctive scholarships on the page because it rewards actual scientific communication instead of a standard essay. Applicants have to teach a STEM topic in a short video, which is great for students who genuinely understand technical ideas and can explain them clearly. For a high-school woman heading into computer science, this is a rare chance to turn curiosity, clarity, and personality into a major award without needing the same application package everyone else is sending.
Amount: Five scholarships of $20,000 each
Deadline: December 15, 2026
Apply/info: Science Ambassador Scholarship

How to use this page strategically

Start with the scholarships that are the best fit, not just the biggest numbers. A Michigan senior should move MCWT and GET IT Girl near the top. A South Florida senior should absolutely prioritize ITWomen. A student with a cybersecurity angle should not wait on ESET and Samantha Jennings-Jones.

The smartest application stack is usually a mix of three kinds of opportunities: one or two national prestige awards, a handful of regional or state-specific scholarships, and one or two college-specific awards tied to a school you are actually likely to attend. That mix gives you better odds than chasing only famous national names.

For computer science applications, the strongest essays usually do three things well: they show a real reason you care about computing, they point to one concrete project or experience, and they explain what problem you want to solve with your degree. Scholarship readers do not need fake startup jargon. They need evidence that you already think like a builder, analyst, or problem-solver.

FAQs

Are these only for women majoring exactly in computer science?
No. Several awards also accept closely related fields such as computer engineering, cybersecurity, information systems, software engineering, data science, and IT. For this page, I kept scholarships where a CS-bound student clearly fits or can compete well.

What should I do if a scholarship is already closed for 2026?
Bookmark it and treat it as part of your next-cycle calendar. Many of the best women-in-tech awards repeat annually, and the students who win are often the ones who prepare months early instead of rushing at the last minute.

Can I stack these with Pell Grants, state grants, and college merit aid?
Usually yes, but each college handles outside scholarships a little differently. Ask your financial aid office how outside awards are applied so you know whether they reduce unmet need first or change another part of your aid package.

What should a strong CS scholarship application highlight?
Focus on proof. A coding project, hackathon, robotics build, cybersecurity club role, tutoring work, tech volunteering, or even a problem you solved for school or family is stronger than generic claims that you “love technology.”

Are smaller regional scholarships worth it?
Absolutely. Smaller pools often mean better odds, and several $500 to $3,000 awards can stack into real money for tuition, housing, books, fees, or a better laptop.

What if I am interested in both CS and engineering?
Apply to both lanes. Many SWE scholarships and regional tech awards are built for students whose interests cross between software, hardware, systems, robotics, or engineering technology. That overlap can work in your favor.