Last updated September 15, 2023
Looking for ways to fund a graduate degree in a STEM field? These graduate fellowships are for minorities and women in graduate school and provide grants to increase diversity in the fields including nursing, architecture, mental health, and technology – among others! If one of these sparks your interest, make sure to bookmark it to your ProFellow account.
AAUW Career Development Grants
Career Development Grants provide funding to women who hold a bachelor’s degree and are preparing to advance or change careers or reenter the workforce. Primary consideration is given to women of color and women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in nontraditional fields. Grants of $2K – $12K provide support for course work beyond a bachelor’s degree, including a master’s degree, second bachelor’s degree, certification program, or specialized training in technical or professional fields at an accredited U.S. university. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
AAUW Selected Professions Fellowships
AAUW Selected Professions Fellowships provide opportunities for women to pursue graduate and first-professional degrees in architecture, computer and information sciences, engineering, and mathematics, fields where women traditionally have been underrepresented and where the employment outlook and earnings potential are strong. To address the underrepresentation of women of color in promising professions and encourage cultural diversity in these areas, fellowships in business administration, law, and medicine are also available, but only to women of color. Recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
GEM Fellowship: MS Engineering and Science Fellowship Program
The goals of the GEM fellowships are to increase the number of underrepresented minority students (African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanic Americans) pursuing graduate degrees in engineering and natural science and to promote the benefits of a graduate degree within industry. GEM MS Engineering Fellows receive a $4,000 living stipend per full-time semester up to 4 semesters ($8K per academic year – 3 quarters), up to two paid summer internships with a GEM Employer Member and full tuition and fees provided by a GEM University Member. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.
GEM Fellowship: PhD Engineering and Science Fellowship
This program aims to increase the number of underrepresented minority students who pursue doctoral degrees in the engineering and natural science disciplines. Successful applicants will receive: a $16,000 stipend in the first academic year of the GEM Fellowship followed by a university-provided living stipend for the remaining years of the Ph.D., a minimum of one paid summer internship with a GEM Employer Member, and full tuition and fees at a GEM University Member. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and be members of under-represented groups in science and engineering as defined by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Check the deadline for early consideration.
Graduate Education and the Professoriate Fellowship
Western Michigan University Graduate Education and the Professoriate (WMU-GEP) Fellowships are available to U.S. citizens who derive from African-American, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or Native American (with tribal affiliation) heritage and who have secured regular admission to a doctoral degree program in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) or SBE (sociology, political science, psychology, or economics) area. The GEP Fellowship is competitive and awarded to exceptional students. Recipients of the WMU-GEP Fellowship will receive an annual stipend of $18,202.
Health Policy Research Scholars
Health Policy Research Scholars is a national change leadership development opportunity for full-time doctoral students from underrepresented populations or historically disadvantaged backgrounds, entering the first or second year of their doctoral program, from any academic discipline who are training to be researchers and are interested in health policy research. The program is led by Johns Hopkins University, with participants completing their doctoral programs at their home institutions across the U.S. Participants will attend at least one annual gathering (travel funded by the program), participate in leadership development training, coursework, and mentoring, and receive an annual stipend of up to $30,000 for up to four years. Participants are also eligible for a competitive dissertation grant of up to $10,000.
KSEA-KUSCO Scholarships for Graduate Students in the U.S.
The Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association offers scholarship opportunities for Korean-American graduate students in the United States who excel in academics as well as in services to the community, and have demonstrated a potential to become future leaders of the society for closer cooperation between the U.S. and Korea. Applicants must be of Korean heritage and currently enrolled at an accredited U.S. university in a graduate degree program. Scholarships of $1,500 are available for eligible applicants majoring in science, engineering, or related fields.
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship
The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship aims to increase diversity in the faculty ranks of institutions of higher learning. The MMUF program is coordinated on each of its member campuses by faculty members and academic administrators who select their institution’s undergraduate fellows, typically in the sophomore year. Fellows have demonstrated academic ability and an aspiration to pursue a doctoral degree in selected humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. The fellowship provides fellows with many forms of support, including regular, structured programming; faculty mentoring; term-time stipends for research activities; support for summer research; and repayment of undergraduate loans up to $10,000.
Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF) Program
The Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF) Program provides undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students with opportunities to gain hands-on research experience with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE). The goal of the MLEF program is to improve opportunities for women and minority students in STEM majors, however all eligible candidates are encouraged to apply. Selected candidates will train under the mentorship of program officials and scientists on focused research projects. During the 10 weeks, Fellows will receive a stipend and some may be eligible to receive housing and a travel allowance.
NBCC Minority Fellowship Program for Addictions Counselors (Master’s)
Master’s fellowships of up to $15,000 for addictions counseling students studying for their master’s degree. Eligible applicants must commit to obtaining an addictions counseling credential, demonstrate knowledge of and experience in addictions/substance abuse services to one or more of the following: underserved minority communities, child/adolescent and geriatric groups, minority communities in inner cities and rural areas, minority persons (including LGBT), or those who are veterans or are from military families. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are encouraged to apply, especially those from underrepresented minority groups.
NBCC Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors (Master’s)
Fellowships of $10,000 for students studying a master’s degree in mental health counseling. Eligible applicants must demonstrate knowledge of and experience with racially and ethnically diverse populations, and commit to providing mental health services to underserved minority transition-age youth (16–25) populations. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are encouraged to apply, especially those from underrepresented minority groups in the field. Eligible applicants must be enrolled in an accredited counseling master’s program at the time of application.
NBCC Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors (Doctoral)
Fellowships of $20,000 for students pursuing a doctorate in counseling. Eligible applicants must demonstrate knowledge of and experience with racially and ethnically diverse populations, and commit to providing mental health and/or substance abuse and addictions counseling services to underserved minority populations through direct practice or the training of direct practitioners. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are invited to apply with special consideration given to underrepresented minority group members. Eligible applicants must be enrolled in an accredited doctoral level counseling program at the time of application.
NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides support for master’s and doctoral studies in oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology and all other science, engineering, social science and resource management disciplines involving ocean and coastal areas particularly by women and members of minority groups. Scholarships may provide up to $42,000 a year as well as additional support throughout the master’s or PhD program for collaborations and field studies.
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships honor immigrant tradition in the U.S. by providing up to $90,000 over 2 years to 30 new Americans who will be pursuing a full-time graduate degree program in any field at an American institution in the United States. To be eligible, you must be 30 or younger, and either have been born in the U.S. to two immigrant parents or have been born outside the U.S. (as a non-citizen) and, as of November 1 of the year you apply, be a DACA recipient, naturalized citizen or in possession of a green card (i.e., be a resident alien). They will also be opening the requirements to all immigrants who graduated from high school and college in the US.
Perez Research Fellowship
The Perez Research Fellowship is a 1-year fellowship for currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students, or retired professionals, of color who want to learn about and contribute to the field of applied research and consulting. Fellows receive training in research methodologies, participate in projects, build their professional networks, and enjoy the opportunity to learn from a leading community-centered research and design firm. The fellowship is part-time and includes 10-20 hours per month of training and project work, plus a stipend of $6,000. Fellows must be able to travel to Oakland, CA for fellowship activities.
PhD Fellowships for Women Scientists from Science and Technology Lagging Countries
The Fellowship is offered to women scientists from Science and Technology Lagging Countries (STLCs) to undertake PhD research in the Natural, Engineering and Information Technology sciences at a host institute in the Global South. The general purpose of the fellowship programme is to contribute to the emergence of a new generation of women leaders in science and technology, and to promote their effective participation in the scientific and technological development of their countries. The fellowship is for up to 4 years and includes full tuition and a monthly living stipend plus other benefits including insurance and visa expenses.
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program
The program’s goal is to produce more minority Ph.D. students who seek careers as faculty on college campuses. The Doctoral Scholars Program provides multiple layers of support including financial assistance, academic/research funding, career counseling and job postings, scholar counseling and advocacy, a scholar directory for networking and recruiting, invitation to the annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, and continued early career support. The fellowship is open to minorities pursuing a Ph.D. who are a U.S. Citizen or have permanent U.S. residency.
U.S. Latino Leadership Fellowship
The U.S. Latino Leadership Fellowship is a game-changing opportunity for practitioners, scholars, and activists ready to lead the transformation of U.S. Latino and other underserved communities. The fellowship aims to create sustainable changes and innovative ideas to revolutionize local and national policies toward these communities while also giving the fellow networking opportunities and leadership training. The fellowship is open to all Harvard Kennedy School graduate degree programs and includes full tuition, health insurance and a $25K/year stipend for the duration of the degree.
William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship for Minority Students
The Aspen Institute Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation (PSI) in Washington, DC offers the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship to one student three times annually. Candidates for this fellowship are highly motivated graduate or undergraduate students from underrepresented communities of color. The fellow must be able to work as an intern for 12-15 weeks in the Washington, DC office of the Aspen Institute during the academic semester in which the fellowship is awarded. Fellows will be compensated on an hourly basis in the fall, spring and summer.
Looking for additional funding opportunities? Sign up to discover and bookmark more than 1,400 funding awards for professional development and graduate study, including fellowships, scholarships, grants, and more in the ProFellow database.
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