Grants and scholarships for adults returning to college?

While I'm still in high school, my aunt is thinking about returning to college, and she's looking for grants and scholarships. Are there specific opportunities for adults who want to go back to school?

Definitely! There are multiple scholarships and grants designed specifically for adult learners. To start, the Federal Pell Grant is a fantastic resource. This grant isn't limited by age and can provide a significant chunk of change towards tuition costs.

Furthermore, there are specialized grants for adults returning to higher education. The Jeanette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund, for instance, is a scholarship for women aged 35 and older who plan to pursue a technical or vocational program, associate's degree, or first bachelor's degree.

There are also scholarships that come from professional organizations. The Society of Women Engineers offers several scholarships for women returning to education to study engineering. Likewise, the American Association of University Women offers the Career Development Grant for women who hold a bachelor's degree and are preparing to advance their careers, change careers, or re-enter the workforce.

Moreover, schools and colleges themselves often offer scholarships for non-traditional students, so she might want to check with the financial aid office at the institution where she plans to enroll.

Lastly, your aunt can look for local opportunities in her community, as cities and states often offer grants or scholarships for adult learners. She might want to reach out to the education department or her local library.

In general, it's a good idea for her to fill out the FAFSA form to determine her eligibility for federal aid. Even though it's often associated with students just out of high school, the FAFSA is applicable to students of all ages.

One last thing, as an adult returning to college, she might find it valuable to look for programs that give credit for prior learning or life experience. That could help to accelerate her path to a degree. So she'll want to check with the admissions office or an academic advisor at her college or university of choice.

So yes, while the landscape of scholarships and grants might seem overwhelming at times, there are definitely resources out there that cater to adults returning to education!