Scholarships, Fellowships and Grants

This is a short list of scholarships, fellowships and grants for undergraduate and graduate students in environmental fields. Note that many scholarships, particularly competitive national opportunities, require nomination by the applicant’s institution; students should see the designated faculty coordinators for more information.

Opportunities  for Undergraduate Study

Earth Island Institute's Brower Youth Awards offers six awards annually, to assist with educational costs or to further the applicant's environmental work. This prestigious award includes $3000 cash.

The John and Erma Stutzman Peace Fellows Program awards fellowships to IWU freshman and sophomores interested in peace, social justice and conflict resolution. Recipients will agree to complete a few relevant courses at IWU and will also participate in an independent study and off-campus internship in the United States or abroad, the costs of which will be subsidized up to $1,000 per student. For more information, contact Dr. Bushnell, Dr. Epstein or Dr. Munro.

The Morris K. Udall Foundation awards 80 scholarships of up to $5,000 and 50 honorable mentions to sophomore and junior level college students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to the environment. Applicants must be nominated by their school; see Prof. Abigail Jahiel for more information.

The National Science Foundation offers a number of funded opportunities for undergraduates to participate in summer research projects in all fields of science, mathematics, and engineering.

The National Science Foundation's Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences offers funding for undergraduate research in a range of disciplines.

The Windstar Foundation awards two $500 scholarships for undergraduates entering their junior or senior year of college. Applicants must be U.S. students enrolled in an Environmental Studies or Environmental Engineering

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution offers two programs for undergraduates. Summer Student Fellowships support science or engineering students interested in oceanography or marine policy; fellows pursue an independent research program at Woods Hole for 12 weeks in the summer. Trainee-ships in Oceanography for Minority Group Undergraduates support minority students studying the physical or natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering.

Opportunities for Undergraduate and Graduate Study

Annie's Homegrown Inc. Environmental Studies Scholarship assists undergraduate or graduate students who are environmental advocates and are focusing on classes in environmental studies. The program gives 25 awards annually of $1000 each.

Brown and Caldwell, a California environmental engineering firm, provides annual scholarships for students pursuing careers in environmental services.

The Environmental Protection Agency offers several fellowships and student programs for undergraduates and graduates in Washington, DC, laboratories and regional EPA locations nationwide.

Echoing Green Foundation Public Service Fellowships provide a two-year award of $60,000, health benefits, and an online connectivity stipend for social entrepreneurs who plan to start up and lead innovative, replicable, and sustainable public service projects and organizations.  Echoing Green accepts applications from individuals who are 18 years or older; have an innovative, original idea; are committed to working full time on their project for at least two years; and are in the start-up phase of their projec

The Garden Club of America sponsors a number of scholarships for undergraduate, graduate and independent study in areas including botany, ethnobotany, horticulture, wetlands, and native bird habitat.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation awards $30,000 scholarships to college juniors who plan to attend graduate school and pursue careers in government or public service; scholars receive $3,000 for their senior year and the rest for grad school. The Truman Foundation seeks future "change agents" who aspire to leadership positions in federal, state, or local governments or in the not-for-profit and education sectors. Applicants must be nominated by their school; see Prof. Greg Shaw for more information.

National Wildlife Federation's Campus Ecology Program offers grants and other support for undergraduate and graduate students to pursue projects related to ecological sustainability on their campuses and in their communities.

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education provides research fellowships in areas related to global change. Applicants must be college juniors, seniors, or graduate students and must be U.S. citizens. Areas of interest may include atmospheric sciences, ecology, global carbon cycles, climatology, terrestrial processes.

Richard A. Herbert Memorial Education Fund offers two $2,000 scholarships annually to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in programs related to water resources.

Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships offer several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students to study internationally. While abroad, scholars serve as ambassadors of goodwill to the people of the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups.

Opportunities for Graduate Study

The Fulbright Program allows more than 1,100 Americans to study and conduct research in over 140 countries. The U.S. Student Program is designed to give recent graduates opportunities for personal and professional development and international experience. Study proposals may include university coursework, classes in a music conservatory or art school, independent research, classroom teaching, or a combination. See Prof. Sonja Fritzche for more information.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program offers a substantial number of awards to pursue postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge. Applicants are eligible to receive funds for study in a wide variety of fields in science, humanities, and the social sciences. The annual value of the Scholarship is in excess of $30,000 and may be renewed for four years for students wishing to obtain a Ph.D.

The Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship offers $10,000 to a graduate student in a natural resources management, law or policy program in support of research and preparation of a paper on an aspect of wilderness establishment, protection, or management.

George J. Mitchell Scholarships support one year of graduate study in any discipline offered by an institution of higher learning in Ireland or Northern Ireland. The scholarship provides tuition, housing, a living expenses stipend, and international travel. Mitchell Scholars must exhibit superior levels of academic achievement, leadership and public service.

Marshall Scholarships are awarded to approximately forty young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in any field of study in the United Kingdom. Each two-year scholarship provides for university fees, cost of living expenses, annual book grant, thesis grant, research and daily travel grants, and fares to and from the United States. Applicants must be nominated by their institutions; see Prof. Michael Theune for more information.

The Organization of American States provides scholarships for international study. There are two types of awards: 1) those for advanced study at the graduate level and 2) those for research. The scholarship provides for round trip travel, tuition fees, study materials, heath insurance and subsistence allowance.  

Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans support applicants who hold green cards, are naturalized citizens, or who have two parents who are naturalized citizens. Fellows may pursue a graduate degree in any professional field (law, medicine, social work) or scholarly discipline, and in the fine and performing arts.

Rhodes Scholarships support outstanding students wishing to pursue two years of study at the University of Oxford. Graduating seniors and alums under the age of 24 are eligible to apply and all educational costs are paid on the Scholar's behalf by the Rhodes Trustees. See Associate Provost Roger Schnaitter for more information.

Additional Resources

The Environmental Scholarship Guide offers a list of scholarship links and tips on winning them.

Michigan State University Libraries lists undergraduate and graduate grants and scholarships for persons of color, GLBT, disabled, non-traditional and female students in a wide range of fields.

Sierra Student Coalition's Opportunities Guide lists several fellowships, grants, scholarships, awards and internships in environmental fields.