My aunt is looking to return to college as an adult. Does anyone have information on scholarships or grants available for adults who are returning to complete their education? Thanks in advance for any tips or resources!
Your aunt is making an excellent decision by deciding to return to college. Thankfully, there are many scholarships and grants specifically dedicated to adult learners or nontraditional students returning to college.
Firstly, she should check out federal grants. For instance, the Federal Pell Grant does not have an age limit, and it's a needs-based grant that she can apply for by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In the 2024-2025 award year, the maximum Pell grant is $7,395, though how much your aunt may get will depend on her financial situation (measured by her Student Aid Index) and enrollment status.
There are also many organizations and foundations that offer scholarships for adult or returning students. For example, the Imagine America Foundation provides scholarships for adult learners. Similarly, the Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) scholarship offers grants to adult students facing economic, social, or physical challenges.
In addition to this, many community foundations offer scholarships for local residents. If your aunt has identified which college or universities she's interested in, she should also look at what scholarships those schools offer for nontraditional students directly.
As a returning adult student, she might also be eligible for tuition reimbursement from her employer if she is currently working. This is a type of aid where the employer will pay for a certain amount of tuition, given that the employee continues working there for a set amount of time after graduation.
Lastly, I highly recommend that she uses scholarship search platforms like Chegg, Fastweb, or even Appily (formerly known as Cappex). These platforms can help tailor scholarship searches to her specific circumstances and find the ones she's most eligible for.
Remember, apply to as many relevant scholarships and grants as possible to maximize the chance of getting financial support. Good luck to your aunt on her journey back to college!
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