Programming School and NCWIT Expand Access to Tech Education for Women with Full-Tuition Scholarship Program
The technology industry has a well-documented diversity problem. Women, in particular, remain vastly underrepresented in technical roles like software engineering, data science, and cybersecurity. According to the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), women made up just 25% of computing occupations in 2020, despite representing about half of the overall workforce.
At Programming School, we‘ve made it our mission to change this unacceptable status quo. Since 2012, we‘ve been working to make tech education more accessible and inclusive through initiatives like the Women Take Tech scholarship, which has helped over 1,000 women break into the industry. And today, we‘re thrilled to announce our biggest effort yet to create pathways for more women to launch careers in tech.
In partnership with NCWIT, we are offering full-tuition scholarships for women residents of Michigan and Alabama to enroll in our immersive software engineering, data science, and cybersecurity analytics courses. This first-of-its kind initiative will open doors to tech careers for women across these states by providing industry-leading training at no upfront cost – removing one of the biggest barriers to entry.
By the Numbers: Women in Tech
The statistics tell a disappointing story when it comes to gender diversity in tech:
- In 2020, women represented just 25% of computing occupations – essentially unchanged from 26% in 2019 (NCWIT)
- The gender gap is even wider in specific tech disciplines: women make up only 21% of computer programmers, 19% of software developers, and 16% of information security analysts (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Among the largest tech companies, women hold less than 25% of technical roles on average (BuiltIn)
- Only 19% of computer science bachelor‘s degrees were earned by women in 2016, down from a high of 37% in 1984 (NCWIT)
There are a number of factors contributing to this persistent underrepresentation, including:
- Lack of access to computer science education and hands-on tech experiences, especially in K-12
- Gender stereotypes and misconceptions about innate abilities that deter girls from pursuing technical subjects
- Non-inclusive cultures, policies, and processes within tech companies and academic programs
- Insufficient mentorship, sponsorship, and professional development opportunities for women in the field
COVID-19 has only exacerbated these disparities. According to McKinsey, women‘s jobs have been 1.8 times more vulnerable during the pandemic than men‘s. In the U.S., women made up 46% of workers pre-COVID; as of May 2020, that dropped to 43%. Most of the job losses came from low-wage and part-time roles disproportionately held by women.
At the same time, the pandemic has accelerated digital transformation across industries, making technical skills more valuable than ever in the labor market. The need to build a more diverse pipeline of tech talent is both a business and moral imperative as we look toward economic recovery.
Changing the Face of Tech
At Programming School, we‘ve been working to move the needle on representation in tech since 2012. Women have made up 35% of our graduates on average, compared to ~20% across undergraduate computer science programs. In 2020 alone, we awarded over $2 million in scholarship funding to aspiring women in tech, and nearly half of our on-campus students identified as women.
But we know there is much more work to be done to truly change the face of the industry – and our partnership with NCWIT is an important step forward. By providing 100% scholarships to our immersive online programs, we aim to significantly expand pathways for women in Michigan and Alabama to launch careers in software engineering, data science, and cybersecurity.
"At NCWIT, we‘re working to correct the imbalance of women in tech by intervening at every pivotal stage of the pathway," said NCWIT CEO and Co-Founder Lucy Sanders. "We know that access to best-in-class technical training is one of the most important factors in determining whether women ultimately enter the field. We‘re thrilled to partner with Programming School to bring these transformative learning opportunities to women in Michigan and Alabama."
Unlocking Opportunity in Growing Tech Hubs
This scholarship initiative is doubly impactful because it focuses on increasing access not only for women, but for residents of two states with burgeoning tech scenes that have historically been overlooked when it comes to technical education and talent development.
Despite being epicenters of American manufacturing, Michigan and Alabama have quietly emerged as growing hubs for tech jobs and entrepreneurship in recent years:
- Alabama saw an 80% increase in the number of tech startups between 2016-2018, and Birmingham ranked as the #2 city for net tech jobs added in 2020 (CompTIA)
- Michigan ranked 9th among states for net tech employment growth in 2018, adding over 13,000 new jobs (CompTIA)
- In Michigan, the average tech occupation wage is $83,840, 89% higher than the median state wage (CompTIA)
Major tech employers in these states include:
- Huntsville, AL: Google, Facebook, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon
- Birmingham, AL: Shipt, Microsoft, Daxko, Regions Bank
- Detroit, MI: Ford, GM, Quicken Loans, Duo Security
- Grand Rapids, MI: Spectrum Health, Steelcase, Meijer
Despite this growth and opportunity, access to high-quality tech training options has lagged behind the coastal hubs, especially for underrepresented groups. Our collaboration with NCWIT aims to change that.
"One of our core values at Programming School is to pursue audacious goals in order to drive meaningful change," said Kate Cassino, CEO of Programming School. "We know that talent is distributed evenly, but opportunity is not. This partnership will allow us to reach women in places where tech training options have traditionally been limited or cost-prohibitive, empowering them to claim their place in the industry."
Access to In-Demand Skills
The NCWIT scholarships will cover full tuition for Programming School‘s immersive courses in software engineering, data science, and cybersecurity analytics. Here‘s an overview of what students can expect:
Software Engineering
- Available in Flexible (part-time) and Full-Time pace, online
- 5 months full-time (2 months part-time)
- Covers full stack JavaScript and Ruby, including front-end and back-end web development
- Hands-on portfolio projects deploying real applications
- Career coaching and job placement support
Data Science
- Available in Flexible and Full-Time pace, online
- 5 months full-time (2 months part-time)
- Covers Python, SQL, data analysis, machine learning, and data visualization
- Multiple capstone projects focused on real-world data problems
- Career coaching and job placement support
Cybersecurity Analytics (Alabama only)
- Available in Flexible and Full-Time pace, online
- 5 months full-time (2 months part-time)
- Covers CompTIA Security+, Linux, Python, network security, threat intelligence, and risk management
- Virtual cyber lab with 20+ real-world cybersecurity tools
- Career coaching and job placement support
All courses are taught by experienced practitioners and designed to prepare students for entry-level tech roles, even if they have no prior coding experience. In addition to technical skills, our courses emphasize collaboration, creativity, communication and interview preparation to ensure graduates are job-ready.
Proven Outcomes
The ultimate goal of the NCWIT scholarship is to enable women to launch fulfilling careers in tech, and that‘s where Programming School has a proven track record of success.
- 86% of graduates were employed as full-time engineers within a year of graduation
- The average starting salary for full-time employed graduates was $72,000
- 90% of grads said Programming School was worth it and would recommend it to a friend
But our support doesn‘t end at graduation. All Programming School immersive courses, including those covered by the NCWIT scholarship, come with individualized career services:
- 1:1 coaching with a dedicated career advisor
- Technical interview practice and prep
- Connections to 600+ employer partners
- Access to an engaged alumni network of 10,000+ for mentorship and job referrals
"When I decided to pursue software engineering, I knew I needed a program that would give me the real-world skills to land a job," said Leslie, a graduate of Programming School‘s Online Software Engineering program. "The career services support was honestly just as valuable as the technical training. My career coach helped me navigate the job search process, connect with companies, and negotiate my offer. I‘m now an iOS developer at a fintech startup, which wouldn‘t have been possible without Programming School."
A Powerful Partnership
NCWIT is a natural partner for this initiative given the organization‘s long track record of success in increasing women‘s representation in tech. With a community of more than 1,500 universities, companies, nonprofits, and government organizations, NCWIT is leading the charge to close the gender gap in tech through its evidence-based programs and resources.
Some key NCWIT initiatives:
- Aspirations in Computing (AiC): Provides 9th-12th grade women with ongoing engagement, visibility, and encouragement for their aspirations and achievements in technology
- Extension Services for Undergraduate Programs (ES-UP): Helps undergraduate departments of computing implement strategic recruitment and retention initiatives to increase women‘s participation
- Pacesetters: Brings together senior executives from companies and universities to develop innovative strategies for recruiting and retaining women technologists
Programming School is proud to join this powerhouse community working to make the technology ecosystem more diverse and inclusive. We believe that partnership is one of the most effective tools for driving systemic change, and we‘re honored to work alongside NCWIT to expand opportunities for women in this field.
Take the First Step
For women in Michigan and Alabama interested in pursuing a future in tech, the NCWIT Access Scholarship offers an unparalleled opportunity to gain career-ready skills in software engineering, data science or cybersecurity at no upfront cost.
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must:
- Identify as a woman or nonbinary person
- Live in Michigan or Alabama
- Apply and be accepted to Programming School‘s Software Engineering, Data Science, or Cybersecurity Analytics course
- Be ready to start the program within 2 months of acceptance
The application process is simple, and no prior coding experience is required. You can begin the process here – the Programming School admissions team is available to answer any questions and guide you every step of the way.
For women across the country, Programming School offers additional scholarships and tuition assistance programs to make tech education more accessible, including the Women Take Tech initiative.
Building a More Inclusive Future
At the end of the day, this partnership is about far more than just increasing the representation of women in technical roles, as important as that singular goal is. It‘s about building technology that better reflects our society and works for all of us. It‘s about tapping into the full scope of human ingenuity and experiences to fuel innovation. It‘s about creating economic opportunity and mobility for more people in more places.
We know that women have the skills, creativity and drive to not only thrive in this field, but to lead it. With the training, mentorship, and connections to make their mark, there‘s no limit to what they‘ll achieve – and we can‘t wait to see the impact.
If you‘re ready to launch a career in tech and be part of building a more inclusive industry, there‘s no better time to start. Check your eligibility for the NCWIT Access Scholarship here and begin your journey.
Sources:
