Top 10 Aviation Scholarships for Females 2023

There are aviation scholarships for females who are aspiring to become pilots. If you are one of them, then you are in the right place. Keep reading as I will be unveiling these scholarships, their requirements, and how to apply for them.

In this 21st century, women have dared to dominate almost every sector in the world and they have proved to be as much use as men are.

There is no sector that a woman has not demonstrated her talent and the fact remains and is undeniable that women can boast of themselves as being equal to men and are capable of carrying out any job role assigned to them.

Amongst these job roles are becoming a pilot. Becoming a pilot is one of the hardest paths to take especially as a woman. And so many women aspire to become pilots because it is one of the noblest professions ever! It is also one of the highest-paid professions.

The main issue with becoming a pilot is the huge cost that goes into education and training. Due to how expensive it is, the hopes of many aspiring pilots have been shattered most especially the female folk.

As the years go by, the number of female pilots increases to a large extent. Currently, we have over 58,541 female pilots in America alone. This number is huge and one to pride in.

As much as the education and training are expensive, getting a private pilot license is a huge deal and many people end up choosing other careers that are more budget-friendly. Fortunately, we have scholarships that are made available just to fulfill this purpose.

There are scholarships for women, you can apply for any one of them if interested. For women interested in getting an MBA degree, there are business school scholarships available for them too.

So if you are one of the female students aspiring to be in the aviation sector, you are in luck because I will be talking about them shortly. How to apply for them and also their respective requirements.

Aviation Scholarships For Females

There are quite several aviation scholarships for females. They will be listed and discussed one after another in this section. These scholarships are as follows;

AAAE Women in Aviation Scholarship
Citation-In-Flight Scholarship by F.A.S.T
Bill Cowden Memorial Aviation Scholarship
Women in Aviation International Scholarship
Mommy’s Going Back-In-Flight Scholarship
The Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships & Awards
Air Line Pilots Association Scholarship Program
Whirly-Girls Krista Holstrom Memorial Flight Training Scholarship
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Flight Training Scholarships
AAERO Aviation Scholarship Program

1. AAAE Women in Aviation Scholarship

This is the first scholarship on the list of female aviation scholarships. It was established to enable outstanding female pilots to fulfill their desire to be in the aviation sector.

Since its inception in 2015, the AAAE Foundation has raised over $1.2 million and created a total of six Women in Aviation Scholarships, each with an annual $5,000 award.

To participate, you must be a full-time student with a junior class standing or above or a graduate student, who is enrolled in an aviation program and has a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

The scholarship is worth $5000.

2. Citation-In-Flight Scholarship by F.A.S.T

The organization of Female Aviators Sticking Together (F.A.S.T) offers a good number of scholarships for females who are aspiring to get established in the aviation industry.

The Citation-In-Flight Scholarship awards six CE500 or CE525 Initial or Recurrent Simulator Training to FAST members.

To apply, you must be a US citizen, hold at least an FAA Commercial Multi-Engine Pilot License with Instrument Rating, have at least 1,500 hours of flight time (or reduced ATP minimums, if applicable), or already possess their ATP or R-ATP certificate.

This scholarship is awarded to professional female pilots and the scholarship worths are $12,675 for an Initial and $6,750 for recurrent.

3. Bill Cowden Memorial Aviation Scholarship

The Bill Cowden Memorial Scholarship is another aviation scholarship for females, but it’s not restricted only to females, it is for both males and females.

The scholarship was established in loving memory of Bill Cowden a North Dakota Air National Guard F-16 pilot, commercial airline pilot, and air show performer.

He passed away at the age of 47 in an air show performance accident in June 2014. After his death, his wife Heather Cowden, reached out to the Community Foundation of Dunn County to establish the Bill Cowden Memorial Aviation Scholarship.

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must already hold a current Private Pilot Certificate, Provide your professional resume, and a letter of recommendation related to aviation skills.

The scholarship is worth $5000.

4. Women in Aviation International Scholarship

The Women in Aviation international scholarship is a major benefit to the members of the women in Aviation international organization. The scholarship they offer helps their members to reach their goals and advance in their aviation careers. They offer up to 30 scholarships annually during their conference.

To be eligible for this scholarship, the applicant must be a current member of the organization, applicants must also include ONE written recommendation (no more than one page) from their direct supervisor, must write an essay (no more than one page) about how their current work experience and their future aspirations will guide them to become leaders in the aviation and aerospace industry and include their resume.

The scholarship amount varies.

5. Mommy’s Going Back-In-Flight Scholarship

The Mommy’s-Going-Back-In-Flight scholarship is a scholarship for mothers who apply for flight training at an accredited flight school to help them return to flight status after a break from parental responsibilities. The Scholarship grants $1,000 to its participants.

6. The Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships & Awards

Each year Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships are usually awarded to qualified members for five different scholarship types, including two specialized scholarships: an Emergency Maneuver Training Scholarship and an International Scholarship for pilots in developing countries. The other five scholarships are;

Flight Training Scholarship
Academic Scholarship
Technical Training Scholarship
Vicki Cruse Memorial Scholarship for Emergency Maneuver Training
Kitty Houghton Memorial Scholarship

Applicants should use the application form most appropriate to their circumstances and goal. The scholarship pays up to $20,000

7. Air Line Pilots Association Scholarship Program

ALPA represents and advocates for more than 67,000 pilots at 39 U.S. and Canadian airlines, making it the world’s largest airline pilot union. They provide three critical services to its members: airline safety, security, and pilot assistance; representation; and advocacy.

Through unbiased, fact-based evaluation of airline safety and security issues, They work to ensure that the airline industry remains safe. They represent pilots’ views to decision-makers, including Congress and federal agencies, and ALPA pilot groups have negotiated hundreds of contracts with airlines.

The requirement is that the applicant must be a child of a medically retired, long-term disabled, or deceased pilot member of the Air Line Pilots Association. The scholarship pays up to $12,000.

8. Whirly-Girls Krista Holstrom Memorial Flight Training Scholarship

Jean Ross Howard Phelan founded the Whirly-Girls on April 28, 1955, with the hope of developing an organization where female pilots could share information and camaraderie regardless of country, race, religion, or politics.

She was one of 13 charter members representing women helicopter pilots from France, Germany, and the United States. As founder and first president of the organization, Jean encouraged establishing hospital heliports and using helicopters in emergency medical services.

They offer two scholarships, and their scholarship program has grown from one single $500 scholarship to a range of scholarships valued at more than $150,000 in recent years. Applicant must be a helicopter pilot with at least a private pilot certificate/license, preferably with an instrument rating, and is working towards their flight instructor certificate.

9. Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Flight Training Scholarships

This scholarship is supported by dozens of donors, benefactors, and others who pass it forward by endowing these programs. EAA awards more than $1 million in aviation scholarship money via various programs each year.

All applications are reviewed against the criteria for the individual scholarships and then awarded to those who show the greatest potential to be actively engaged in aviation.

They strive to provide scholarships that have a minimum award of $5,000.

10. AAERO Aviation Scholarship Program

This Scholarship Program is for aspiring pilots who have not yet received their PPL certificate. The AAERO Aviation Scholarship is awarded to only a handful of select individuals who have demonstrated their passion and ability to complete their PPL certification within 12 months of applying for the program. AAERO Aviation Scholarship Partners are local businesses that invest in our scholarship program to make it available to aspiring pilots around the United States.

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants: Must be located in the United States
Must be 18+ years old
Must have student certificate and CFI / School.
Scholarships to selected participants will be paid to their flight school program directly

The scholarship amount ranges from $250 – $2,500

Conclusion

These scholarships are readily available for interested applicants provided they meet up to the requirements needed to secure the scholarships.