Best STEM Education Grants in South Dakota

Middle schools in South Dakota offering public, private, or charter education can access funding to launch the PLTW Gateway STEM program for the first time. Grants from Project Lead The Way help cover PLTW Gateway participation fees and six core teacher training registrations, providing a total in-kind award of US $9,100 applied directly to the school’s PLTW account.

South Dakota secondary STEM teachers seeking paid summer research experience in South Dakota can access funding through South Dakota Space Grant Consortium. U.S. citizen teachers may receive up to US $7,500 to work eight weeks with a university or lab on NASA-aligned projects and then translate that experience into enriched STEM classroom instruction.

Students pursuing STEM degrees in South Dakota can receive US $1,000 - US $3,000 educational stipends supporting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics studies. South Dakota Space Grant Consortium prioritizes diverse and underrepresented students, including Native Americans and women, and may particularly benefit those engaged in STEM education pathways or related research experiences connected to NASA’s mission.

Public, private, and charter schools in South Dakota can receive up to US $14,000 to launch a new PLTW Biomedical Science program for the 2026–2029 school years. Project Lead The Way covers participation fees for two years and four teacher core training registrations to help schools expand STEM and biomedical course offerings.

South Dakota 501(c)(3) nonprofits and eligible government entities working on STEM and workforce education, sustainability, or thriving community initiatives can access funding via Marathon Petroleum. Grants support vocational and trade education, STEM/STEAM programs, youth development, disaster preparedness, first responders, and environmental conservation, with preference for communities where the company has significant operations.

Scholarships

We partner with donors to administer scholarships for students across the state. Most NCCF scholarships open for applications on Dec. 16, 2025, and close on March 3, 2026.

Undergraduates, graduates, medical and professional school students and adult re-entry students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities, career/technical schools, teaching credential programs and graduate, medical or professional schools in the United States are eligible for scholarships offered at NCCF.

Each scholarship has specific eligibility requirements defined by the donor when the scholarship was established. Be sure to read the requirements of each scholarship carefully as directed through the universal application and address those elements as needed in your application.

Baronowski Family STEM Scholarship

Female graduates of a Brunswick County, NC, high school who plan to attend or currently attend a qualified institution of higher learning, including a college, university or community college, to pursue a degree in one of the STEM disciplines (Science, Engineering, Technology, or Math).

In just one application, our Common Scholarship Application provides students access to more than 150 scholarship opportunities with awards ranging from $1,000 to more than $5,000.

In 2025, San Diego Foundation awarded a record-breaking $5.5 million in scholarships to nearly 1,400 students.

Wen Bo Wang Scholarship

Be graduating high school seniors and plan to enroll full-time at an accredited four-year university in the United States in fall.

The San Diego Foundation

We enable donors and nonprofit partners to tackle the most critical needs facing San Diegans.

For 50 years, donors, nonprofits, communities, government and civic leaders have trusted San Diego Foundation to transform lives and have partnered with us for lasting change that moves our region forward.

As San Diego’s largest regional community foundation, it’s our job to understand the pulse of our local communities better than anyone, enabling donors and nonprofit partners to tackle the most critical needs facing San Diegans.

Community Scholarship Program

Since 1997, the Community Scholarship Program has awarded $59.5 million to more than 15,400 students, making our program the largest non-university scholarship provider in San Diego County. By offering financial assistance, the program helps students dedicate more time to their studies, stay enrolled and complete their degrees.

The SD2 Scholarship

The SD2 Scholarship applicants should:

• Be graduating high school seniors or current community college students
• Plan to enroll or transfer to an accredited four-year university in the US in fall
• Have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (with rare exceptions for extenuating circumstances)
• Plan to major in science, technology, engineering or mathematics
• Demonstrate an interest in the advancement of historically underrepresented populations in the sciences and related fields
• Students from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply
• Have a demonstrated financial need
• Open to those applicants above with a focus on reducing historical educational disparities for those furthest from opportunity

About Us

We enable donors and nonprofit partners to tackle the most critical needs facing San Diegans.

Mission & Values

Our vision is for just, equitable and resilient communities.

Our mission is to inspire enduring philanthropy and enable community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region.

We value all people, all partners and our region.

Common Scholarship Application

Achieve your Higher Education Dreams

In just one application, our Common Scholarship Application provides students access to more than 150 scholarship opportunities with awards ranging from $1,000 to more than $5,000.

In 2025, San Diego Foundation awarded a record-breaking $5.5 million in scholarships to nearly 1,400 students.

The Pittsburgh Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four–year universities, graduate schools, and career/technical schools.

Pittsburgh ERG Scholarship Fund

The Pittsburgh ERG Scholarship formed by employees of Microsoft delivers on the mission of Microsoft’s local employee resource group to support diversity and inclusion. This scholarship enables high school students with disabilities and/or financial needs to go to college and pursue a career in technology. In addition, we hope to contribute to increasing the pool of people living with a disability enrolling in higher education and, in the long term, decrease the unemployment bias for this demographic. This scholarship will be awarded to promising high school seniors living in the city of Pittsburgh who plan to attend a vocational or academic college and have a financial need. The amount of this multi-year renewable scholarship is $12,000 payable over four years ($3,000 per year). (Immediate family members of Microsoft employees are not eligible for this scholarship.)

• Average Award: $12,000 over 4 years.
• Award Type: Multi-Year (up to 4 years). Recipients must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and enrollment in the stated major.

The Pittsburgh Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four–year universities, graduate schools, and career/technical schools.

Kennametal Scholarship Fund

The Kennametal Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to support students in Southwestern Pennsylvania with financial need pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) related degrees. The purpose of the scholarship is to broaden the awareness of opportunities in STEM by supporting students who have been disproportionately affected by systemic barriers to educational achievement.

• Average Award: Varies
• Award Type: Multi-Year (up to 4 years).

Better World Scholarship Fund

The scholarship encourages women to acquire a degree in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) field. The donor’s bachelor’s degree is in mathematics, followed 15 years later with a master’s degree in business administration. Her degree in mathematics provided opportunities for jobs in software development and application, medical research, technical documentation, organizational education and training, scientific research, and business. Her career was challenging, dynamic, encouraged creativity, never boring, offered schedule flexibility that allowed her to parent her four children, provided career choice independence, and was lucrative. Go STEM Girls!

Award Amount:

• Minimum $1,000

Community Foundation of the North State

The Community Foundation builds trust through relationship, integrity, and by providing safe places for donors to give their resources.

We are a nonprofit, public charity serving the people of Shasta, Siskiyou and Tehama counties, with a mission to impact the region through the power of giving.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of the North State manages many scholarship funds that are awarded to graduating high school seniors as well as students already in an undergraduate program. Some scholarships were started by families or individuals; others by businesses or organizations. All scholarships share one important focus: helping young people reach their educational goals.

REU Powering Redding’s Future Scholarship Fund

Redding Electric Utility (REU) is proud to offer students in the Redding community awards from the REU Powering Redding’s Future Scholarship, Program. The purpose of REU’s Program is to identify and support local students dreaming and planning to attend community college, a 4-year college/university, or technical school. The primary goals of REU’s Powering Redding’s Future program is to encourage Redding’s youth to consider a college/university or technical school education that may lead to career opportunities in the electric utility industry, preferably with REU. This program will award up to $50,000 in scholarships for local students each year.

All REU scholarships are offered to Redding residents.

Maine STEM and higher education institutions in South Dakota can use this fellowship funding to build research capacity and advance STEM professional development. Maine Sea Grant provides South Dakota STEM / STEAM Education with support to establish long-term research collaborations, access specialized facilities, and strengthen investigators’ career trajectories through extended or periodic visits to premier research institutions.

Graduating high school seniors in Palm Beach County pursuing engineering, science, or technology degrees can apply for the Reuter Scholarship Fund from the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Awards support STEM education for students with at least a 3.5 GPA and demonstrated financial need, with preference for Glades Central and Pahokee High School seniors.

South Dakota higher education institutions conducting STEM research can access funding through the Department of the Navy’s Office of Naval Research for basic and applied STEM projects. This long-running opportunity supports curriculum development and other research initiatives at the Naval Postgraduate School, with a two-stage process involving an optional white paper followed by a full proposal via Grants.gov.

Students pursuing STEM-related higher education in South Dakota and across the U.S. can use the Norah Salt Scholarship to attend accredited 2- or 4-year institutions. Grants from Legacy Foundation help full-time undergraduates with more than US $3,800, paid directly to schools or for book reimbursement, through its universal application.

Students pursuing college studies in industrial arts, technology, construction, manufacturing, or related STEM fields, including those from South Dakota, can apply for the Thomas S. Ritter Memorial Scholarship to support tuition and expenses. Administered by Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, it prioritizes low- to modest-income applicants, especially Kansas and Midwest residents, with awards that vary.

Community organizations supporting STEM education in South Dakota can access funding through Community Foundation of North Central Washington’s W.R. “Bill” Asplund Scholarship, which backs STEM-focused college majors. Students who graduated from Wenatchee or Westside High School and later study STEM fields may benefit, especially first-generation or disadvantaged students and those interested in environmental studies.

American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate and graduate students pursuing STEM, environment, energy, or cultural sustainability degrees at accredited U.S. institutions can receive $5,000 need-based scholarships from Native Forward Scholars Fund. South Dakota students in STEM fields may be eligible if they meet GPA, full-time enrollment, and Tribal affiliation requirements verified through a Tribal Eligibility Certificate.

South Dakota Indigenous STEM and trade students can access funding through the American Indian Science and Engineering Society for vocational and certificate programs. Scholarships of US $2,000 support full-time AISES student members in fields like welding, automotive or diesel technology, clean energy, IT, construction, business, and other eligible technical studies.

Generally the Community Foundation's scholarships are awarded to applicants who have high financial need. Applicants with household income exceeding $100,000 are less likely to be awarded, but applying will allow you to be considered for targeted scholarships.

Nika Marie Social Impact Scholarship

Open to students who are residents of Kent County and studying science, technology, engineering, math or arts.

Mission Statement

Beckley Area Foundation exists to inspire and facilitate generous charitable giving that advances our community.

The Beckley Area Foundation is committed to enriching lives and strengthening communities across Southern West Virginia.

Scholarship

Supporting Student Success

The Beckley Area Foundation proudly manages scholarship funds established by individuals, businesses, and organizations dedicated to helping students pursue higher education. Many of these scholarships are tailored for specific schools, fields of study, or graduates from local high schools, while others offer broader opportunities. No matter the path, our scholarships aim to support students from our region as they work toward achieving their educational goals.

Margaret Thorne-Dilley Scholarship for Science Teachers Scholarship

Eligibility

Equally weighted as a need and merit based award for a Raleigh County high school graduate with a 3.5 cumulative GPA; Pursuing baccalaureate degree in education at an accredited institution; Preference will go to students pursuing a science field including the biological, physical and natural sciences. If none apply with the preferences listed, mathematics will also be considered.

The Scottie W. Cox Memorial Scholarship of NCCCLA supports employees of learning resources centers in North Carolina pursuing advanced degrees in library and information studies. Eligible applicants must have at least a bachelor's degree and be enrolled in accredited programs. This scholarship, administered by the North Carolina Community Foundation, opens for applications on December 16, 2025, and closes on March 3, 2026. It aims to enhance professional development in the library sector.

The Reid Sasnett Memorial Scholarship Endowment supports graduating seniors from Pungo Christian Academy and Beaufort County high schools pursuing higher education. This scholarship aims to aid students who exhibit strong character, leadership, and community service, especially those passionate about agriculture and wildlife. Applications open on Dec. 16, 2025, and close on March 3, 2026, with preference for volunteer firefighters and Pungo Academy alumni.

The Bertha Sawyer Meiggs & Winfred B. Meiggs Sr. Family Scholarship supports graduating seniors from Camden, Gates, Pasquotank, and Perquimans counties, with a preference for Camden County residents. Eligible candidates must demonstrate strong academic performance, leadership skills, and community involvement while enrolling full-time in a two- or four-year college. The scholarship may be renewed at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee, subject to academic criteria and available funds.

The Sammy and Shirley Church Scholarship supports students from Ashe County, NC, including those graduating from the NC School of Science and Math. Eligible candidates must demonstrate academic excellence, physical vigor, and leadership in various activities. Financial need is considered but not the only criterion. Applications open on Dec. 16, 2025, and close on March 3, 2026. Ensure to meet specific eligibility requirements set by the donor for successful application.