The Society of Women Engineers Orange County Section (SWE-OC) was organized in 1983 and chartered in 1985. SWE-OC is a volunteer, nonprofit, educational, service organization whose members support the advancement of women in engineering. SWE-OC offers Graduate and Undergraduate Student Scholarships to students at our local colleges, and an Endowed Scholarship for high school seniors in Orange County.
Through the generous support of businesses and individuals, scholarships are awarded to women pursuing undergraduate studies in the field of engineering and computer science.
FY26 SWE–OC Endowed Student Scholarship
SWE-OC will award one Endowed Student Scholarship in the amount of $1,250.
The minimum criteria for selection are as follows:
● Identify as a Female
● Must be a high school senior at a High School in the Orange County area of Southern California
● GPA of 3.0 or higher
● Plans to pursue a degree in engineering, engineering technology, or computer science
Evaluation will be based on academic performance, work experience, community involvement, letter of recommendation, and evidence of leadership, motivation, character, and plans to pursue a career in engineering. The scholarship recipient will be announced & celebrated at the SWE-OC Professional Development Conference held on May 2, 2026.
The online application must be submitted and all documentation emailed by no later than Friday, March 20th, 2026.
Application:
The online application can be accessed via FY26 Endowed Student Scholarship App
FY26 Endowed Student Scholarship Details: https://swe-oc.swe.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/02/FY26-SWE–OC-Endowed-Student-Scholarship-Details-1.pdf
FY26 SWE–OC Undergraduate Student Scholarship
SWE-OC will award two Undergraduate Scholarships in the amount of $600 each.
The minimum criteria for selection are as follows:
● Must be a member of SWE
● Must have at least one full academic year left before graduation
● Currently enrolled at an accredited college or university in the Orange County area of Southern California (which includes Orange County, Long Beach, and Riverside)
● GPA of 3.0 or higher
● Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in engineering, engineering technology, or computer science
Evaluation will be based on academic performance, work experience, community involvement, letter of recommendation, and evidence of leadership, motivation, character, and plans to pursue a career in engineering. Active members of SWE will be prioritized in the selection process. The recipients of each scholarship will be announced & celebrated at the SWE-OC Professional Development Conference held on May 2, 2026.
The online application must be submitted and all documentation emailed by no later than Friday, March 20th, 2026.
This scholarship fund is for undergraduate studies ONLY. If you are an undergraduate applying for graduate funding (master’s, PhD, etc.), please apply for our SWE-OC Graduate Scholarship.
Application:
The online application can be accessed via FY26 Undergraduate Scholarship App
FY26 Endowed Student Scholarship Details: https://swe-oc.swe.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/02/FY26-SWE–OC-Undergraduate-Student-Scholarship-Details.pdf
FY26 SWE–OC Graduate Student Scholarship
SWE-OC will award one Graduate Scholarship in the amount of $800.
The minimum criteria for selection are as follows:
● Must be a member of SWE
● Must have at least one full academic year left before graduation
● Enrolled at an accredited college or university in the Orange County area of Southern California (which includes Orange County, Long Beach, and Riverside). If you are entering a graduate program, you may apply, however, proof will be required before fund disbursement.
● GPA of 3.3 or higher
● Currently pursuing a graduate degree in engineering, engineering technology, or computer science
Evaluation will be based on academic performance, work experience, community involvement, letter of recommendation, and evidence of leadership, motivation, character, and plans to pursue a career in engineering. Active members of SWE will be prioritized in the selection process. The scholarship recipient will be announced & celebrated at the SWE-OC Professional Development Conference held on May 2, 2026.
The online application must be submitted and all documentation emailed by no later than Friday, March 20th, 2026.
Application:
The online application can be accessed via FY26 Graduate Scholarship App
FY26 Graduate Scholarship Details: https://swe-oc.swe.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/02/FY26-SWE–OC-Graduate-Student-Scholarship-Details.pdf
FY26 SWE-OC Certificate of Merit Nomination
The core requirements are as follows:
● Identify as a Female
● Must be a Junior or Senior in high school in the Orange County area of Southern California
● Must have completed three years of science and three years of mathematics with distinction, or has achieved excellence in a science or math related activity such as a science fair, math contest, etc.
● Must be an active citizen of the school and community
● Nominated students should have above average grades in math and science classes and show enthusiasm in these curriculums
Nominations must be submitted by teachers. For additional information, please contact certificateofmerit@swe-oc.org. The online application must be submitted by no later than Friday, March 20th, 2026.
The online nomination form can be accessed via FY26 Certificate of Merit Nomination