The 21st century has seen a considerable surge in women’s education with more women not only choosing to go on to post-graduate programs but also entering hitherto male dominated and non-traditional streams of study.

There are a number of grants offered by both federal and private organizations specifically with the motive of encouraging women to take up under-represented fields of study. Given below are some of these grants for women who wish to pursue non-traditional career paths.

The National Black Nurses Association offers grants up to the tune of US$ 2000 per year and as the name implies, supports African American women who wish to take up a career in nursing and who are enrolled in select four-year nursing programs.

The Davis Program at Wellesley College is a wonderful opportunity for older women who have never pursued a higher education but who wish to do so after many years of working, to return to academics without worrying about the financial implications. What is even better is that they receive the financial aid necessary to study at one of the top centers for women’s education in the US.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship Grant is offered for those majoring in Mathematics or any of the sciences. This is a merit based grant requiring consistently high GPA scores.

Ford Foundation’s Pre-doctoral Fellowship for Minorities offers educational aid to women and minority students who wish to pursue their education in Mathematics, Engineering and science. A similar program is offered by the National Science Foundation as well.

Women and minority students who are enrolled at certain recognized institutes can avail themselves of the fellowships in the Physical Sciences offered by the National Physical Science Consortium.

The Regent’s Healthcare Scholarship for Medicine and Dentistry provides funding specifically for students residing in New York State to enroll in a medical or dental college. However, candidates applying for this grant are required to offer their services after graduation, for a stipulated time in a specified state health care facility.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers a number of grants to socially and economically underprivileged women including those who return to education much later in life owing to various family constraints.

The Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting offers merit and need-based grants for women to pursue higher education especially in the areas of finance and accounting. Another organization that supports women taking up finance or accounting as their college major is the American Society of Women Accountants.

With these and several more lucrative grants, truly the sky is the limit for many women seeking a higher education in the US.

Scholarships, college grants for women