The largest AI scholarships for U.S. students come from federal programs and a few tech companies: the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship pays a $37,000 yearly stipend plus $16,000 toward tuition for three years, the SMART Scholarship covers full tuition plus a $30,000–$46,000 stipend, and NSA's Stokes program pays up to $30,000 a year for high school seniors heading into AI or computer science. Below are 19 awards for AI, computer science, data science, and cybersecurity students, with amounts, who qualifies, and when to apply. Four big deadlines fall in October 2026, so start with the table.
How we checked: We confirmed every award on its sponsor's official website on October 2, 2026. No sponsor paid to be listed. Amounts and dates change each year, so open the official page before you apply.
AI scholarships at a glance
Sorted by the next deadline. Details and official links for each award are in the sections below.
| Scholarship | Who it's for | Award | Next deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSF Graduate Research Fellowship | Research master's and PhD students | $37,000/yr stipend + $16,000/yr tuition, 3 years | Oct. 20, 2026 (computer science) |
| NSA Stokes Educational Scholarship | U.S.-citizen high school seniors | Up to $30,000/yr tuition, plus salary | Oct. 23, 2026 |
| Hertz Fellowship | First- and second-year PhD students | Up to $250,000 over 5 years | Oct. 30, 2026 |
| NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship | PhD students past their first year | Up to $60,000 | Oct. 30, 2026 |
| SMART Scholarship | Bachelor's, master's, and PhD STEM students | Full tuition + $30,000–$46,000/yr stipend | Dec. 4, 2026 |
| Science Ambassador Scholarship | Women and non-binary high school seniors and undergrads | $20,000 (five awards) | Dec. 14, 2026 |
| Goldwater Scholarship | College sophomores and juniors | Up to $7,500/yr | Jan. 29, 2027 (campus deadline earlier) |
| ISC2 Center for Cyber Safety scholarships | Cybersecurity students | $3,000–$5,000 | Usually mid-March (opens mid-January) |
| AISES scholarships | Indigenous STEM students | $1,000–$5,000 | Apr. 30, 2027 (opens Dec. 15) |
| WGU AI Edge Scholarship | New WGU computer science and AI-related tech students | Up to $5,000 | Through June 30, 2027 |
| NSBE scholarships | NSBE members, high school through grad school | Varies (over $1 million a year total) | Fall 2026 cycle open now |
| SHPE ScholarSHPE | SHPE members in STEM | Varies by award | Short window each February |
| Society of Women Engineers scholarships | Women in engineering and computer science | Varies by award | 2027–28 cycle not yet open |
| Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship | High school seniors with financial need | Up to $40,000 + paid internship | Next cycle not yet announced |
| VA Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship | Veterans and Fry Scholars near the end of GI Bill benefits | Up to $30,000 | Rolling (reviewed monthly) |
| CyberCorps Scholarship for Service | Cybersecurity students at participating colleges | Up to 3 years of support | Set by each college |
| NSF S-STEM scholarships | Low-income STEM students at funded colleges | Set by each college | Set by each college |
| DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship | College seniors and first-year grad students | $45,000/yr stipend + tuition, up to 4 years | See program site |
| Apple Scholars in AI/ML | PhD students at invited universities | Funding, mentoring, and an internship | University nomination only |
Deadlines are for the 2026–27 application cycle as posted on each sponsor's site on October 2, 2026. "Set by each college" means you apply through your school, not the federal agency.
Scholarships for high school seniors
Three strong awards for students heading into an AI or computer science major are open to high school seniors, led by NSA's Stokes program at up to $30,000 a year.
NSA Stokes Educational Scholarship
The National Security Agency pays up to $30,000 a year for tuition and required fees, plus a salary, for seniors who plan to major in artificial intelligence, computer science, computer or electrical engineering, cybersecurity, data science, or math. You work at NSA each summer, and after graduation you agree to work there for at least one and a half times as long as you studied. You must be a U.S. citizen. Applications close October 23, 2026.
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Amazon covers your unmet financial need, up to $10,000 a year for four years (up to $40,000 total), and offers a paid summer internship on an Amazon software team. It's aimed at students from underserved communities who plan to major in computer science. You need a high school computer science class (or Amazon's assessment instead), at least a 2.3 GPA, and financial need. The 2025–26 round is closed; sign up on Amazon's site to hear when the next one opens.
Science Ambassador Scholarship
Funded by Cards Against Humanity, this program gives five $20,000 awards to women and non-binary high school seniors and college students majoring in a STEM field, including computer science. Instead of an essay, you film a three-minute lecture on a STEM topic you love. You don't need to be a U.S. citizen, but you must attend college in the U.S. Videos are due December 14, 2026.
Science Ambassador Scholarship →
Scholarships for college students
If you're already in college, the largest award here is the SMART Scholarship: full tuition plus a yearly stipend of $30,000 to $46,000.
SMART Scholarship (Department of War)
SMART pays full tuition at an accredited U.S. college, a yearly stipend, and paid summer internships for bachelor's, master's, and PhD students in STEM fields, including computer science. It's run by the Department of War (also called the Department of Defense). In return, you take a civilian job at one of the department's research facilities after you graduate. Applications are open from August 1 through the first Friday in December, which is December 4, 2026.
Goldwater Scholarship
Goldwater pays up to $7,500 a year toward tuition, fees, books, and housing for sophomores and juniors planning research careers in math, natural science, or engineering. Your college has to nominate you, so contact your campus Goldwater representative early in the fall. Campus deadlines come weeks before the national deadline, which is January 29, 2027. You need at least a 3.0 GPA and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
CyberCorps Scholarship for Service
Scholarship for Service covers up to three years of a cybersecurity bachelor's, master's, or PhD. The National Science Foundation sends the money to participating colleges, so you apply through a school that runs an SFS program. After graduation, you work in a government cybersecurity job for as long as your scholarship lasted.
ISC2 Center for Cyber Safety and Education scholarships
The charity arm of ISC2, a major cybersecurity professional group, awards $3,000 to associate-degree students and $5,000 to bachelor's and graduate students in cybersecurity. Applications usually open in mid-January and close in mid-March.
Center for Cyber Safety scholarships →
VA Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship
Veterans and Fry Scholars who are running out of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can get up to nine more months of benefits, worth up to $30,000, to finish an undergraduate STEM degree, including computer and information science. You need six months or less of benefits left and at least 60 credits done toward your degree. VA reviews applications every month. The scholarship doesn't cover graduate degrees.
WGU AI Edge Scholarship
Western Governors University, an online nonprofit university, offers up to $5,000 to new students in its computer science, software engineering, and other AI-related tech degrees. It pays $1,250 per six-month term for up to four terms. You apply for admission first, then submit the scholarship form between 90 days before and 30 days after your start date. WGU also asks you to file the FAFSA if you're eligible.
NSF S-STEM scholarships
The National Science Foundation gives colleges money for scholarships for low-income students with strong grades in STEM majors, from associate degrees to PhDs. You don't apply to NSF. Instead, ask your college's financial aid office or computer science department whether it has an S-STEM program.
Fellowships for master's and PhD students
Graduate AI funding comes mostly as fellowships for research degrees. The biggest is the Hertz Fellowship, worth up to $250,000 over five years.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP)
NSF's fellowship pays a $37,000 yearly stipend plus $16,000 a year to your school for tuition and fees, for three years used within five. You don't owe any service after you graduate. It's for students in research-based master's and PhD programs. The computer science deadline is October 20, 2026, and your reference letters are due October 16.
Hertz Fellowship
Hertz funds up to five years of PhD study, worth up to $250,000, for students in applied science, math, and engineering who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. You apply in your first or second year of a PhD for funding that starts in fall 2027. Applications close October 30, 2026.
NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship
NVIDIA awards up to $60,000 to PhD students whose research advances accelerated computing, the GPU-powered computing behind most AI models. You must finish your first year of PhD study before applying, and winners complete a summer internship at NVIDIA Research. International students can apply. Applications and letters are due October 30, 2026.
DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF)
This Department of Energy fellowship pays a $45,000 yearly stipend plus full tuition and fees for up to four years, along with a research stint at a national lab. It's for college seniors and first-year grad students headed into a PhD that uses high-performance computing, which can include machine learning research. It's open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Apple Scholars in AI/ML
Apple's PhD fellowship in AI and machine learning comes with funding, mentoring from Apple researchers, and an internship. You can't apply on your own, because invited universities nominate students. If you're in a PhD program at a research university, ask your department whether it takes part.
Scholarships for women and underrepresented students in tech
Professional societies give away millions each year (the Society of Women Engineers alone awarded nearly $1.8 million in 2026), and most use one application for many awards.
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
SWE scholarships go to women studying engineering, engineering technology, or computer science, from incoming first-year students through grad school. One application puts you in the running for every SWE award you qualify for. The 2026–27 round is closed; fill out SWE's 2027–28 interest form to hear when it opens.
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
NSBE and its partners award more than $1 million in scholarships each year to members, from high school students in NSBE Jr. through graduate students. You need a paid NSBE membership and a verified GPA to apply. The fall 2026 cycle is open now, and each award lists its own deadline on NSBE's site.
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
SHPE uses one common application for its STEM scholarships, and a few awards are open to high school seniors. You need an active SHPE membership and at least a 2.5 GPA. SHPE-funded awards don't require U.S. citizenship, though some sponsor-funded ones do. The window is short (February 2–16 in 2026), so join early and watch for the 2027 dates.
American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
AISES offers awards of $1,000 to $5,000 to American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and First Nations students in STEM. Student membership is free. Applications open December 15 and close April 30.
Which AI scholarships require you to work for the government?
Three of the biggest awards on this list (Stokes, SMART, and CyberCorps) pay for school in exchange for a government job after you graduate. That can be a great deal if you want that work, but read the service agreement before you sign.
| Program | What you owe after graduation |
|---|---|
| NSA Stokes | Work at NSA for at least 1.5 times as long as you studied |
| SMART | A civilian job at a Department of War facility |
| CyberCorps SFS | A government cybersecurity job for as long as your scholarship lasted |
| NSF GRFP, Hertz, NVIDIA | No required job after graduation |
Some "AI scholarships" don't pay for college
Several awards that show up in AI scholarship searches won't put money toward your degree. Here's what to know before you spend time on them.
- USAII AI NextGen Challenge: Billed as America's largest AI scholarship, it gives free access to the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Institute's own certification courses to the top 10% of scorers on a test. You pay $49 to $88 to take the test, and the award doesn't cover college tuition.
- Google DeepMind AI master's scholarships: The program, run by the Institute of International Education, now supports only current scholars. There's no open application.
- No-essay monthly drawings: These are usually small ($1,000 or less) and often collect your contact details for marketing. Read the rules and privacy policy before you enter, and don't count on them to pay for school.
How to spot a scholarship scam
Real scholarships never charge you to apply. The Federal Trade Commission lists these warning signs:
- An application fee, "processing" fee, or a fee to hold an award
- A promise that you're guaranteed to win or will get your money back
- A request for your bank account, credit card, or FSA ID
- A message saying you're a finalist for a contest you never entered
- Someone offering to file your FAFSA for a fee (the FAFSA is always free)
If something feels off, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Source: FTC scholarship and financial aid scams guide.
How to stack scholarships with a lower-cost AI degree
Scholarships go furthest when you combine them with federal aid and a program that doesn't cost much to begin with.
- File the FAFSA first. The 2027–28 FAFSA is open now and covers school from July 1, 2027, to June 30, 2028. Many scholarships, including WGU's, ask for it. Start the FAFSA →
- Ask your school what it runs. S-STEM and CyberCorps money flows through colleges, and many computer science departments have their own awards.
- Apply to fall deadlines first. NSF GRFP, Stokes, Hertz, NVIDIA, SMART, and the Science Ambassador award all close between October and mid-December.
- Tell your financial aid office about outside awards. Schools may adjust your aid package when you win a scholarship, so ask how they'll count it.
- Choose a program with a lower price. A $5,000 award covers much more of an affordable degree than an expensive one.
Bachelor's / undergrad
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View ranking → Cost guideCybersecurity degree cost
What cyber degrees cost by level, a good companion to CyberCorps and ISC2 awards.
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Are there fully funded AI scholarships?
Yes. The SMART Scholarship covers full tuition plus a $30,000–$46,000 yearly stipend, and NSA's Stokes program pays up to $30,000 a year plus a salary, but both require a government job after graduation. For PhD students, the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Hertz Fellowship, and DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship pay a stipend plus tuition, and NSF and Hertz don't require any service afterward.
Do I need to major in artificial intelligence to qualify?
No. Most of these awards accept computer science, data science, math, and engineering majors, and some cover any STEM field. Only a few, like the WGU AI Edge Scholarship, are tied to specific AI-related programs.
Can international students get AI scholarships?
Some, but fewer. Federal awards like NSF GRFP, Stokes, Goldwater, and Hertz require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. The NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship, SHPE-funded scholarships, and the Science Ambassador Scholarship do not, though you must study at a U.S. college for the Science Ambassador award.
Are there AI scholarships for women?
Yes. The Society of Women Engineers funds women in engineering and computer science, and the Science Ambassador Scholarship gives five $20,000 awards to women and non-binary students in STEM. Many company and society programs also have awards for women in tech.
Can I use AI to write my scholarship essay?
Check each sponsor's rules before you do. Most want your application in your own words, and some allow AI only for things like grammar checks. Committees read for personal stories and specific goals, which generic AI text rarely delivers.
When should I apply for AI scholarships?
Start in early fall. NSF GRFP closes October 20, 2026, for computer science, Stokes closes October 23, Hertz and NVIDIA close October 30, SMART closes December 4, and the Science Ambassador award closes December 14. Society scholarships like SHPE and AISES open in winter and close in spring.