Graduating from a college with an engineering major seems quite daunting financially but what is an engineering degree worth? According to the BLS data, engineers have the highest average starting salary ($91,010 annually) and the engineering field continues to expand its employment opportunities.
Statistics prove that engineering jobs remain in demand. Thanks to engineering graduates nations develop towards knowledge-based economies, which is conducive to advances in business growth, medical care, and many other beneficial areas.
Despite all the prospects, the financial issue of earning an engineering degree remains open. This guide will help engineering students find accessible ways to fund their education including one of the most common funding ways – scholarships.
7 Essential Tips to Pay Less for College
Engineering students can reduce college costs in many ways. Let’s consider some of the most crucial ways to lower costs spent on college:
1. Use Dual Enrolment Courses
Get a step ahead. Students engaged in dual enrolment programs can earn college credits for free or at a reduced cost.
2. Enter In-State College
Not to mention the obvious difference between public and private institutions, consider entering an in-state college. If there is one that suits your needs, you can ease the financial burden as much as twice.
3. Transfer From Community College
Choosing a community college as a starting point is much cheaper since they charge on average $3,730 for tuition and fees. You may complete certain courses at a community college and then transfer to a four-year college.
4. Live Off-Campus After Your First Year
You will most likely end up paying far less for your housing and meals by living off-campus. If possible, consider the option of living with parents and commuting. Take into account all pros and cons and make the most convenient decision.
5. Get Your Textbooks for the Lowest Price Possible
Buying textbooks can cost a hefty sum of money that is over $1000 per semester. There are many options to pay less on textbooks by:
- sharing textbooks with friends;
- buying used copies;
- asking professors what books and how frequently you will need;
- buying the digital or loose-leaf versions;
- trying other options to cut textbook costs.
6. Start Saving Money & Maintain Budget
If you already know that you aim at a prestigious college, or a graduate degree, start saving money in advance. In addition, maintaining your budget will help avoid non-obligatory purchases and save some sum of money.
7. Take Advantage of Student Discounts
Being a student opens for you an endless list of student discounts. You can reduce your day-to-day costs by buying products, services, digital subscriptions, or tickets to events with a considerable discount.
Engineering Organizations with Scholarship Resources
There are numerous professional engineering organizations to help prospective engineering students earn their degrees. They take responsibility for the financial issues so that promising engineering students can focus on their studies without additional worries. Need a college paper writing service? We're the smartest & fastest in the business.
- American Society for Civil Engineers
ASCE issues scholarships to undergraduate students that are current ASCE Student Members in good standing. The resource presents the latest awardees, available scholarships, and eligibility details for each. - The American Society of Naval Engineers
According to the resource, engineering students can apply for scholarships worth $2,500 for undergraduate seniors and $3,500 for graduate students. All graduate student applicants must be members of ASNE. - Association for Women in Science
The association aids women pursuing careers in engineering research or teaching to qualify for awards ranging from $100 to $1,000. The site presents this year's awardees, current scholarships, and eligibility requirements. - Society of Women Engineers
Scholarships are available to female engineering students enrolled in ABET at the undergraduate and graduate levels. One application is valid for all scholarships for which applicants are eligible. - The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers
ASHRAE issues scholarships for students who wish to pursue careers in heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration. Eligible students must be enrolled in full-time ABET-accredited programs. The preference is given to students advancing green ideas and practices. - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA runs a highly competitive scholarship program, awarding $2,000 to $35,000 worth of scholarships. Eligibility criteria are high and benefit the most initiative and successful undergraduate and graduate students. - The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASME student members can apply to get funding through a number of ASME scholarships. The resource provides information on scholarships, their guidelines, eligibility details, and the latest awardees. - Raytheon Company
Raytheon Company offers $10,000-worth scholarships to engineering students majoring in STEM or Business disciplines. The company can also provide internships or full-time employment.
Top 10 Application Tips to Help You Win an Engineering Scholarship
Scholarships are a great opportunity for any student to subsidize their education. The only issue is that applying for a scholarship can be quite exhausting due to numerous points to keep an eye on.
Here is the list of essential tips for engineering students to bear in mind when applying for a scholarship:
1. Meet All Application Deadlines
Create a schedule to use the remaining time wisely. It is better to impose deadlines two weeks prior to stated dates. In this way, you will have plenty of time if something goes wrong.
2. Think Out of the Box
Try to avoid describing yourself with hackneyed phrases. Mention some unique interests, experiences, and characteristics of yours – this will make your application more memorable.
3. Make It Personal and Relevant To the Topic
Do not speak generally, keep to the question you are answering. Your application should be well-targeted to the particular scholarship. But remember to include personal stories and experiences if they are relevant to the topic.
4. Go Ahead and Brag
Don’t underestimate yourself, think over what sets you apart from other candidates and why you deserve this scholarship. Emphasize your accomplishments and awards to make the committee remember you.
5. Give It Several Proofreads
Your application should be neat and correct. Re-read your application once again to avoid mistakes or silly misprints. Even if you are sure, get someone to proofread it for a final check.
6. Know the Committee
Familiarize yourself with the organization, its campaigns, and additional information. Find out the criteria for accessing applications and think whether you satisfy the criteria.
7. Request Recommendation Letters in Advance
Give your recommender at least three weeks to write a letter of recommendation. Provide them with all the necessary information and documents to make your letter of recommendation more powerful and informative.
8. Check All the Documents
Study closely the list of necessary documents, try to collect them as early as possible, and check everything once again before sending it to the organization.
9. Look For Other Scholarships
Don’t limit yourself to one scholarship – apply for several ones. And remember to change each application letter in line with the scholarship requirements.
10. Keep Trying
Don’t stop after getting a rejection from the committee. Save copies of your applications and apply for the same or other scholarships next time.
20 Engineering Scholarships to Cover Tuition Fees
There are numerous ways to reduce college costs and scholarships, probably, are the best ones. They may cover the full tuition and, most notably, you may choose the most suitable for you from an endless list.
We’ve selected 20 engineering scholarships that may become a magic wand in financing your education:
- Amazon Future Engineers Scholarship ($10,000) requires a minimum 3.0 GPA and the knowledge on how to write a scholarship essay. Awardees also receive a paid summer internship at Amazon after their freshman year of college.
- Marvin Anmuth Scholarship Fund ($2,000-5,000) is open to Jewish students who major in electrical engineering. Applicants must be from the San Francisco Bay Area and active in the Jewish community.
- John T. Coates IV, Civil Engineering Scholarship ($1,000) is available to high school graduates who wish to pursue a career in civil engineering at North Carolina State University.
- David H. and Betty R. Bucher Engineering Scholarship ($1,000) is open to Henderson County high school graduates. It requires a minimum 3.5 GPA and involvement in extracurricular and community service activities.
- John Lenard Civil Engineering Scholarship ($4,000) is available to ASCE Student Members majoring in civil engineering. The applicant must demonstrate a commitment to either water supply or environmental engineering.
- Oklahoma Engineering Foundation Scholarship ($500 per semester) accepts high school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- John Robert Boswell Memorial Scholarship Fund ($3,200) supports seniors majoring in chemical engineering at the University of Mississippi. Applicants cannot belong to a social sorority or fraternity.
- Riverside Construction Company Harmon/Lounsbury Scholarship Fund ($1,000) accepts high school seniors. Priority is given to those who plan to major in construction or civil engineering.
- Jeffrey Alan Scoggins Memorial Scholarship ($10,000) is available to students studying in Oregon. Minimum 3.0 GPA and FAFSA are required.
- Howard and Genevieve (Martin) Libby Scholarship ($5,000) supports mechanical engineering sophomores. Minimum 2.0 GPA required.
- TSPE Chapter Scholarship ($1,000) requires high school seniors to hold a minimum 3.0 GPA and be enrolled in an ABET-accredited engineering program.
- Brenda Karnasiewicz-Freese Scholarship ($1,000) requires applicants to be enrolled in the College of Engineering. Preference is given to a female majoring electrical engineering.
- Marjorie Roy Rothemel Scholarship ($3,000) is available to members of ASME pursuing a Master's degree in mechanical engineering.
- C.B. Gambell Undergraduate Scholarship ($2,000) is for college students who major in industrial engineering, have a minimum GPA of 3.4, and are members of the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers.
- George E. Watters Memorial Scholarship ($5,000) is open to civil engineering students affiliated with New England Water Works Association.
- HNTB Minority Civil Engineering Scholarship ($5,000) accepts freshmen or transfer students of African-American or Hispanic descent. GPA, ACT/SAT score, and class rank are considered.
- Donald F. & Mildred Topp Othmer National Scholarship ($1,000) is awarded to chemical engineering students for their outstanding academic achievement and involvement in student chapter activities.
- Lloyd C. and Luella L. Danielson Scholarship ($4,000) requires applicants to have a minimum 3.85 GPA, good moral character, and demonstrate leadership and community service.
- Engineering Freshman Merit Scholarship (up to $3,000) requires great high school academic performance (GPA, class rank, and standardized test scores).
- Celanese Corporation Scholarship ($1,000) requires applicants to hold a minimum 3.0 GPA and a minimum combined SAT I score of 1100 (composite ACT score of 24).
We’ve considered several ways for engineering students to reduce college costs. Scholarships are the most common way students can subsidize their education. That’s why it is crucial to adhere to all its requirements and know helpful tips to win a scholarship.
Remember that the number of engineering scholarships is much bigger than the list, so keep applying for different scholarships for guaranteed success.
