Scholarships for Moms Going Back to College

Caring for the family, doing the household chores and, at times, financially contributing to the house makes it difficult for moms to think about college education. The increasing costs involved in continuing education is also a detrimental factor. The recent economic recession has also put a financial strain on many American families. In spite of all these obstacles there are opportunities in the form of scholarships for moms, which support women wanting to get a good education.

There are many federal government programs and nonprofit organizations who offer scholarships. For most of these scholarship programs, the application and eligibility criteria is simple and adequate information is available at the financial aid office in most colleges.

The Obama government in its recovery act 2009 has promised millions of dollars towards educational grants and financial aid. There are several nonprofit organizations who work for women's causes and give scholarships. Colleges have specialized grants which cater to their specific needs. A good education can ensure gainful employment and financial independence for women. A college education for mothers also equips them to plan better for their children's future. Here is a list of nonprofit organizations and government scholarships.

SMART Grant
One of the major criteria for application is that the student should have a 3.0 grade point average (GPA), on a 4.0 scale, at the end of the second award year. It is awarded for some specific field of study like physics, mathematics, technology, computer science, etc. The student must be in the third or fourth year of an undergraduate program, or in the fifth year if it's a five-year program. The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) awards up to USD 4,000 for each of the third and fourth year of study.

Pell Grant
It is for students from low income families and is available for over 5,000 participating post secondary institutions. Like most government grants, students have to apply for a Pell grant by filling the 'Free Application for Federal Student Aid' (FAFSA) form. The amount for the Pell grant ranges between USD 400 to USD 5,000 depending on the students expected family contribution and enrollment status (Full-time or Part-time). Some of the documents required for applying for the Pell grant are social security number, driving license, taxed income proof, etc.

Teach Grant
One of the federal grants for students looking forward to becoming teachers is the Teach grant. Under this program you are required to teach for 4 academic years in a school that caters to students from low income families. The recipient of the Teach grant will have to sign an agreement, to this accord, at the time of receiving the grant. The grant amount is up to USD 4,000, and if the recipient fails to the terms of agreement the grant amount will be converted into an unsubsidized federal loan. Filling the FAFSA form is one of the basic requirements for application.

Patsy Takemoto Grant
Congresswoman Mink was the first woman of color elected to the US house of representatives, she understood the importance of education for women in America. The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation offers scholarships for moms going back to school, the amount is up to USD 2,000.

Raise the Nation
They offer single parent scholarships and also offer financial support to children from single parent families. You can apply for the scholarship online on the Raise the Nation website, there is a USD 20 application fee. This single mothers scholarship is for low income families and the organization has set different income limits for different states, the information is available on their site.

Jeannette Rankin Foundation
One of the organizations working towards betterment of women by providing financial contribution for their education, is the Jeannette Rankin Foundation. They give financial assistance to families who qualify as low income families according to the US Department of Labor's Lower Living Standard. The eligibility criteria is that the woman applying should be 35 years of age or older.

Do proper research before you apply for a particular scholarship to make sure you fit the eligibility criteria. If you want to know how to go about getting scholarships, the first step is to apply. It is also advisable to apply for a couple of scholarships in order to increase the chances of pursuing your educational goals.