With the world’s population growing exponentially, the need for new varieties of crops and livestock, better farming techniques, and product management are reaching critical levels. After all, the other option is mass starvation. Thus, the need for agricultural professionals of all varieties is expected to grow much faster than average over the next decade.

To encourage more entering the field, a wide array of different scholarships and grants out there for promising students is overwhelming. Further, there is even more financial aid for various specializations within the field. It can be quite confusing for the student just trying to decide which area to specialize in. So starting with some fairly generous programs is probably a good idea until you decide what area it is that you want to specialize.

One such group that encourages students to consider careers in the field is the CHS Foundation. Each year, it awards over 150 scholarships to all manners of agricultural students, from high school graduates to those working on their Master’s and beyond. To make application simpler, they have divided these grants into three categories: high school graduates, two-year degrees, and university. Whatever the level, the scholarship is always a renewable $1,000 per year.

Monsanto is one of the largest agribusinesses in the nation. Each year, it also awards 100 scholarships of $1,500 to high school graduates who plan on going on for a Bachelor’s in agriculture. Determination is made by a selection committee through such factors as academic achievement, GPA scores, extracurricular activities, and a personal essay submitted by each applicant. » Read more: Financial Assistance Incentives For Students Going Into The Agriculture Profession

Of all the disciplines, architecture has to be one of the most challenging and comprehensive. In fact, many professionals consider it to be both a science and an art. It also involves years of study that could go well beyond a standard Bachelor’s degree. Luckily, the professionals inside the field have gone the extra mile to insure the best and most talented students can join them.

Like many occupations, architecture has its share of professional societies. It has created an incredible number of grants and scholarships for deserving students. They can go a great way towards supplementing such standard financial aid like the Pell Grant. One of the most prominent of these societies is the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which many times work with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Architectural Foundation.

For starters, the NAAB offers the Corporate Architects and Facility Award and is open to all students in recognized schools in both the U.S. and Canada. They will be judged on academic performance, a recommendation letter, and an essay. If selected, they receive a scholarship ranging from $1,000 to $2,500.

For minorities, there are both the AIA/AAF Minority Disadvantaged Scholarship and the African American Intern Scholarship. The first is administered by both the Institute and the Foundation and is designed to assist all high school graduates through undergraduates of a minority heritage or those who come from a financially disadvantaged background. On the other hand, the Intern Scholarship is only for students of African-American backgrounds. In both cases, they can award full scholarships to the right students. » Read more: Build Your Way To A Successful Career As An Architect With The Help Of Grants And Scholarships