Education Grants for Women

There was a time even in the most developed countries like USA, where women education was secondary to that of men. It was considered that women are an aberration of the normal, male sex. So the inferior treatment. This eventually lead to gender discrimination in education. And no wonder one of the greatest feminist writers, Simon de Beauvoir, said that 'One is not born a woman, but becomes one'. So, from the time, women were not allowed any education, to the present era, where women are conquering new heights, thanks to their education and grit, the fairer sex has come a long way. Well, that does not mean that the true potential of woman has been recognized the world over. So a lot of things still have to be mended and in different arenas, and as mentioned, education is one of the crucial field. So, this takes us to the issue of education grants that are available for women.

In a way it is not a pleasing fact that, women still need to be given grants. On the other hand, it is an assuring fact that those women who are really capable of making a mark for themselves are facing obstacles on account of they being on a lower economic pedestal or are in the minority, but are being given financial aid for pursuing education.

Educational Grants For Women

Under Graduate Education Grants
Career Advancement Scholarship Program: The Business and Professional Women's Foundation provides career advancement scholarship program for the women who do not have economic resources at their disposal, to reach their educational goals.

American Association of University Women: American Association of University Women offers and awards grants to economically backward women. This organization also provides to women who had to discontinue their education in order to raise their families or to work and earn money.

Jeannette Rankin Foundation: This foundation volunteers for grants and scholarships for women above the age of 35. And that's only if they are facing a dire financial crisis, but still want to get a college degree.

National Black Nurses Association: Every year this association offers around 12 grants and scholarships to black women, who are pursuing or want to pursue a nursing program. This has the potential to fall in the category of education grants for minority women.

Other types include college grants for economically challenged women and for underrepresented courses.

Education Grants for Single Mothers

There are a few educational grants for single mothers. Although this might sound unusual, this is a fact that there is a provision of financial aid for single mothers. For starters, there are quite a few federal Grants, like the Pell Grant, Academic Competitive Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and National SMART (Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent) Grant. Amongst these, only the Pell Grant and the FSEOG are 'need-based grants'. The other 2 are 'merit-based grants'.

Pell Grant: This is a type of a grant which is need-based. To avail it, you need to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Rather to avail of any federal grant, one needs to have a Pell Grant. It offers rebate between $400 and $4400.

Academic Competitive Grant (ACG): This is merit-based and is offered to first and second year college students and that too who have performed at a specific academic level in high school. ACG offers up to $750 for the first year students and $1300 for the second year students. Again, here you need to apply for FAFSA.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): This, again is a need based for students who require financial aid for education. The lower limit is $100 and the upper limit is $4000. The FAFSA applies here as well.

National SMART (Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent) Grant: It is merit-based, this is available for third year or fourth year students, having enrolled for degree in math, science, engineering or any of the foreign languages as deemed significant for Homeland Security.

Some of the state grants include New York State's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) awarding up to $5000 to qualify New York state residents, Kansas Comprehensive Grants awards in the range of $100-$1100 to eligible Kansas state residents. Whereas, New Mexico Student Incentive Grant offers between $200 and $2500 annually to eligible New Mexico state residents.

Most of these are Federal grants. Apart from these there are grants for single mothers which are given by private educational organizations and institutions. The federal grants also include education grants for unemployed women.

Scenario in Developing Countries

However, all said and done, USA is a developed country and these grants are a major issue in developing countries like India as well. Of course, it is a pity that the country where activists like Dhondo Keshav Karve and Mahatma Phule pioneered women education, requires grants to empower its women. In India and in many other developing countries like Africa as well, the government gives a number of grants, for women interested in getting higher education. In fact, in India, the primary education is absolutely subsidized. And for women there are other concessions as well, when it comes to education. Education for women is a significant issue in developing countries when looked at from a wider perspective. They say, if a woman is educated in a household, the whole family becomes learned. Also it is absolutely essential for the development of society as well, be it USA or France or India.

Ultimately, it is a contentious matter, if people think that women really need grants and are underprivileged. Some of them do, including women, which is a fact in some regions of the world. But some of them do not. After all, it is all in the mind, whether you consider yourself to be inferior, underprivileged and stuff like that. Isn't it?