USA Scholarships
Northrop Grumman SWE Scholarship 2027 - $5,000
The Northrop Grumman SWE Scholarship 2027 is a corporate fund inside the Society of Women Engineers portfolio that pays $5,000 to five recipients per cycle. Northrop Grumman backs women building careers in aerospace, defense, and advanced computing, and SWE restricts this award to U.S. citizens who hold active SWE Collegiate or SWENext membership, study full time, and attend one of the listed partner universities or an historically Black college or university or Hispanic-serving institution. Majors span aerospace through software and systems engineering at the ABET-accredited level for sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students. Preference goes to underrepresented applicants, but any eligible woman at a named campus can compete. Plan on the same December-to-February rhythm as other SWE collegiate scholarships unless swe.org posts different dates for the 2027-2028 cycle.
What is the Northrop Grumman SWE Scholarship?
Northrop Grumman funds this SWE scholarship because the company needs engineers who can work on aircraft, space systems, and secure software, and the talent pipeline still skews male. SWE handles selection, which keeps the process consistent with dozens of other corporate and endowed awards on scholarships.swe.org.
The money is meaningful at $5,000 times five seats, but the gates are tighter than on a general SWE fund. You must already be in SWE, enrolled at a partner campus or an HBCU or HSI, and studying one of the listed ABET majors. Graduate students count, which helps if you are finishing a masters in systems engineering while your lab focuses on autonomy or cyber defense.
Preference language on swe.org points reviewers toward underrepresented groups. That is not a separate application. You still tell your story in the same essay and resume fields, and strong project work can stand out even if you are not on the preference list.
For the 2027 guide year, watch for a December 2026 portal opening and an early February 2027 deadline like other collegiate SWE scholarships. Pair this application with the Anne Shen Smith Endowed Scholarship if you qualify without the partner-school restriction, or the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship for another large tech-backed award.
Eligibility
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✓Identify as a womanSWE scholarships serve students who identify as women and are preparing for engineering, technology, or computing careers.
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✓U.S. citizenThe Northrop Grumman SWE Scholarship requires U.S. citizenship. Permanent residents and international students on visas do not match this fund.
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✓Active SWE membershipYou must be a current SWE Collegiate member or SWENext member when you apply. Join through swe.org before the portal opens if you are not already in the roster.
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✓Sophomore through graduate standingSWE lists sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students as eligible class levels. You must be able to accept the award for the academic year in which SWE grants it.
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✓Partner university, HBCU, or HSIAttend one of the universities named on the official swe.org page, such as Georgia Tech, MIT, Purdue, UCLA, or Virginia Tech, or enroll at another HBCU or Hispanic-serving institution that meets SWE rules.
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✓ABET-accredited major in listed fieldsStudy full time in an ABET-accredited program such as aerospace, computer, cybersecurity, electrical, mechanical, systems, or software engineering. Confirm your program on the ABET accredited program search.
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✓Minimum 3.0 college GPAMaintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale for upperclass and graduate applicants. SWE uses higher thresholds for incoming first-year students on other funds, but this listing targets continuing undergraduates and grads.
Benefits
- Scholarship amount $5,000 (one of five awards)
- Use of funds Educational expenses at your college
- Number of awards Five per cycle
- Renewability Not renewable
- Full tuition coverage Not offered
- SWE membership fee Not included (required to apply)
- Scholarship amount $5,000 (one of five awards)
- Eligible degrees Masters or PhD in listed engineering fields
- School requirement ABET undergrad programs at partner or HBCU/HSI campus
- Renewability Not renewable
- Living stipend beyond award Not included
Document checklist
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✓SWE Collegiate/Graduate Scholars applicationComplete the unified application on scholarships.swe.org when the cycle opens. The system matches you to the Northrop Grumman fund and other eligible SWE awards.
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✓One letter of referenceSubmit one reference from a professor, advisor, supervisor, or mentor who can speak to your engineering work, leadership, or character. The portal emails your recommender directly.
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✓Official or current transcriptUpload a transcript showing your major, enrollment status, and at least a 3.0 GPA. Graduate students should show progress in an ABET-related program at a qualifying institution.
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✓Resume highlighting STEM experienceList internships, co-ops, research, design teams, and SWE section roles. Reviewers weigh hands-on engineering work alongside grades.
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✓Essay or short answersAnswer SWE essay prompts about your path in engineering and your goals. Draft offline and proofread before the February traffic spike.
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✓Proof of SWE membershipEnsure your membership is active in SWE records before you submit. The portal may ask you to confirm collegiate or SWENext status.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Northrop Grumman SWE Scholarship?
It is a Society of Women Engineers corporate fund backed by Northrop Grumman that pays $5,000 to five women each cycle. Recipients study aerospace, computing, cybersecurity, and related ABET fields at partner universities or at HBCUs and HSIs.
How much is the Northrop Grumman SWE scholarship worth?
SWE lists five awards of $5,000 each per cycle on the official fund page. Treat that figure as your planning amount until swe.org confirms the live stipend for the year you apply.
Do I need SWE membership for the Northrop Grumman scholarship?
Yes. The official page states that U.S. citizenship and SWE membership are required. Collegiate and SWENext members who meet the university and major rules can apply through the same portal as other SWE awards.
Which universities qualify for the Northrop Grumman SWE Scholarship?
SWE publishes a long partner list that includes schools such as Caltech, Georgia Tech, MIT, Purdue, UCLA, and Virginia Tech, plus attendance at another HBCU or HSI. Check swe.org for the full current roster before you apply.
Can graduate students apply for the Northrop Grumman SWE Scholarship?
Yes. SWE lists graduate students alongside sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Masters and PhD candidates must pursue eligible engineering fields at a qualifying institution with ABET-accredited undergraduate programs on campus.
When is the Northrop Grumman SWE Scholarship deadline?
SWE opens its collegiate portal around December 1 and closes in early February. College Board listed a February close for the prior Northrop Grumman cycle, so plan for December 1, 2026 through February 2, 2027 unless swe.org posts new dates.
What majors qualify for the Northrop Grumman SWE Scholarship?
Eligible majors include aerospace, aeronautical engineering technology, computer engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, electrical and electronics engineering, manufacturing, mechanical, naval architecture, nuclear, optical, systems, and software engineering at ABET-accredited programs.
Where do I apply for the Northrop Grumman SWE Scholarship?
Apply through the SWE Collegiate/Graduate Scholars application linked from swe.org and scholarships.swe.org when the cycle is open. Fund details live on the Northrop Grumman corporation scholarship page, and general questions go to [email protected] or (312) 596-5223.
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