Scholarships for Single Mothers
Being a single mother often requires putting your education on hold in order to focus on your child. In many cases, trying to balance work and raising a child makes motherhood a real challenge, let alone having the time and money to complete higher education.
With little finances at their disposal, single parents need assistance if they are to pay for school.
That is why various FREE scholarships are available for “moms returning to school” either through federal, state, non-profit, and campus-based programs.
While the majority of scholarships are awarded only to deserving students based on merit, talent, major, or ethnicity, they do not, however, discriminate against single parents.
What scholarships are available for single mothers?
Given below is a list of scholarship opportunities available for “non-traditional” students, meaning any eligible single mothers, working mothers, and women in general may also apply. 1
The Ford Opportunity Program
The Ford Opportunity Program is designed specifically for “head of household” single parents pursuing their bachelor’s degrees. Eligibility is limited to residents of Oregon or Siskiyou County, California.
Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation Scholarship
This private scholarship is offered to low-income women with children by the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation. Priority is given to single mothers with minor children who are pursuing education or training.
https://www.patsyminkfoundation.org
Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund
Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund offers scholarships and support for low income women, ages 35 and older, without discrimination. Its primary aim is to economically empower all women through post-secondary education.
The Jackie Robinson Foundation
JRF awards four–year scholarships to minority high school students who plan on attending a four-year college. Single mothers who exhibit evidence of financial need may apply for this scholarship.
https://www.jackierobinson.org
The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship
A scholarship program for single parents who reside in Arkansas. The award may be used for tuition, books, utility bills, car maintenance, childcare, or any other financial need that contributes to the recipients’ success in school.
The Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation
The Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation offers scholarships to select young people who generally have zero chance when it comes to college scholarships. About two thirds of SCSF recipients come from single parent families.
Deblinger Family Scholarship
The Deblinger Family Scholarship Fund was established to help low-income, single mothers who are the “Head of Household” to return to college. It is available to residents of Alameda County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, and San Mateo County.
https://www.siliconvalleycf.org
Emerge Scholarships, Inc.
Each year Emerge Scholarships, Inc awards women — those who are returning to school after a hiatus, and single mothers re-entering the work place. Preference is given to those who are pursuing their education in the state of Georgia.
Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards
Founded in in 1921, the Soroptimist “Live Your Dream Awards” provide scholarships to women who demonstrate financial need and are the primary income-earner for their family.
P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education
Program for Continuing Education (PCE) was established to provide need-based grants to women who demonstrate a need for financial assistance to return to school to support themselves and their families.
https://www.peointernational.org
Women’s Independence Scholarship Program
The primary aim the Women’s Independence Scholarship Program (WISP) is to help single mothers with young children gain work skills so they become financially independent and be able to support their families.
Awards range from $500 – $2,000 per semester or quarter. Priority is given to those who are survivors of partner abuse.
The Gump & Ayers Scholarship Fund
A one time scholarship to a single mother pursuing a higher education. Recipients will be selected on the basis of financial need, current scholastic achievement, potential for success and personal integrity.
Peggy Jack Baskin Foundation Scholarship
The scholarship program, launched in 2008 by Peggy & Jack Baskin, provides a two-year, $20,000 grant to support bright, underprivileged women who are currently attending any of the area community colleges — Cabrillo, Hartnell or Monterey Peninsula.
Helen M. Clymer Scholarship
This scholarship was established in memory of Helen M. Clymer to award scholarships annually to single mothers from Berks County who seek post-secondary education at a college or university located in Berks County.
https://bccf.academicworks.com
The LouEllen Dabbs Scholarship
The LouEllen Dabbs Scholarship is set up to help a student who is a single parent and interested in pursuing a career in banking, business, or finance.
To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a business administration or banking major and have a GPA of 2.35 or higher. Recipients are selected based on financial need, overall academic achievement, and character.
https://bccf.academicworks.com
Naomi Scholarship
The Naomi Scholarship is available to single parents or students from single parent families who plan to attend Calvin College. This scholarship is automatically renewable with a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher.
https://calvin.academicworks.com
Helping Hands for Single Moms
A community-based non-profit organization offering unrestricted scholarships to help impoverished single mothers who lives in the Phoenix-Metro area pursue college degree.
https://helpinghandsforsinglemoms.org
If you’re interested in any of these scholarships, you should first familiarize yourself with the prerequisites and requirements. In most cases, you’re required to write an essay on a given topic which can either make or break your chances of winning a scholarship.
Keep in mind that scholarships are gifted on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. With many applicants vying for the same, it’s critical to apply early way before the datelines.
Even if you are ineligible for scholarships, you may receive financial aid in the form of federal student loans with lower interest rates and better repayment schemes than most private loans.
Footnotes
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We do our best to keep the scholarship information current and correct. However, donors may change this information at any time without notice. ↩