The ever-increasing student debt burden, rising cost of higher education, and ongoing need for education funding is an alarming reality of our times. We know that women earn less than men, even one-year out of college, and thus may have more difficulty than men in paying off their student debt. AAUW’s educational funding for women remains an important element to closing the funding gap for women in higher education.
AAUW branches within the state of Michigan provide funding for local scholarship programs for qualified women students seeking educational funding. Participating branches determine their scholarship amounts and eligibility criteria, and applicants apply directly to the opportunities for which they are qualified.
BRANCH SCHOLARSHIPS:
Ann Arbor Branch: Ann Arbor, MI
AAUW Ann Arbor does not directly award scholarships:
AAUW Ann Arbor Branch has endowed five national AAUW Funds:
AAUW Ann Arbor Branch American Fund
AAUW Ann Arbor Branch International Fellowship Fund
AAUW Ann Arbor Branch Centennial American Fund
AAUW Ann Arbor Branch International Fellowship Fund II
AAUW Ann Arbor Branch Career Development Grant
American Fellowships range from $6000-$30,000
Applications accepted Aug. 1 through Nov. 1
International Fellowships range from $18,000-$30,000
Applications accepted Aug. 1 through Nov. 15
Career Development Grants range from $2000-$12,000
Applications accepted Aug. 1 through Nov. 15
ALL Applications are done through AAUW at AAUW.org
AAUW Ann Arbor also funds scholarships locally at the University of Michigan (UM), Eastern Michigan University (EMU) and Washtenaw Community College (WCC)
University of Michigan:
- AAUW Ann Arbor Branch Mary Markley Endowment Fund
- Currently awards three $3500 annual scholarships
- Applications done through UM-Ann Arbor Financial Aid Office
- UM-CEW+
- AAUW Ann Arbor Branch Used Book Sale Scholarship Endowment Fund
- Currently awards approximately $5000 annually to graduate students
- Applications done through UM-CEW+
- AAUW Mary Elizabeth Bittman Endowment Fund
- Typically awards approximately $5000 annually to undergraduate students
- Applications done through UM-CEW+
Eastern Michigan University:
AAUW Ann Arbor Branch Endowment Fund
Typically awards approximately $2000 annually to undergraduate students
Applications done through EMU Financial Aid Office
Washtenaw Community College:
AAUW/Margaret Weddell Brandon Fund Endowment
Typically awards approximately $1000 annually to undergraduate students
Applications done through WCC Financial Aid Office
The Battle Creek Branch of AAUW offers scholarships to young women who have graduated from a Calhoun County high school, have at least two years of college behind them, and are pursuing STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math). Scholarships of $2,000 each were awarded to each of the three chosen students for the 2019 & 2020 school years (total of $12,000 awarded to six individuals).
Our branch also offers mini-grants for persons interested in careers in the skilled trade work force that don’t require attending a four year university. The grant does not cover tuition but will cover up to 75% of costs for tools, materials, and testing. Any woman age 16 or older who lives in or attends a school in Calhoun County is eligible to apply.
Both the scholarship and mini-grant programs are administered by the Battle Creek Community Foundation and are funded by the local AAUW used book sales. Applications are available on the Foundation website at www.bccfoundation.org.
Saginaw Valley State University
Each school decides who the scholarship recipients are and we are notified by the schools.
Farmington Branch: Farmington, MI
E-mail: Oakland Community College Foundation 248-341-2137
Scholarship type: Undergraduate (4)
Amount per award ($): $500/per student
Application link: http://www.oaklandcc.edu
Deadlines vary with each semester.
Iron Mountain/Kingsford Branch: Kingsford, MI
Application link: https://imkaauw.org
Traditional Scholarship: $1000 – offered annually to female high school seniors from Florence, Iron Mountain, Kingsford, Niagara, North Dickinson, or Norway high schools. For More Info – Contact: Barb Rice
Eleanor M. Hoeffler Scholarship: $500 – established in 1987, is offered annually to high school senior girls or boys from Iron Mountain or Kingsford who will pursue studies in Communications, Performing Arts, Visual Arts or English Language Arts. For More Info – Contact: Barb Rice
Non-Traditional Scholarship: $1000 – offered annually to local women who are 22 years of age or older that are pursuing a certificate program, an associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree program in the fall. For More Info – Contact: Sara Foster
Member Scholarship: $1000 – offered annually to a member of the Iron Mountain/Kingsford AAUW branch to be used for additional education beyond an associate’s, bachelor’s or Master’s degree and includes continuing education. For More Info – Contact: Jan Van Gasse
Jackson Branch: Jackson, MI
The Jackson Branch of the American Association of University Women has a scholarship available for two Jackson County women who are pursuing a four-year undergraduate degree at an accredited Michigan college or university. Students who are currently completing their sophomore or junior year are invited to apply for one of the two scholarships. Special consideration will be given to students with financial needs.
E-mail:
Scholarship type: First Undergraduate degree
Amount per award ($): $3,500 (two awards annually. Each award is worth $3,500)
Application links: Scholarship Eligibility — Scholarship Application page
Midland Branch: Midland, MI
Midland Area Community Foundation
Scholarship type: Undergraduate and Graduate
Amount per award ($): $2,000.00
Application link: http://www.midlandfoundation.org/scholarship-application/
South Haven Branch: South Haven, MI
For more info Contact: Teresa Gibbons, Scholarship Committee Chair 616-550-6374
Scholarship type: Undergraduate (3)
Amount per award ($): $1500/per student
Application link: https://southhavencf.awardspring.com/Home?ScholarshipDetails/1971556
Deadline: March 1
Pathfinder Award: available to South Haven High School female seniors who are active in their school or community, and whose parents or legal guardians do not hold a bachelor’s degree or higher
Luminary Award: available to South Haven High School female seniors who demonstrate leadership, integrity, advocacy, and awareness of key issues
Both the Pathfinder and Luminary 2022 award recipients will automatically receive a $1500 Achievement Award during their second year of college provided they have a minimum 2.7 GPA at the end of their freshman year of college.
AAUW South Haven awards $1500 to Lake Michigan Community College to be dispersed at the discretion of the college administrators who typically award three $500 scholarships annually to current or prospective LMC female students. Application deadline is March 1.
Application is available online: https://www.lakemichigancollege.edu/financial-aid/pay-college/scholarships
Traverse City Area Branch: Traverse City, MI
The Traverse City Area Branch will offer three $2,000.00 scholarships in 2021.
Applications for the AAUW-TC Minnie Votruba Moore Scholarship will be available on the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation website. The Zimco LLC application may be downloaded from our website www.aauwtc.org. The additional scholarship will be selected from the applications submitted for the AAUW-TC Minnie Votruba Moore and Zimco LLC Scholarships. Further details can be found on our website.
Applications will be accepted from mid-January through early March. Exact dates will be available in early January 2021
Eligibility
- Women who have completed two or more years of college following their high school education and are enrolled or will be enrolling in at least 9 credit hours each term/semester in an accredited program.
- Reside in the five-county Grand Traverse Region: Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau.