A friend of mine is a single mother and is looking into college soon. Are there scholarships and grants available for single mothers wanting to attend college?
Absolutely, there are several scholarships and financial aid opportunities specifically for single mothers returning to education. Here are few examples:
1. The Patsy Takemoto Mink Scholarship: This scholarship, named after Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink, provides assistance to low-income women, especially mothers, who are pursuing their education.
2. The Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund: This fund awards scholarships to low-income women aged 35 and older and is particularly useful for single mothers.
3. The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards: The Soroptimist International of the Americas provides these awards to women who provide the primary financial support for their households. Single mothers are strongly encouraged to apply.
4. The Raise the Nation Grant: This is a charitable organization providing educational funding for single mothers. The organization offers both scholarships for ongoing education and grants to repay student loans.
5. Emerge Scholarships: Although not specifically for single mothers, this charity awards scholarships to women who are returning to school after a break in their education.
6. Women's Independence Scholarship Program: This program helps women who have survived domestic abuse, including many single mothers.
It's also a good idea to check with the financial aid office at the colleges your friend is considering. They could provide information about any institutional aid that specifically targets non-traditional students or single parents.
In addition to searching for scholarships and aid designed specifically for single mothers, your friend can use general scholarship search engines such as FastWeb, Scholarship.com, or Appily to look for opportunities that match her unique circumstances and aspirations.
Finally, in addition to scholarships, she should make sure to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to see what federal grants or loans she may be eligible for. The Pell Grant, for example, provides significant aid and doesn't need to be repaid. Similarly, state-specific grants are often available and can be explored through the state education department’s website.
Good luck to your friend in her college journey!
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