Although this is a listing of fellowships and scholarships primarily for grad school, there are undergrad scholarships available from some of these agencies -- see the descriptions below. It is highly recommended to apply for scholarships throughout your university career, even if you can survive without them. These awards build your undergrad CV and academic reputation and are an asset in future applications.
Be sure to submit your federal aid FAFSA as soon as possible. The deadline is usually in June but there is an earlier deadline for preferential consideration. Additionally, some states have earlier deadlines. The best thing to do is to file the form as soon as you have an idea of where you will apply. You don't need to have been accepted to a grad program already. Just put down the schools you are applying to (or think you will apply to). This will ensure that you can be considered for university funding.
It is very possible that you will not need any external funding at all. However, it's a good idea to apply for fellowships and scholarships. These give you money (of course) but also some freedom and prestige. Maybe the latter is not that important to you, but it is good for your CV and is great practice for writing grad school applications. In particular, the fellowship applications will help you focus on what you wish to accomplish in grad school. They involve quite a bit of writing -- make an appointment at the CU Writing Center for help with it!
The deadlines are generally around the same time as grad school application deadlines, so look at these and prepare early.
Here's a great guide to the process.
Fellowships/large awards
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRF)
Amount: Tuition plus stipend, up to three years total
Eligibility: US citizen or national, or permanent resident alien of US. Can apply senior year of college through just prior to beginning of 2nd year of grad school.
Deadline: Early November
The application for this fellowship is pretty time consuming, but it's worth it! The fellowship is a very good one, and the application process can be really helpful with your grad school applications. Some grad schools even require that you apply for this fellowship (although getting one is not required for admission!).
Hertz Foundation Applied Science Fellowships
Amount: Tuition plus stipend, up to five years total
Eligibility: US citizen or national, or permanent resident alien of US. Can apply senior year of college or during grad school.
Deadline: Fall
This is a very good fellowship, but there are a lot of eligibility issues (applied sciences, tenable schools, etc.) that you need to check out on the website.
SMART Scholarship Program
Amount: Full tuition plus a stipend of $25,000 (undergraduates), $33,000 (masters), and $36,300-$41,800 (PhD)
Eligibility: US citizens
Deadline: December 1, 2011 (for the 2012 school year)
The SMART Scholarship Program is a highly-selective, prestigious, national program that fully supports your education (including full tuition, a very generous stipend, book allowance, and a summer internship) while you are in school, and then provides guaranteed employment with the Defense Department upon graduation. The program covers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide range of technical areas, including including all fields of engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, brain and cognitive sciences, and mathematics. There will be approximately 300 new awards for the 2012 year.
American Association of University Women Dissertation Fellowships
Amount: $20,000
Eligibility: Women who are US citizens or nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the US.
Deadline: Early November
You can only apply for funding of your final year of PhD study (hence the name dissertation fellowship). If you are a member of AAUW, you can't apply.
Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships: Predoctoral and Disseratation
Amount: $20,000 up to three years total (predoctoral), $21,000 (dissertation)
Eligibility: US citizens.
Deadline: Early November
Although minority status is not required, membership in an underrepresented group is considered a positive factor.
Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowships
Amount: $10,000, renewable up to two years total
Eligibility: Women pursuing PhD research in fields related to aerospace.
Deadline: Early November
'Aerospace-related' science and engineering is somewhat loosely defined.
American Institute of Aeronaustics and Astronautics
Amount: $10,000, $5000
Eligibility: Have completed at least one semester of graduate study in a field related to the AIAA mission. GPA at least 3.30.
Deadline: Late January
Awards of $2000-$2500 also exist for undergrads.
Scholarships/smaller awards
Association for Women in Science Predoctoral Awards
Amount: $1000
Eligibility: Women PhD students
Deadline: January
There are several predoctoral awards available; check the website to see which apply to you. Awards exist for both undergrads and grad students.
Leopold Schepp Foundation Scholarships
Amount: Tuition plus stipend, up to three years total
Eligibility: US citizen or national, or permanent resident alien of US. Can apply senior year of college through just prior to beginning of 2nd year of grad school.
Deadline: Early November
Awards exist for both undergrads and grad students.
Travel grants
If you are doing some undergrad research and you want to present your work at a conference (you should!!!) then you should apply for a travel grant. These are available from the conferences themselves and from organizations like the AGU, AAS, APS, etc. Even if your advisor offers to pay it's a good idea to apply.
Disclaimer: The material on this website is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under the AAPF program. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the fellows and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
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