Scholarships Available for Single Mothers
Single mothers pursuing higher education goals can face financial challenges. Scholarship programs designed for single parents and women can provide the funding needed to cover education-related costs, such as tuition and books, as well as childcare expenses. Funding sources each have their own guidelines and eligibility requirements. Programs can base acceptance on an applicant's personal background, age, financial need or place of residency.
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Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund
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The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund offers funding for Arkansas single parents pursuing educational goals. The program employs county-level affiliate organizations that determine their own application deadlines and funding guidelines, but standard eligibility guidelines apply in all counties. Low-income single parents who live in Arkansas and have at least one dependent child under 18 years of age can apply. Candidates who have previously received an undergraduate degree and those pursuing graduate-level degrees do not typically qualify. Depending on affiliate guidelines, recipients can use awards to pay for tuition, child care expenses, books or household expenses. Single parents can contact the affiliate organization in their county for information about eligibility, applications and awards.
Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation
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Single mothers can receive up to $2,000 for their education through the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation. The foundation extends eligibility to low-income mothers, 17 years of age and older, who enroll in vocational, technical, undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Candidates can download an application from the foundation website for submission by mail.
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Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation
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Mothers can receive student aid through the Newcombe Scholarships for Mature Women Students program. The foundation does not offer direct funding to students but provides grants to colleges and universities that distribute funding. More than 20 institutions offer the Newcombe scholarship, and each follow the same eligibility, selection and funding guidelines. The program awards funding to undergraduate women, 25 years old or older, pursuing their first bachelor's degree. Recipients must have a financial need for assistance and can only use funds for costs related to their education, including tuition, child care and textbooks. Candidates must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours in their degree program before applying and must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5. The foundation maintains a list of participating educational institutions on its website, and applicants can contact the student aid office at participating schools for application information.
Women's Independence Scholarship Program
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The Women's Independence Scholarship Program (WISP) provides student aid for women who have survived domestic abuse. Intended to help single mothers obtain an education, the program provides funding for women attending community colleges, vocational schools, colleges and universities. Applicants must hold legal residency or citizenship in the U.S., have a need for financial support and enroll in an educational program in the U.S. Only women who have separated from their abusive partner for at least one year and have received at least six months of services from a domestic violence organization can apply. Women interested in WISP funding can download an application at the WISP website and submit it by mail.
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