Find Grants to Subsidize your Mathematics Degree
Students pursuing degrees in mathematics receive grants to finance their education from a host of grant providers. Math sciences are applied across multiple disciplines and there is a constant need for academically talented students to fill new posts in forever-growing industries and sectors where mathematics is essential to operations.

Graduates in mathematics have a variety of disciplines where they can apply their knowledge and expertise. Popular industries include computer programming, software development, teaching, accounting, finance and research in statistics. This colossal spectrum of industries that rely on mathematics is the reason students pursuing math related degrees can access college grants for math majors from an assortment of grant and fellowship programs.

Where do Grants for Math Students come from?

There are three main sources of grants for students pursing math related degrees; Professional math organizations, organizations support minority students and government grant programs.

Grants from Professional Math Organizations

Mathematics associations and societies are eminent support providers of working mathematicians and students aspiring to become math majors. Professional organizations administer funding pots that provide grants to support the career development of math students.

  • The National Science Foundation (NSF) administers merit-based grants that support research projects undertaken by graduate students in math, engineering, computer science physics or chemistry. The program is called the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) and students can receive up to $40,500 annually through the program. More information is available at the NSF website.
  • The Army, Navy and Air force jointly sponsor the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduates Fellowship Program. Graduate students in their first year of post baccalaureate study of engineering and math can receive generous grants to fund their education.

Women and Minority Math Grants

Women and minorities have historically been underrepresented in the math and science fields due to social and financial factors. However, financial support in terms of grants and scholarships for minorities are channeled through several organizations, with an emphasis on increasing the number of women and students from ethnic populations to pursue math related degrees. The following organizations are renowned for assisting math students from under represented populations and worth investigating.

  • The American Statistical Society – Offer the “Gertrude Cox Scholarship for Women”, a scholarship grant awarded to women graduate students pursuing a degree in math sciences.
  • The Association of Women in Mathematics – Is a leading association committed to the interests of women in the sciences and provides access to several grant and scholarship resources.
  • The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science offers opportunities for underrepresented minority students in engineering and natural and physical sciences to obtain MS and Ph.D. degrees.

Government Grant Programs

Although government-funded grants such as Pell and ACG are developed to assist students in any field, federal governments administer a small number of grants exclusively for students studying sciences and math science.

  • Math Students who receive the Pell will may also be eligible to the receive the acclaimed National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant). The National SMART grant is awarded to academically talented undergraduates, juniors and seniors who are interested in studying engineering, math and sciences.

Some state governments also fund grant and scholarship programs aimed at students with interests in mathematics, it is worthwhile investigating the programs available through your state.