Scholarships and Grants for Women Returning to College
Going back to college after a hiatus of several years can be traumatic for many women. Returnees may be single mothers looking for a career to help them care for their families. They may be older women who dropped out of college to get married and now find themselves alone because of divorce or death. Financing a college education at this stage in life is even more stressful than going straight from high school to college, but scholarships and grants are available to ease the transition.
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Scholarships vs. Grants
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There is little difference between scholarships and grants since they both involve money that does not have to be repaid unless a woman defaults on terms set by the donors of scholarships and grants. The designation may be more dependent on the type of donor. Philanthropic foundations usually award grants whereas colleges, individuals and organizations usually award scholarships. Scholarships and grants are usually called fellowships when they support work toward advanced degrees.
Women's Organizations
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Women's organizations are good sources of scholarship and grant money for women returning to school. The Jeannette Rankin Scholarship Foundation, in honor of the first woman elected to Congress, offers $2,000 scholarships for women over 35 who are returning to college or entering it for the first time. Unlike many scholarships that specify the award must be used for tuition, Rankin money can be used for any purpose, such as childcare or transportation.
Another women's group, Women in Accounting, awards scholarships to Women in Transition. The money is for women who have become the sole support of their families and want to return to school for a degree in accounting.
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For Nontraditional Students
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Emerge offers a limited number of scholarships for nontraditional students, those the organization classifies as women who have had their education disrupted or delayed and remain committed to success. Applicants must be women who are at least 25 years old and be U.S. citizens or legal residents of the United States. Scholarships range between $2,000 and $5,000.
The Society of Women Engineers offers many scholarships for women who want to become engineers. Some of them are geared toward older women returning to college. Applicants can be in any year of college, including graduate school, the organization says.
Money for Advanced Degrees
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The majority of money available is for women working on their first degrees. However, the American Association of University Women sponsors awards for women who have been out of college but want to return for an advanced degree. Career Development Grants are for women with a bachelor's degree who want to advance in their careers or even change careers. The organization says preference is given to minority women and "those pursuing their first advanced degree in nontraditional fields."
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