Environmental Engineering Scholarships: Funding Your Path to a Greener Future

Over the last few decades, the growing interest in green technologies and environmental protection has become increasingly apparent. As the effects of an eroding ozone layer, global warming, and increasing pollution have become more apparent, there has been a renewed interest in the protection of the planet and its resources, leading to a marked increase in opportunities for students pursuing degrees and careers in environmental engineering. Scholarships for environmental engineering majors can help students access higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach because of financial reasons.

Why Environmental Engineering?

A major in environmental engineering can lead to jobs in a range of exciting fields such as conservationism, urban planning, and construction. But like all engineering degrees, it can come with a hefty price tag. However, scholarships for environmental engineering students can help with the education costs. Environmental engineering continues to be a growing field that offers students a wide range of professional opportunities.

Who Offers Environmental Engineering Scholarships?

College-bound students pursuing degrees in environmental engineering will find a wide range of scholarship programs designed to help defray the costs of their education. A number of different groups provide these scholarships, including corporations, professional organizations, and local and state governments. Students pursuing degrees and careers in environmental engineering should look to the private sector for a wide range of scholarship opportunities. Colleges and universities are always looking to entice the best and brightest students to their campuses, and this is particularly true when it comes to science and engineering. Environmental engineering majors will find a number of lucrative scholarship opportunities sponsored by Federal and State government agencies.

Types of Scholarships

Before you apply for environmental engineering scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements to see if you qualify. Scholarship requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. There are so many, check them out! Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay-different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.

Need-Based Scholarships

These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the FAFSA®.

Read also: EE Internship Guide

Merit-Based Scholarships

Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid-highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself.

Career-Specific Scholarships

These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer.

How to Find and Apply for Scholarships

If you are interested in applying, you will likely need to already be accepted or enrolled in an engineering program at an accredited university, and you may need to have a few years of study under your belt. You will likely need to provide your transcripts, showing a good academic record, and maybe a personal essay and references, too. Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money.

Tips for Applying

Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to.
Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college.
Want more tips to up your chances of winning? These tips can help as you get ready to apply for environmental engineering scholarships.
There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications.
You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships.

Essay Writing Tips

If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won.

Interview Tips

Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you.

Scholarship Opportunities from the Private Sector

Students pursuing degrees and careers in environmental engineering should look to the private sector for a wide range of scholarship opportunities. Business and industry recognizes the need to develop environmentally friendly technologies, and has a vested interest in supporting the next generation of innovative civil and environmental engineers.

Brown and Caldwell: Brown and Caldwell is a consulting firm that works with business and industry to address a wide range of environmental issues. Brown and Caldwell administers the Dr. W. Wesley Eckenfelder Jr. Scholarship. This program offers annual scholarships to students majoring in environmental engineering with a focus on wastewater management. Awards are based on merit, and applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
National Environmental Health Association (NEHA): The National Environmental Health Association sponsors a number of undergraduate and graduate scholarships for students pursuing degrees and careers in environmental engineering with an emphasis on public health. Scholarships are open to students enrolled at an EHAC accredited college or university. Applicants must be student members of the NEHA to be considered for an award.
Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation: The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation supports a variety of grants and fellowships for graduate level students in New England and California. The Switzer Fellowship is offered to exceptional environmental engineering majors who are pursuing careers in land and water conservation, environmental justice, public health, or environmental journalism. The award is highly competitive, and applicants will be judged on their academic performance and commitment to environmental problem solving.
Annie’s Homegrown: Annie’s Homegrown, best known for their popular line of organic foods, sponsors the Annie’s Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship. The program provides scholarships to students majoring in environmental engineering with a focus on promoting sustainable farming techniques. The scholarship is available to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Scholarship Opportunities from Colleges and Universities

In addition to the scholarship opportunities supported by the private sector, students majoring in environmental engineering will find that colleges and universities are also prime sources for financial aid. Colleges and universities are always looking to entice the best and brightest students to their campuses, and this is particularly true when it comes to science and engineering.

University of Texas - Arlington, Department of Civil Engineering: The Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Texas - Arlington offers several scholarships for students pursuing degrees in civil and environmental engineering. The Freese and Nichols Scholarship is a four-year scholarship available to students from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. This is a merit-based award, and recipients will receive $8000 over the course of four year of study. The V.T. Hancock Texas Water Utilities Association Environmental Scholarship is available to undergraduates who have been accepted into the college’s civil and environmental engineering program. This, too, is a merit-based award, although financial need will be considered in the case of competing applicants with equal credentials.
University of California - Irvine, The Henry Samueli School of Engineering: The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California - Irvine administers the Henry Samueli Endowed Scholarship for entering freshman enrolled in a civil or environmental engineering program.
University of Florida, Department of Environmental Engineering: The University of Florida’s Department of Environmental Engineering administers a number of scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students. Environmental engineering majors will be particularly interested in the Kenneth G. Hancock Memorial Student Award, which is available to undergraduate and graduate students who have made outstanding contributions to Green Chemistry through research or education.
University of Houston, The Cullen College of Engineering: The Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston offers a wide range of scholarships for students enrolled in its civil and environmental engineering programs. Among the many programs offered through the college’s offices of financial aid are the M.P. Pat Anderson Memorial Scholarship, the Dennis Clifford Environmental Scholarship and the Herbert and Faye Lum Scholarship.

Scholarship Opportunities from Government Agencies

Environmental engineering majors will find a number of lucrative scholarship opportunities sponsored by Federal and State government agencies.

The Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation: The Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation offers the Udall Scholarship for students pursuing degrees in fields related to the environment, including engineering, science, education, justice and urban planning. Special consideration is given to minority applicants, particularly Native Americans.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency: The United States Environmental Protection Agency administers the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship for post-graduate students pursuing research into environmental management and environmental science. Applicants must have solid scientific and technical credentials, and must submit three references to be considered for the fellowship.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship for students pursuing degrees and careers related to the stewardship of our oceans and atmosphere. The award is open to undergraduates who can demonstrate a high level of academic achievement, and who are enrolled in an approved program of environmental science.

Additional Scholarship Programs

Six scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each are offered to students completing undergraduate degree programs at accredited four-year institutions. Applicants must have been accepted to enter an accredited graduate program to complete a Master’s Degree either in Environmental Engineering or related field of engineering or Environmental Science or related field (as discussed in the FAQs).
These three scholarships are identical to those described above for Master’s degree candidates but are available to students who self-identify as American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander.

Specific Scholarship Examples:

Clair A.Awarded to a senior with a GPA above 3.0 based on merit and financial need.
Truman D.Awarded to a junior or senior based on academic merit, with financial need also taken into account.
James T. and Rose M.Awarded to a senior or graduate student based on academic merit, including exceptional performance over the past year, financial need, and interest in construction.
Arnold W.Awarded to a senior based on academic merit, and interest in construction, with preference given to residents of Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C.
Renate W.Awarded to one senior and one junior with a GPA of at least 3.2 based on merit and leadership. Financial need will also be considered.
RCI-IIBEC Foundation Lewis W.
RCI-IIBEC Foundation Robert W.
ACF Barnes W.
Rose, Jr. Emily M.
The Maureen D.
AISES A.T.
Delaware Solid Waste Authority John P.
Denes I.
Richard T.
Julie A.
VA AWWA Ray A.
MCF Lydia R.
The Virginia W.
The Patrick S.
David C.
Dr. Charlena M.
Bill H.
Dr. Norman S.
STLE Jeanie S.
AWWA Dr. Philip C.
Kristy J.
Barry M.
Ernest F.
James M. & Erma T.
The Dr. Brian L.
Richard T.
E.C.
Gary K.
NDSGC Pearl I.
Anna N.
AWWA Jacobs Holly A.
Eleanor K.
Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions Vernon D.
W.W.

Additional Tips

Find scholarships for environmental engineering majors that can help you pay for college. Environmental engineering scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for environmental engineering students. If you want to get as much free money as you can for your education, then yes! You’ll find some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for, while others require more time and effort. Pro tip: Don’t pass up on environmental engineering scholarships that have smaller award amounts.

Departmental Scholarships

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering awards thousands of dollars in scholarships, fellowships and awards each year. These awards have been established through the generous donations of alumni, private individuals, and industrial sources. Newly admitted students are automatically considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible. Enrolled students may obtain the online application form for scholarships and awards from the Academic Advisor in December. Applications can also be found on the undergraduate web blog.

Read also: Impact of Environmental Education

tags: #environmental #engineering #scholarships