Engineering Scholarships for High-School Women (ABET-Ready) — 30 Verified Apply Links for 2026
January deadlines
1. AIAA Roger W. Kahn Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the cleanest true-engineering scholarships on the board for high-school seniors because it is built specifically for students enrolling in an engineering major, with aerospace as the strongest natural fit. It is not a vague “women in STEM” catch-all. AIAA says it awards up to four scholarships of $10,000, and the page is built around the high-school-to-engineering transition, which makes it one of the most on-brand options for ambitious students targeting aerospace, mechanical, systems, or related engineering tracks.
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: January 7, 2026
Apply/info: https://aiaa.org/get-involved/k-12-students/scholarships/aiaa-roger-w-kahn-scholarship/
2. Greater Chicago Chapter WTS Transportation YOU Scholarship
Why It Slaps: If a student is even remotely interested in civil engineering, transportation engineering, infrastructure, transit, construction systems, or mobility planning, this is a smart regional bet. The Greater Chicago chapter specifically targets female high-school seniors in the area, offers up to $1,000, and focuses on transportation goals plus academic record rather than just generic essay polish. Smaller regional pools like this often have much better odds than national headline awards.
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: January 9, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/greater-chicago-chapter-wts-transportation-you-scholarship
3. San Francisco Chapter WTS Transportation YOU High School Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a high-value regional transportation-STEM scholarship with a notably better ceiling than many local awards. The San Francisco chapter lists up to $5,000 for female high-school seniors in the Bay Area who are planning a STEM major and thinking seriously about transportation careers. For a student leaning civil, environmental, systems, urban tech, or infrastructure engineering, this is a very strong target because the field match is tighter than a generic STEM award.
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: January 20, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/san-francisco-chapter-wts-transportation-you-high-school-scholarship
4. WTS Transportation YOU High School Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is the flagship national WTS high-school scholarship and one of the best civil/transportation-adjacent options for girls in engineering. It is specifically designed for female high-school seniors studying STEM who plan to prepare for a transportation career, and the national page makes clear that local chapters feed into the broader process. If the student wants civil, structural, traffic, transportation systems, or infrastructure work, this deserves serious priority.
Amount: Up to $2,500
Deadline: January 27, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/wts-transportation-you-high-school-scholarship
February deadlines
5. Rocky Mountain Section SWE Entering Freshman Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a straight-up engineering scholarship for high-school women in Colorado or Wyoming and one of the cleanest regional SWE plays for first-year applicants. The page explicitly ties eligibility to engineering or computer science at an ABET-accredited program, which is exactly the kind of direct pathway language this page should feature. It is also tailored to true entering freshmen, which makes it a much better match than awards that mostly skew upperclass.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 1, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/rocky-mountain-section-swe-entering-freshman-scholarship
6. Liebherr Mining Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This one is unusually strong for Virginia students because it is women-focused, engineering-specific, and centered on majors with obvious career-market value: mechanical, electrical, computer, and automotive-related engineering plus computer science. That makes it a sharper fit than broad STEM awards that lump everything together. For a Virginia senior building a list around industry-aligned engineering fields, this is a very smart include.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 1, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/liebherr-mining-scholarship
7. Greatland SWE Section Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Alaska students should not skip this just because it is regional. In fact, regional SWE scholarships are often the highest-odds money on the page, and this one is built specifically for female high-school seniors in Alaska planning to enter an ABET-accredited engineering program. That local targeting plus SWE brand credibility makes it a very practical application, especially for students who want engineering-first funding rather than generic women-in-college money.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 10, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/greatland-swe-section-scholarship
8. Society of Women Engineers (SWE HI) Scholarship in Honor of Mae Nakatani Nishioka
Why It Slaps: Hawaii students pursuing engineering or technology should absolutely know this one. It is women-centered, open to high-school seniors, and includes a need component, which is valuable because a lot of engineering awards skew purely merit-only. For a Hawaii senior who wants a real local-to-college bridge scholarship tied to engineering identity, this is stronger than a generic mainland listicle pick.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 26, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/society-of-women-engineers-swe-hi-scholarship-in-honor-of-mae-nakatani-nishioka
March deadlines
9. Detroit Section SWE Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Michigan students aiming for engineering should see this as a serious target, not an afterthought. The Detroit section scholarship is built for female high-school seniors planning to enroll in an ABET-accredited engineering program, and the selection weighting gives meaningful value to leadership and activities alongside academics. That matters because strong future engineers do not always show up as perfect test-score robots, and this scholarship rewards more complete applicants.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 1, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/detroit-section-swe-scholarship
10. Society of Women Engineers Scholarship – Emerging First Year Scholars
Why It Slaps: This is the anchor national SWE freshman application and one of the most important links on the page. It is designed for graduating high-school seniors pursuing ABET-accredited bachelor’s programs in engineering, engineering technology, and computer science, and one application can place students into multiple SWE-backed opportunities. For students who want a nationally recognized, engineering-first application that signals serious intent, this is one of the best starting points in the entire category.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/society-of-women-engineers-scholarship-emerging-first-year-scholars
11. Pikes Peak Section SWE Entering Freshman Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Southern Colorado students should prioritize this because it is precisely the kind of geographic scholarship too many applicants ignore. It is female-focused, engineering-specific, and built for seniors already accepted to an accredited engineering curriculum. That makes it a clean fit for serious applicants who want a scholarship that rewards an actual engineering trajectory, not just general college ambitions.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/pikes-peak-section-swe-entering-freshman-scholarship
12. BMW/SAE Engineering Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the best brand-name engineering awards for high-school seniors who want a scholarship tied directly to the engineering profession rather than a vague STEM identity. It is aimed at students interested in studying engineering through college, and the SAE connection makes it especially attractive for students leaning automotive, mechanical, mobility, manufacturing, or related engineering systems. It is also a good signal scholarship for students building a professional-looking engineering resume early.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 20, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/bmwsae-engineering-scholarship
13. Fred M. Young Sr./SAE Engineering Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is another strong SAE-backed engineering option for high-school seniors, and it pairs well with BMW/SAE as part of a smart application stack. The biggest value here is category fit: it is not random scholarship hunting. It is engineering money for students who are actually preparing to study engineering in college, which is exactly the kind of clean targeting that helps this page convert better for readers.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 20, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/fred-m-young-srsae-engineering-scholarship
14. Donna Russell Women in Engineering Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Hawaii students interested in electrical or computer engineering should take this one very seriously because the field match is unusually direct. It is not just “women in STEM.” It is a women-in-engineering scholarship with a specific focus on computer or electrical engineering and a stated award of up to $5,000. That specificity makes it especially strong for applicants who already have a clear engineering story.
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/donna-russell-women-in-engineering-scholarship
April deadlines
15. WiseGeek Women in STEM Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is broader than a pure engineering scholarship, but it is still worth keeping because it is female-focused, open to high-school seniors nationwide, and explicitly includes engineering. It works best as a stackable add-on rather than a core anchor award. For students who already have their big SWE and WTS applications in, this is the kind of lighter national application that can still bring in useful money without asking them to reinvent their whole essay strategy.
Amount: Up to $500
Deadline: April 16, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/wisegeek-women-in-stem-scholarship
16. Antelope Valley Section SWE Scholarship
Why It Slaps: California students in the Antelope Valley should like this because it is explicit about engineering interest and also leaves room for students with genuine financial need or unusual circumstances. That matters in real life. Many engineering applicants are strong but not polished in a traditional scholarship-package way, and this type of local SWE award can be more forgiving while still being highly relevant to future engineers.
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: April 2, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/antelope-valley-section-swe-scholarship
17. San Diego County Section SWE Entering Freshman Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the best California regional picks because it is built specifically for women coming straight out of high school and into engineering, engineering technology, or computer science. The page also makes clear that applicants can explain why they want to be engineers and what they hope to accomplish, which is excellent for students whose strongest asset is real engineering motivation rather than stacked award history.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 10, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/san-diego-county-section-swe-entering-freshman-scholarship
18. Mount Diablo Section SWE Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Northern California applicants should keep this on their shortlist because it is a local SWE award built for future engineering students, not a broad women’s education scholarship with no technical focus. Students from Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano-linked areas get a tighter competition pool, which is exactly why regional scholarships can outperform national ones in real-world odds. For engineering-bound seniors, that combination of relevance and geography is powerful.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 22, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/mount-diablo-section-swe-scholarship
May deadlines
19. B.J. Harrod Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a clean national SWE-linked freshman scholarship for women planning to study engineering, engineering technology, or computer science at an ABET-accredited school. It is strong because it sits right in the sweet spot of this page: entering freshmen, women-focused, and engineering-centered. For readers who want a straightforward national engineering scholarship without too many weird side conditions, this is one of the better May deadlines to keep in rotation.
Amount: Up to $3,000
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/bj-harrod-scholarship
20. Paula Loring Simon Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Students targeting electrical engineering, computer engineering, or closely related computing-heavy majors should love how specific this one is. The scholarship is women-focused and geared toward freshmen entering ABET-accredited programs, with extra value for applicants whose engineering story is already pointing toward electrical or computer systems. When a scholarship lines up this directly with intended major, the application usually writes cleaner and lands harder.
Amount: Up to $1,250
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/paula-loring-simon-scholarship
21. Dorothy M. and Earl S. Hoffman Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is another solid SWE-linked freshman award that stays close to the engineering/computer science lane and does not drift into vague STEM territory. It is especially useful for students who want multiple same-window applications using the same core materials. That is a smart workload play: one polished engineering narrative can often support several SWE-family scholarships at once.
Amount: Up to $3,000
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/dorothy-m-and-earl-s-hoffman-scholarship
22. GE Foundation Engineering Scholarship Program for Freshmen
Why It Slaps: This is one of the stronger major-specific freshman awards on the page because it names real engineering fields, emphasizes ABET-accredited four-year programs, and offers up to $5,000. It is also tied to a recognizable engineering employer brand, which gives it stronger professional-pipeline energy than a generic private scholarship. Students in mechanical, electrical, aerospace, chemical, industrial, manufacturing, materials, or engineering technology tracks should treat this as a priority application.
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/ge-foundation-engineering-scholarship-program-for-freshmen
23. SWE New Jersey Section Scholarship
Why It Slaps: New Jersey students who want engineering should absolutely stack this with the national SWE freshman application. It is female-focused, engineering-specific, and designed for New Jersey residents entering an ABET-accredited four-year program. Local section scholarships like this are exactly where smart applicants build their hit rate, because the scholarship is highly relevant and the competition pool is more bounded.
Amount: Up to $2,000
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/swe-new-jersey-section-scholarship
24. Colleen Conley Memorial Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the best state-specific engineering scholarships for female high-school seniors because it is direct, clear, and actually built for women planning to study engineering. The New Mexico Engineering Foundation page makes it especially attractive for first-generation applicants, which adds real equity value instead of just lip service. If the student is a New Mexico senior, this should be near the top of her May list.
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: May 15, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/colleen-conley-memorial-scholarship
25. Endeavour’s Women in Tech Group Engineering Scholarship – High School
Why It Slaps: This is a strong national women-in-tech/engineering pick for graduating high-school seniors with a serious STEM record. It is especially useful for students who have research, projects, advocacy, or standout work they can point to, because the page explicitly values demonstrated accomplishment in STEM. That makes it a good scholarship for students whose application is built around real technical work, not just classroom grades.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: May 15, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/endeavours-women-in-tech-group-engineering-scholarship—high-school
June deadlines
26. Greater New York Chapter WTS Transportation YOU High School Scholarship
Why It Slaps: For New York and New Jersey seniors who want civil, transportation, mobility, or infrastructure paths, this is a high-value regional target with a clearer mission fit than most general STEM scholarships. It specifically supports female seniors planning transportation-related STEM study and lists up to $1,500. For students who understand that transportation is one of the most practical engineering lanes in the country, this is a very smart June application.
Amount: Up to $1,500
Deadline: June 17, 2026
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/greater-new-york-chapter-wts-transportation-you-high-school-scholarship
October deadlines
27. Philadelphia Chapter WTS Transportation YOU High School Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a strong early-cycle scholarship for students in the Philadelphia area who want engineering but are open to transportation-related pathways. The listed award is up to $3,000, and the page makes clear that STEM students pursuing transportation careers are eligible, with preference toward female or underrepresented students. It is exactly the kind of regional engineering-adjacent award that deserves a permanent spot on this page.
Amount: Up to $3,000
Deadline: October 17, 2025
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/philadelphia-chapter-wts-transportation-you-high-school-scholarship
November deadlines
28. Boston WTS Transportation YOU High School Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Massachusetts students interested in transportation, infrastructure, civil engineering, or related mobility fields should keep this one on the radar early. The Boston chapter lists up to $2,000 and specifically supports female high-school seniors studying STEM and planning transportation-related college work. Because it closes in late November, it is also a smart early-win application for students building momentum before the heavier winter scholarship season.
Amount: Up to $2,000
Deadline: November 28, 2025
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/boston-wts-transportation-you-high-school-scholarship
December deadlines
29. Wisconsin WTS Transportation YOU High School Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is another excellent transportation-engineering pathway award for high-school women, and it gives a solid up-to-$2,500 ceiling. It is a strong fit for students exploring transportation engineering, infrastructure systems, logistics, mobility policy, or transit-related STEM routes. I like it on this page because it adds geographic diversity and reinforces that some of the best women-in-engineering money sits in transportation organizations, not only classic engineering societies.
Amount: Up to $2,500
Deadline: December 1, 2025
Apply/info: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/wisconsin-wts-transportation-you-high-school-scholarship
30. Science Ambassador Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is not a pure engineering scholarship, but it is still a monster value for female high-school seniors in STEM, including engineering. The scholarship is widely known because of the lecture-video format and the unusually strong award level of up to $20,000. For students who can explain an engineering or science concept clearly on camera, this can be one of the most distinctive applications they submit all year, and it rewards intellectual clarity more than the usual essay formula.
Amount: Up to $20,000
Deadline: December 16, 2025
Apply/info: https://www.scienceambassadorscholarship.org/
Best-fit notes for readers
If your readers are trying to narrow this fast, here is the simplest way to use the page:
Best national anchors:
SWE Emerging First Year Scholars, AIAA Roger W. Kahn, BMW/SAE, Fred M. Young Sr./SAE, GE Foundation Engineering Scholarship Program for Freshmen.
Best regional high-odds plays:
Detroit SWE, Rocky Mountain SWE, Greatland SWE, SWE New Jersey, Colleen Conley Memorial, Greater Chicago WTS, San Francisco WTS, Greater New York WTS.
Best for civil / transportation / infrastructure students:
All WTS Transportation YOU scholarships, especially the national WTS award plus the Chicago, San Francisco, Greater New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Wisconsin chapter awards.
Best for electrical / computer / computing-heavy engineering students:
Paula Loring Simon, Donna Russell Women in Engineering, Liebherr Mining, and some SWE freshman awards with computer/electrical focus.
FAQ
Are these scholarships only for students already admitted to college?
Not always. Some require proof of acceptance, while others allow students to apply during senior year before all admission decisions are final. The safest move is to start the scholarship application early, then upload admissions proof if the scholarship asks for it later.
What does “ABET-ready” mean here?
It means these scholarships are especially useful for students planning majors that commonly sit inside ABET-accredited engineering or engineering technology programs, or closely linked technical fields like computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, aerospace engineering, and some engineering technology tracks.
Are transportation scholarships really engineering scholarships?
Often, yes. Transportation scholarships can be an excellent fit for civil engineering, transportation engineering, construction management, logistics systems, urban infrastructure, planning-tech, and mobility-related STEM paths. They are especially valuable for students who want practical, workforce-connected engineering careers.
Should I bother with regional scholarships if the amounts are smaller?
Yes. Regional scholarships are often the best odds on the page. A $1,000 to $3,000 local award that you actually win beats a famous national scholarship you never land. The smartest applicants stack one national anchor with several regional and section-based awards.
Can I apply to both SWE national and SWE section scholarships?
Usually yes, and that is one of the best strategies on this page. A student can often use the same core engineering story, transcript highlights, activity list, and recommendation base to target multiple SWE-related awards in the same cycle.
What if my GPA is below 3.5?
Do not self-reject too early. Some scholarships on this list have 3.0 thresholds, some do not emphasize GPA as heavily, and several regional awards care a lot about engineering intent, leadership, community involvement, or financial need.
Which scholarships should a civil engineering student prioritize first?
Start with the WTS Transportation YOU scholarships, then add SWE national and any local SWE section awards that fit your geography. Civil, transportation, and infrastructure students often have stronger category fit in WTS than they realize.
Which scholarships should a future aerospace engineer prioritize first?
Start with AIAA Roger W. Kahn, then add SWE Emerging First Year, BMW/SAE, Fred M. Young Sr./SAE, and any local SWE section scholarship you qualify for.
