For years, women have been deprived of education, especially in the Islamic world. If they are ever educated, they are often sent to low-cost schools. This practice has made the wrong impression on the minds of many women and girls who wish to pursue higher education. Since most of the family funds were channeled to the male children, women had little or no financial assistance.
Fortunately today.the story is changing fast as more women attend colleges and pursue great careers. Some are being sponsored by the student loans they got from the government. The idea of student loans may sound great at first, but most students struggle to pay back at the end of study.
The good news is that you don’t have to worry about getting loans and paying back in years to come. There are many scholarships and grants that take care of women and girls. You only need to apply and declare your financial status. Today, women have many opportunities to become better and greater than before. Here are various scholarships created specifically for Islamic women and girls:
International Scholarships for Muslim Women
SISTERS IN SOLIDARITY TO EDUCATE RESPOND AND SERVE
The Sisters in Solidarity to Educate Respond and Serve (SISTERS) award scholarships every year. They target young and enterprising Muslim women in the metropolitan area of the DC. To be eligible, you must:
- Be a Muslim girl or woman
- Apply at a college or already studying at a college
- Have a GPA of not less than 3.5
- Be an active participant in the community
- Submit an essay, recommendation letters and transcript
If you are interested, apply for the scholarship using this link if you’re interested.
THE STAR AND CRESCENT SOCIETY
Based in North Carolina, The Star and Crescent is made up of Muslimahs who live to serve and improve their communities. They accomplish this through the Rising Star Scholarship. Applicants must submit their applications before April 1 of every year. Scholarships are given in August based on the following criteria:
- Applicants must be a Muslim female
- She must have a consistent 3.0 GPA
- Applicants must be an active community participant
If you want to apply, click on this link
THE MUSLIM WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION (MWA)
This DC-based association aims to share the culture and history of Islam with others. Their mission is to provide support and scholarships to Muslim women who want to achieve their dreams.
To apply, visit this link.
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN (AAUW)
The American Association of University Women award scholarships to Muslim women who wish to study in various fields and levels. It is one of the great opportunities Muslim women can use to achieve their goals and dream careers.
For scholarship requirements and more information, click this link.
THE SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS (SWE)
This society aims to provide scholarships and motivate companies to follow the same example. Women who attend accredited universities are the main focus of this scholarship. The expected courses of study are engineering and computer programs.
For more information and further reading, interested women can visit this link.
THE JEANNETTE RANKIN FOUNDATION
This is a foundation that offers scholarships to women with low income. These women must be 35 years old and above. The scholarship is to encourage their dreams of obtaining college education to improve their lives, their families and communities.
To read more about this foundation, you may check out this link for more information.
Islamic Scholarships for Muslim Women and Men
ISLAMIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The ISF is a non-profit organization with a mission to foster community engagement and education of young Muslims. This organization provides financial support and internships in communities. The scholarship is open to all Muslim students who are already enrolled in universities that are affiliated with certain Islamic centers. The financial support from ISF is between $1 000 – $10,000. However, interested students must meet the following requirements:
- Must already enroll in a 4-year course in a US university
- Must major in Humanities, Law, liberal Arts or Social Science
- Must be a US citizen or have US permanent residence
- Must have a GPA of not less than 3.4
- Must be either a senior or junior undergraduate or already a graduated student
Students can apply for ISF scholarships here.
AMERICAN ISLAMIC COLLEGE
Located in Chicago, this private Islamic college offers 20 scholarships to students every year. The amount given to qualified students is between $400-$3,000. It is based on a student’s financial needs and a compulsory consistent GPA of 2.5.
For more information and application date and deadline, click this link.
ZAYTUNA COLLEGE
Zaytuna College is an Islamic college in San Francisco, USA, dedicated to supplying communities with scholars and leaders. These leaders are grounded in the culture and traditions of Islam. In partnership with ISF, Zaytuna College offers scholarships to interested Muslim women and men.
Visit this link to learn more about the scholarship.