NCWIT Aspirations in Computing High School Award

Students in grades 9 through 12 who identify as women, genderqueer, or nonbinary can enter this national recognition program for work in computing and technology. There is no cash prize from NCWIT itself: roughly 300 national honorees are named each year, and the award opens access to a member-only network of scholarships, internships, and college opportunities, which makes it a strong resume line either way. Applicants must join the free Aspirations in Computing community, be at least 13, and get parent or guardian approval if under 18; national consideration also requires citizenship, permanent residency, or the substantial presence test plus a Social Security or taxpayer ID number, while regional affiliate awards do not. Applications open September 1 and close in late October at 10 p.m. ET, with national recipients announced in early February.

How hard is the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing High School Award to win?

Real competition, but not a lottery. The time cost is low enough relative to the award that a qualified student comes out ahead by applying.

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

• More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
• Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
• Fewer rivalsRestricted by gender
• Fewer rivalsRestricted to specific intended majors

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing High School Award?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

• ✓Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors
• ✓Open to female students or nonbinary students
• ✓Planning to study Computer Science
• ✓Age 13 or older

What the application takes

• Essay required. The prompt centers on passion for the field.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is October 28, 2026 at 10:00 p.m. ET. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around October 28 each year. Applications open September 1.

Applications open

September 1, 2026

Final application deadline

October 28, 2026 at 10:00 p.m. ET

National recipients announced

Early February 2027

Common questions about the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing High School Award

More identity & background

• AAIA Native Scholarship
  $3,000 (varies by year)
• AISES Scholarships
  $1,500 - $20,000 (varies by scholarship)
• APIA Scholarship
  $2,500 - $20,000
• CBC Spouses Education Scholarship
  $2,500 - $20,000 (one-time)
• Cobell Scholarship
  Varies; recent awards up to $12,000
• Connecticut Minority Teacher Incentive Program
  Up to $5,000/yr for two years, plus $2,500/yr loan reimbursement for up to four years teaching

Lists this award appears on

• STEM Scholarships
• Scholarships With October Deadlines