My mom wants to return to college and we're exploring financial aid options for her. Are there scholarships specifically for returning or mature students? If anyone has suggestions or personal stories, it'd really help us figure this out!
Hello! It's really admirable that your mom has chosen to return to college. While many scholarships are intended for traditional college-aged students, there are plenty of options available specifically for returning or mature students.
Here are a few specific scholarships that your mom could consider:
1. The Osher Reentry Scholarship Program: This program specifically targets students who had to interrupt their schooling and are now returning. The amount varies but it can be quite substantial.
2. The Jeanette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund: This grant is specifically for women who are 35 and older and pursuing a technical or vocational education, an associate degree, or a first bachelor’s degree.
3. The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Award: This award is for low-income women who are mothers and also pursuing additional education or training.
4. The Imagine America Scholarship and Award Programs for Adult Learners: This offers scholarships to non-traditional students earning degrees at career colleges. The award is valued up to $1,000.
In addition to these, your mom can also explore need-based federal grants such as the Pell Grant. To apply for federal aid, she'll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine her eligibility.
Remember that scholarships aren't provided solely by external organizations or federal programs. The college she plans to attend may also have specific scholarships or grants for non-traditional students. It's a good idea for her to get in touch with the financial aid office to discuss her situation.
Lastly, many scholarships may not be advertised as explicit "returning student scholarships." There are scholarships that are open to all adults seeking to further their education, and these can be found on various scholarship databases like Fastweb and Appily.
I hope that gives you a good starting point in your hunt for scholarships for your mom. Good luck with her application process!
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