Available Scholarships for Computer Science Majors

I'm planning to major in computer science when I go to college, and I know that tuition and fees can add up quickly. I've heard that there are specific scholarships for computer science majors, but I'm not sure where to start looking. Has anyone had success in finding scholarships aimed at future CS students? Any advice on where to search or examples of scholarships you've applied for or heard about would be greatly appreciated. Also, any tips on what these scholarships typically look for in applicants would be super helpful too!

Let's go! It's fantastic that you're looking for scholarships, and quite smart too, as it can help reduce the financial burden of college massively. There are indeed several scholarships aimed at computer science (CS) majors.

1. The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship is a well-known scholarship for women who are currently studying CS. It's named in honor of the late Dr. Anita Borg who was a computer scientist and broke boundaries for women in the sector.

2. The Palantir Future Scholarship is another one for underrepresented groups - including those who identify as women, are Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic, Native American, etc. These applicants should be actively enrolled in undergraduate programs in Computer Science.

3. The Microsoft Tuition Scholarship targets students who are pursuing a degree in the field of computer science, computer engineering, or a related STEM field.

These scholarships and many others typically look for students with strong academic achievements, leadership experiences, and extracurricular involvement within their major. For computer science, this might be coding competitions, internships, or coding projects you've undertaken outside of class.

Searching at the national level will yield many opportunities, but don't forget to look at your local level as well. Quite a few local tech companies or your state's professional organizations may offer scholarships for local students interested in computer science. Your school's financial aid office or a trusted guidance counselor may also have some helpful resources to find these more local opportunities.

Also, you may want to look into creating a profile on scholarship search platforms like Fastweb and Appily to discover even more scholarships.

Finally, while finding and applying for scholarships, don't forget to apply early and apply often as the competition can be rather high for these programs. Remember to thoroughly read through the eligibility criteria and instructions for each application, and personalize each scholarship essay to fit the prompt and values of the organization. Good luck with your scholarship searches!