5 Great Political Science Scholarships

Political Science Scholarships

• Betty Rendel Scholarship
• Enid Hall Griswold Memorial Scholarship
• Aziz Jamaluddin Scholarship
• Wayne V. Black Scholarship
• Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship

There's no debating the fact that political science scholarships are increasingly necessary to afford the national average annual cost of $28,000 at four-year colleges. Political science majors can use their power of persuasion to convince scholarship committees of their passion for studying how laws are developed. Niche ranked political science as the United States' 13th most popular major, given to 39,770 students yearly. Lobbying for scholarships could fund the pathway to governmental jobs like policy analyst, legislative assistant, politician, campaign manager, intelligence analyst, political consultant, and even federal prosecutor with a law degree. Here are five scholarships for political science that have our vote of confidence.

1. Betty Rendel Scholarship

Named for the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) Past President in 1995, the Betty Rendel Scholarship confers $1,000 to female undergraduates interested in the political process. Qualified women will be U.S. citizens who have completed 2+ years at an accredited, four-year university for a bachelor's in political science, economics, or government. Applications are sent to students' State Federation President before June 1st with a transcript, one-page essay, and three recommendation letters. Also consider the National Pathfinder Scholarship and President Ronald Reagan Scholarship.

Recommended article: Top 9 Cheap Online Political Science Degree Programs (Bachelor's)

2. Enid Hall Griswold Memorial Scholarship

Worth $5,000, the Enid Hall Griswold Memorial Scholarship is granted by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Washington, D.C., to one college junior and one college senior annually. Interested entrants must be U.S. citizens who are enrolled in upper-division majors for political science, economics, history, or American government full-time with academic merit, usually a 3.25 GPA or higher. Application packets must be emailed before February 10th with a 1,000-word personal statement, transcript, financial need form, and two references.

3. Aziz Jamaluddin Scholarship

Founded in 1982, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) offers the Aziz Jamaluddin Scholarship for $4,000 to 10 undergrad or graduate students who will communicate the accurate meaning of Islam through mainstream media. Eligible Muslims must have declared a major in journalism or political science at an accredited, four-year U.S. college with a 3.5 GPA or better. By the March 1st annual deadline, applicants must submit two recommendations, a transcript, their Student Aid Report, and a self-assigned essay.

4. Wayne V. Black Scholarship

Located in Irving, Texas, the Energy Telecommunications and Electrical Association (ENTELEC) bestows the Wayne V. Black Scholarship for $5,000 in honor of the late FCC licensing specialist. Since 2006, full-time undergrads at accredited U.S. and Canadian colleges have applied for funding for bachelor's degrees in engineering, computer science, IT, political science, and pre-law legal studies. Decisions are made after January 20th by reviewing candidates' one-page biographies, cited essays, and official transcripts showing a minimum 3.0 GPA.

5. Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship

The Asian Pacific Fund (APF) also awards potential political science scholarships, including the $2,500 Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship. Honoring the former California State Treasurer, the program selects two college sophomores, juniors, or seniors at accredited in-state colleges who're studying finance, political science, business, or public policy. Being at least 50 percent Asian, holding a 3.0 GPA or better, and contributing to volunteer service is mandatory. Downloaded applications must be mailed by April 3rd.

Enthrallment with CNN and C-SPAN could turn into a viable career shaping the policies that make our government thrive for people's benefit. Whether you're a Democrat, Republican, or Independent, studying political science can lead to long-term earning. Though the median starting salary is $39,900, the mid-career pay soars to $80,100 for political science majors. Campaigning yourself for one of these political science scholarships or others like the APSA Minority Fellowship or Michael P. Murphy Public Service Scholarship could maximize your returns.