Grants and Scholarships for Single Moms in College?

I'm a high school junior with a single mom who plans to go back to college. Are there specific grants or scholarships available for single mothers pursuing degrees? Any advice on how to help her find funding options is appreciated!

Sure, there are indeed several scholarships and grants tailored for single mothers returning to college. Remember, grants and scholarships are great because they're essentially free money that doesn't need to be repaid.

One such grant many might not immediately consider is the Federal Pell Grant. This grant isn't specifically for single mothers, but the financial need might definitely benefit single parents. Aid is determined by factors such as income and family size.

Another resource is the Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund. This fund is specifically for low-income women over 35, which may suit your mother's situation well.

Also, the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation for low-income mothers provides several awards each year.

Help your mother look for more opportunities like the ones above by searching for keywords like "scholarships for single parents," "grants for adult students," or "scholarships for nontraditional students."

Appily (formerly known as Cappex) has a helpful scholarship search tool where you can filter for demographic information like being a single parent.

I encourage her to connect with the financial aid office at the college she intends to attend. They will often have knowledge about specific resources available for her situation.

Lastly, it's crucial to complete the FAFSA—with the new Student Aid Index, this can determine the amount of aid your mom can receive, so make sure she fills it out early.

Best of luck in supporting your mom during this exciting time of her life!