Raising a child on your own can be extremely difficult. Most of your income goes to food, shelter and items for your child, including childcare. Higher education may be the last thing on a single mother’s mind. However, with the help of scholarships, single mothers can attend college to help not only live their dreams, but make both their life and their child’s life better.
Determine where you’ll be attending college. Some scholarships are only for community colleges or strictly for four-year universities. Most scholarships for single mothers require you to have proof of acceptance at your college of choice before you’re eligible to apply. Also, have an idea of what you would like to major in. This is mainly for major specific scholarships through the college itself.
The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund requires applicants to be a resident of Arkansas. Single mothers must have at least one child under the age of 18. In addition, you must be a current or future undergraduate student. This scholarship isn’t for graduate students.
The Jeanette Rankin Foundation Scholarship Program was started in 1978. Applications can be sent in from November through February. Any single woman 35 years or older can apply. Check the website for income requirements as these vary by year.
In honor of Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink, single mothers can attain their dreams of a higher education through the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation for Low-Income Women and Children Scholarship. This scholarship was created in 2003 and carries on Mink’s desire for everyone to have access to a good education.
Each year two women are chosen to receive the R.O.S.E. Scholarship. This scholarship is for women who have escaped domestic violence situations. Applicants should be currently enrolled, preferably for at least one year. 80% of recipients are single mothers.
The Women’s Independence Scholarship Program (WISP) was created to help domestic abuse survivors create a new life for themselves through higher education. Recipients are both single women and mothers.
Three women are chosen each year to receive the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Award. This scholarship is for women who have overcome extreme situations such as poverty, domestic abuse, alcohol abuse or drug abuse.
In addition to the above scholarships, single mothers should also check with the financial aid adviser at the college they wish to attend. Special scholarships are available for single mothers and specific majors. The financial aid adviser will help you find and apply for these scholarships. Most scholarships have a February or April deadline, so check for scholarships approximately one year in advance. For more information on grants, scholarships and colleges for single mothers, see FastWeb.
Single mothers can find the money to attain the higher education they’ve always dreamed of through scholarships. Numerous scholarships are available for single mothers of all income levels, no matter what your background may be. Scholarships are available through colleges and organizations based around the protection and care of women.
