Single Parent Scholarships

One of the easiest ways to get gainful employment is by enlisting a college degree or higher education on your resume, but if you are a single parent it is difficult to study while trying to support your family. There are many single parents out there who would like to study further and upgrade their skills, but financial constraints do not allow them to do so. There are organizations and government grants that allow single parents to pursue higher education. Single parent scholarships are way better than taking student loans because a loan needs to be repaid but a scholarship need not. The government also offers single mother grants for school, programs which have benefited many.

One of the best resources for these scholarships is the financial aid office of the college you wish to attend. A counselor will help you apply for the scholarships for single mothers and fathers, that you qualify for and will also give you all the necessary information about the documentation required.

Government grants are for a specific purpose and you need to meet the eligibility criteria to apply for particular grants. The government offers financial aid to single parents looking to pursue higher education. Some of the grants are:

• Teach Grant: Under this program single parents who like to study to become teachers can apply, the grant is for up to USD 4,000. This grant is specifically for those who wish to teach in schools which support students from low income families. A recipient of the Teach Grant is required to teach for 4 academic years in a school serving students from low income families.
• SMART Grant: The National SMART grant is available for the third and fourth year of undergraduate study. The recipient is required to maintain a 3.0 GPA which is checked before the beginning of each semester when the payments are due. The National SMART grant gives up to USD 4,000 for each of the third and fourth year of undergraduate study.
• Pell Grants: One of the basic requirement to apply for a government grant like the Pell grant is filling the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Pell grant offers financial assistance ranging from USD 400 to USD 5,000 you can even apply for a SMART grant along with the Pell grant.

Most of the not for profit organizations offer college grants for single moms, but some do cater to the needs of single dads also.

• Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation: Congresswoman Mink was the first woman of color to be elected to the US house of representatives she worked for women rights. The foundation offers scholarship for women from low income group with children, they offer assistance up to USD 2,000.
• Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF): Established in 1990 the scholarship has helped several single parents to acquire higher education. The ASPSF make thousands of dollars available as scholarship funds through their affiliate programs, and the application process is also quite simple.
• The Women's Independence Scholarship Program: These target group scholarships are offered to women who have been victims of domestic violence. Other eligibility criteria for these college grants for single mothers includes being a US citizen and acceptance or application of an accredited college. To apply for this scholarship program you also need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) along with your tax returns.
• Raise the Nation: They offer funds that aid single mother scholarships, one unique feature of the foundation is that it also gives out scholarships for children. To elaborate, Raise the Nation funds the education of children who belong to single parent homes. There is a USD 20 fee to apply for a scholarship program and the application process is online. They offer scholarship to low income families and the eligibility criteria to qualify is different for different states.

Many single parents think that their learning process has come to a premature end because of their responsibilities, but there are many avenues for availing scholarships all you need to do is apply.