STEM Education: Cost & Resources

The costs of a STEM education can be a difficult hurdle to cross for any woman looking to enter the tech industry. The average four-year technical degree tracts that cost between $45,000 and $60,000 — without the right financial assistance, these costs can be difficult to manage.

Coming out of an educational program without substantial debt requires managing work and school, and assistance resources make that easier. Luckily, however, resources are out there to help you maintain financial balance while broadening your potential in foundational STEM industries.

Here, we’ll breakdown the costs of a STEM education and provide tips and resources to help you further your STEM dreams.

The Costs

Currently, a gender gap exists in the proportion of males and females seeking out a STEM education. Only 35% of STEM undergraduates are women. This is a number that must be improved. However, costs remain a significant barrier for many.

Luckily, women can go about advancing their STEM knowledge at various price points and in a variety of ways, extending beyond a traditional degree. These options can cultivate a love of STEM early on in a girl’s life or provide alternatives to costly universities. With varying price points and benefits, exploring these options is an important aspect of balancing your financial goals with your educational ones.

Here are some of the methods of advancing your STEM education and the associated costs:

Four-Year University Degree

• Cost: $45,000-$60,000
• Benefits: Graduates of four-year STEM programs have some of the highest salaries of any major, often starting in the range of $70,000. This can mean whatever loans you need to take out for getting your degree might be paid off in a relatively short amount of time. Universities are also consistently becoming better allies for women in STEM by limiting class sizes and partnering with outside organizations to provide a more supportive approach to education.

Camps and Training Programs

• Cost: $100-$10,000
• Benefits: From summer camps to fully-fledged, tuition-baring programs, alternatives to the traditional four-year degree are out there for every age and price point. These STEAM and STEM programs for girls interested in tech range in every topic from engineering to computer science and can come with the credentials and resume potential to get you started on a STEM career path.

Online Training Programs

• Cost: Free-$2,000
• Benefits: Women in today’s world have to juggle a wide range of obligations and responsibilities. To manage a STEM education amid life’s concerns, online training programs can be a great option. These programs offer virtually anything you can imagine through platforms like Udemy or Khan Academy, where course listings vary at price points that work for you. These programs can give you the skills to be successful while allowing you to schedule your learning on your own time.

No matter your age or situation, there are STEM programs out there that can work for your current budget. Examine these options and how they fit into your overarching goals to determine the best path for you, then explore your financial assistance resources.

Strategies and Resources to Help You Afford a STEM Education

The tech industry as well as higher education recognizes the value of diversity and is actively looking to bring more women into male-dominated STEM fields. Because of this recognized need, there are educational resources for girls interested in tech that will help you manage the costs of your STEM education to achieve your dreams.

These resources include:

Grants and Scholarships

Managing the costs of a university may be the biggest barrier of entry you face in furthering your STEM career. Luckily, grants and scholarship opportunities are out there. Some of these financial assistance opportunities exist entirely for women entering STEM programs and can pay up to tens of thousands of dollars in your educational costs.

These grants and scholarships may not cover the whole cost of your degree, but there are options as well should you need to finance loans. If you have to go into student loan debt to achieve your STEM career, the high-paying nature of STEM positions even out of college can help you take care of that debt faster. Even if you have defaulted on student loans in the past, you can take steps to repair your credit and get back in the game to complete your STEM education and fulfill your ambitions.

Work-Study and Work-School Balance Options

Modern universities understand that more than half of students now are working students. That’s why colleges are helping students find a work-school balance by offering flexibility options. These options include online-based learning solutions that allow students to do the work on their own time, opening up their schedules for work opportunities.

Additionally, most universities offer work-study options that allow students to be employed by the university or third-parties to earn both credit and income. These opportunities alongside part-time, casual work can help students juggle finances while working towards their STEM goals. The United States Postal Service, for example, offers employment opportunities perfect for a student worker on a casual, temporary basis. This can mean the difference between being able to afford tuition on top of the cost of living or putting off continuing your education until you can save up more money.

Managing Your STEM Education

No matter your situation, you can explore your financial opportunities alongside available STEM programs to best balance the costs and resources needed for a continued education. A STEM future is worth it; find the right program and scholarships to get started at any age.