What Information Technology Scholarships Are Available for College?
If you enjoy business and computer science, majoring in IT may be an exciting choice. IT majors study ways to use hardware and software to support client goals. These skills are very useful in today’s digital world and many fields in IT are among the fastest growing! Scholarships for IT are plentiful given the impact technology has in all industries.
An IT scholarship is a type of financial aid that you typically don’t have to pay back. You could use the scholarship funds to help pay for tuition, fees and expenses. Amounts may also vary and may renew each academic year if you keep up your grades and progress.
What about eligibility? You may qualify for a scholarship based on financial need. So, make sure to file a FAFSA. There are also merit awards based on academic excellence. These factor in test scores, minimum GPA and field of study such as cyber security or computer engineering.
When you’re searching, make sure to check major companies in the tech space. The Microsoft Scholarship Program is one. To qualify you must be a full time student in a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited four year college. The award is merit based. So, you need a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Minority students such as African American, Hispanic, Latino, Pacific Islander and female students often get priority.
College scholarships for IT also come from schools with Information Science programs. Marist College offers a full tuition scholarship. It’s need based and for eligible high school seniors who plan to attend. If you want to apply, you must be a computer science or information systems major.
10 Scholarships for IT You Should Apply for in 2021
Check out these 10 scholarships for information technology majors. Make sure you plan to enroll in an accredited college. Apply today!
Malwarebytes $100,000 Scholarship
Microsoft Scholarship Program
Google Inc. / Women Techmaker’s Scholarship
Michigan Council of Women in Technology Undergraduate Student Scholarship
John W. Council Scholarship
UNCF Women in STEM Scholarship
LITA/LSSI Minority Scholarship in Library and Information Technology
William R. Reaugh Scholarship
Betty Stevens-Frecknall Scholarship
Kevin Jetton Service Scholarship
Are There Health Information Technology Scholarships?
Yes, there are scholarships for health IT majors. Health IT majors study ways to record, store and use patient data. The data could be the outcome of a doctor visit, test, treatment, or list of symptoms. Turning this big data into usable info helps researchers, physicians and businesses. Think of your last telemedicine visit or your online prescription refill. All of these use some kind of health IT.
In fact, many jobs arise due to the evolving tech in healthcare. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one growing career is becoming a Medical Records and Health Technician. You may need a two year degree or certificate to enter this field.
To help you in reaching this goal, you might check with a community college to see what scholarships they offer. Mercer Community College offers a range of scholarships and an AHIMA accredited associate degree in this field.
In order to achieve your career goals, look into American Medical Technologists scholarships. You have to be a member of the American Medical Technologists to apply.
Could You Get a PHD Scholarship in Information Technology?
Yes, there are IT scholarships for PhD students. A PhD in IT is the highest academic achievement and a research degree. As a result, providers who want to drive the industry forward with new ideas may offer financial help. Look for these scholarship awards from research focused organizations. As a rule, you must be an active member of the organization.
One PhD award is the ASNT Fellowship Award. Five graduate students could each receive $20,000 for doing high quality science or tech research. You’ll need a strong proposal and must link your to nondestructive testing.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is another. It is for graduate students in STEM fields who are going for research focused graduate degree programs. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Why You Should Consider an IT Major?
Thinking about undergraduate studies in IT? Making a switch from another field? Here are a few reasons why information technology could be a great choice and investment in your future.
1. Growing job prospects
Compared to other fields, computer and information technology fields are expected to add 531,200 more jobs by 2029. Some employers may be open to you working remotely too.
2. Demand for IT pros is higher than other fields
The job outlook is much faster than average for many IT career paths. As a result,the demand is high for many IT college graduates.
3. Potential for good earnings
In May 2020, the average annual wage for computer and IT jobs was $91,250. In contrast, the median pay for other occupations was $41,950.
4. There may be jobs for all levels of higher education
Many entry level positions in IT need a bachelor’s degree or higher. Enrolling in masters programs sometimes gives one the ability to move up the ladder. That seems to be the case with information systems managers for instance. Only have an associate’s degree? There may be other options. The need for digital designers is strong and median pay is $77,200 per year.
5. IT skills are useful in many career paths
Information technology is an umbrella for many related fields. You may find your niche as an innovator, analyst, network architect, software developer or also use your skills to fend off cyber attacks.