Materials Chemistry

The interdisciplinary field of materials science, also commonly termed materials science and engineering is the design and discovery of new materials, particularly solids. The intellectual origins of materials science stem from the Enlightenment, when researchers began to use analytical thinking from chemistry, physics, and engineering to understand ancient, phenomenological observations in metallurgy and mineralogy. Materials science still incorporates elements of physics, chemistry, and engineering. As such, the field was long considered by academic institutions as a sub-field of these related fields. Beginning in the 1940s, materials science began to be more widely recognized as a specific and distinct field of science and engineering, and major technical universities around the world created dedicated schools of the study, within either the Science or Engineering schools, hence the naming.

Many of the most pressing scientific problems humans currently face are due to the limits of the materials that are available and how they are used. Thus, breakthroughs in materials science are likely to affect the future of technology significantly.

Materials scientists emphasize understanding how the history of a material (its processing) influences its structure, and thus the material's properties and performance. The understanding of processing-structure-properties relationships is called the § materials paradigm. This paradigm is used to advance understanding in a variety of research areas, including nanotechnology, biomaterials, and metallurgy. Materials science is also an important part of forensic engineering and failure analysis – investigating materials, products, structures or components which fail or do not function as intended, causing personal injury or damage to property. Such investigations are key to understanding, for example, the causes of various aviation accidents and incidents.

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Matching Materials Chemistry Colleges

William Paterson University of New Jersey

Four or more years; Public; $22,514 average out-state tuition; $13,776 average in-state tuition

University of Arkansas

Four or more years; Public; $24,482 average out-state tuition; $7,666 average in-state tuition

United States Air Force Academy

Four or more years; Public

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Four or more years; Public; $20,111 average out-state tuition; $7,703 average in-state tuition

Illinois Institute of Technology

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $48,555 average out-state tuition; $48,555 average in-state tuition

CUNY Graduate School and University Center

Four or more years; Public; $14,880 average out-state tuition; $6,930 average in-state tuition

Scholarships for Materials Chemistry Majors

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Up to $30,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs.

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

award

Up to $30,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs.

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Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary College

Mount Mary College

$27,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Jewel Scholars Program is available to entering freshmen and transfer students at Mount Mary College who are majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences or Chemistry. You must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.

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Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary College

Mount Mary College

award

$27,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Jewel Scholars Program is available to entering freshmen and transfer students at Mount Mary College who are majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences or Chemistry. You must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.

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Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

$20,000 May 01, 2025 See Details

Description

The Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship is available to graduate students at the University of California-Los Angeles who are majoring in a STEM field, medicine, dentistry, or public health. Applicants must have participated and completed the Big Bang Theory undergraduate scholars program and received their qualifying degree from UCLA within...

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Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

award

$20,000

deadline

May 01, 2025
See Details

Description

The Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship is available to graduate students at the University of California-Los Angeles who are majoring in a STEM field, medicine, dentistry, or public health. Applicants must have participated and completed the Big Bang Theory undergraduate scholars program and received their qualifying degree from UCLA within...

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SEI Native American Education Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The SEI Native American Education Scholarship is available to students interested in the solar energy industry. To be considered for this award, you must be at least 1/4 Native American Indian and a member of a federally recognized tribe. Selected candidates will be given tuition funds to cover SEI’s online or in-person training, with a goal of...

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SEI Native American Education Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The SEI Native American Education Scholarship is available to students interested in the solar energy industry. To be considered for this award, you must be at least 1/4 Native American Indian and a member of a federally recognized tribe. Selected candidates will be given tuition funds to cover SEI’s online or in-person training, with a goal of...

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SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship is available to female and non-binary students who are interested in furthering their career through renewable energy training. Preference will be given to BIPOC applicants. This award will provide solar training tuition fees to hand-selected women and non-binary students to help facilitate their...

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SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship is available to female and non-binary students who are interested in furthering their career through renewable energy training. Preference will be given to BIPOC applicants. This award will provide solar training tuition fees to hand-selected women and non-binary students to help facilitate their...

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EAGLES Scholarship - PSU

Portland State University

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The EAGLES Scholarship is available to junior-level and above students at Portland State University who are pursuing a degree in STEM. To be considered for this renewable award, you must be from an underrepresented background in STEM. Selection is based on academic merit and financial need. Students also receive mentorship from faculty and...

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EAGLES Scholarship - PSU

Portland State University

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The EAGLES Scholarship is available to junior-level and above students at Portland State University who are pursuing a degree in STEM. To be considered for this renewable award, you must be from an underrepresented background in STEM. Selection is based on academic merit and financial need. Students also receive mentorship from faculty and...

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Big Bang Theory Scholarship

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Big Bang Theory Scholarship is available to undergraduate students majoring in a STEM field at the University of California-Los Angeles. To be considered for this award, you must be a resident of Southern California, demonstrate financial need, and show a strong commitment to STEM studies and extracurriculars.

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Big Bang Theory Scholarship

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Big Bang Theory Scholarship is available to undergraduate students majoring in a STEM field at the University of California-Los Angeles. To be considered for this award, you must be a resident of Southern California, demonstrate financial need, and show a strong commitment to STEM studies and extracurriculars.

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Swalm Brookhaven Scholarship

Mississippi State University

$10,000 February 01, 2026 See Details

Description

The Swalm Brookhaven Scholarship is open to entering freshmen at Mississippi State University who plan on studying engineering, technology, computer science, physics, or chemistry. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be a graduate of Brookhaven High School or Brookhaven Academy to be eligible for this award.

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Swalm Brookhaven Scholarship

Mississippi State University

award

$10,000

deadline

February 01, 2026
See Details

Description

The Swalm Brookhaven Scholarship is open to entering freshmen at Mississippi State University who plan on studying engineering, technology, computer science, physics, or chemistry. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be a graduate of Brookhaven High School or Brookhaven Academy to be eligible for this award.

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Norfolk Southern Scholars STEM Award

Norfolk Southern Corporation

$10,000 April 22, 2025 See Details

Description

The Norfolk Southern Scholars STEM Award is available to full-time undergraduate students under the age of 25 who are dependents of Norfolk Southern Corporation or Norfolk Southern Railway Company. You must be pursuing a degree in STEM to be eligible for this renewable award.

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Norfolk Southern Scholars STEM Award

Norfolk Southern Corporation

award

$10,000

deadline

April 22, 2025
See Details

Description

The Norfolk Southern Scholars STEM Award is available to full-time undergraduate students under the age of 25 who are dependents of Norfolk Southern Corporation or Norfolk Southern Railway Company. You must be pursuing a degree in STEM to be eligible for this renewable award.

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Veterans and Family Scholarship

For A Bright Future Foundation

Up to $10,000 May 31, 2025 See Details

Description

The Veterans and Family Scholarship is available to military veterans and their families. You must be pursuing a career in STEM, education, or sustainability and have at least a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.

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Veterans and Family Scholarship

For A Bright Future Foundation

award

Up to $10,000

deadline

May 31, 2025
See Details

Description

The Veterans and Family Scholarship is available to military veterans and their families. You must be pursuing a career in STEM, education, or sustainability and have at least a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.

View Scholarship Details