Going back to school can be a major challenge for working moms in more ways than one. Not only do you have to juggle childcare, work, and school, but you have to think about paying for your degree.
Loans are one option, but graduating with a lot of debt when you’re trying to support your children isn’t an ideal solution. Covering part of your tuition and fees with scholarships can make school more affordable and less stressful since they are gifts that don’t need to be paid back. Graduating with less debt means you’ll be able to see a return on your educational investment more quickly and have fewer bills to worry about.
Working moms have a lot on their plate, and fortunately, there are lots of great scholarships available to support them. Here are some 2022-2023 scholarship opportunities you might qualify for.
Scholarships for Moms
When looking for scholarships geared toward moms, remember that scholarships for non-traditional students, working parents of any gender, and women can all be great choices. There are so many opportunities for working moms who want to go back to school!
The Live Your Dream Award (Soroptimist)
This scholarship program is open to women in member countries (including the US and Canada) who have financial need, are the main financial support for one or more dependents, and are enrolled in a vocational or undergraduate program. This award can give moms up to $16,000 for school!
“Mom to Scholar” Scholarships for Mothers
A scholarship sponsored by an individual who went back to school when her oldest son started college himself, this award is open to mothers over the age of 35. It offers $1000 for moms in any degree program.
Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Award
Created in honor of the first woman of color to be elected to the House of Representatives, this scholarship is designed to assist low-income mothers pay for school. Applicants must be mothers, at least 17, making less than $20,000 for a family of 2 or $28,000 for a family of four, and pursuing an undergraduate or vocational degree. Each recipient will receive up to $5000!
Degree-Specific Scholarships
If you’re interested in a specific degree to enter an in-demand field, it’s a good idea to look for scholarships available to students in these programs. Here are just a few examples:
American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Scholarship Program
Available to students enrolled in a graduate program for nurse practitioners who have completed a minimum of one semester, the AANP scholarship program offers $2500-$5000. Although the AANP offers one of the more generous awards in the field, there are also other scholarships for nurse practitioners in training.
Society of Women Engineers SWE Scholarships
Applicants must be enrolled in an ABET-accredited engineering and computer science degree program, but this can be at either the bachelor’s or graduate level. There are many different SWE scholarships, and a single application puts students into consideration for multiple awards.
LAF Olmsted Scholars Program (Landscape Architecture)
This large scholarship offers $25,000 (graduate) and $15,000(undergraduate) for students in landscape architecture programs. It is an annual award available to students in the US and Canada.
Tips for Finding and Applying to Scholarships
Searching and applying for scholarships can feel overwhelming. There are a lot of options out there and deciding which you should apply for can be a challenge. Here are some tips for finding and applying for scholarships.
Check the Requirements Carefully
Scholarships are set up to help people who wouldn’t be able to afford college on their own. That’s why so many have certain requirements that applicants must meet, such age, race or ethnicity, residency, or GPA. It’s important to be very careful when checking a scholarship’s requirements to make sure you meet them. Applying for a scholarship you aren’t eligible for is a waste of your valuable time!
And remember: the narrower the requirements, the fewer the applicants. You are more likely to get scholarship awards that focus solely on working moms or have other requirements you meet.
Some scholarships are ultra-specific, like the Multiples of Illinois scholarship, which offers $250 for parents of multiples who are members of the organization. Make sure to check out state-specific and school-specific scholarships!
Make a Calendar of Deadlines
When you’re applying for multiple scholarships, it’s easy to forget deadlines. That leads to disappointment and fewer scholarship opportunities. Stay organized, make a calendar of deadlines, and set reminders if you need them.
Apply for Lesser-Known and Smaller Awards
You might gravitate toward larger scholarships because you can get more funding for the same amount of work. However, these large scholarships are also highly competitive. Try for them, but don’t forget to apply for lesser-known and smaller awards, too.
Follow Directions
Your ability to follow directions is extremely important when applying for scholarships. Stay on topic, stick to the word count, and don’t try any weird formatting tricks to get attention. It won’t earn you any points!
Give Yourself Enough Time
Applying for scholarships is time-consuming. Since each award has its own angle and requirements, you will need to devote time to completing each application and gathering the requested materials.
The good news is that some scholarships ask for the same documents, which can reduce the work needed for each application. However, you will generally need to respond to prompts or write an essay that is unique to the individual scholarship application.
Give yourself enough time to apply for the scholarships you’ve chosen. A rushed application is unlikely to be selected, so schedule in time to work on each individual application.
Be YOU
Lots of people try to show the scholarship committee what they think they want to hear. It’s much better to just be yourself! Include lots of detail and make sure your essays aren’t generic or boring. Have a friend or family member look over your written application and give you feedback, and try reading your essays aloud to make sure they sound like “you.”
Don’t Give Up — Money is Out There for Moms!
If you don’t get selected for scholarships you were excited about, don’t get discouraged. You don’t know anything about the other applicants and you’re probably not going to get every scholarship you apply for.
Don’t give up on applying for scholarships. The more money you can get for your education, the less you’ll have to pay back. It’s absolutely worth the effort. And remember — there’s money out there for moms!
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