According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, "Single-parent families are more than twice as likely to be low-income as two-parent families." This can make it especially difficult for single parents to afford to return to college. Taking the time to search for scholarships and grants available to single mothers can help these dedicated women afford a college degree.
Financial Aid Offices
Contact the financial aid offices of colleges and universities which you are interested in attending. Often, financial aid counselors can offer assistance with filling out financial aid paperwork and searching for scholarships and grants available to specific demographic groups such as single mothers. Don't be timid or afraid to ask questions. Visiting financial aid offices is intimidating for some, but will prove beneficial in the end.
Employers
Approach employers to inquire about scholarship opportunities. Even if a single mother is working a fast food job, there may be scholarships available to her. For example, Taco Bell sponsors a scholarship program to honor the restaurant's founder, Glen Bell. According to the program's website, individuals who have been employed with Taco Bell for at least 6 months and have worked a minimum of 15 hours each week are eligible for a $1,000 or $2,000 award. Applicants must be high school graduates.
Jeannette Rankin Foundation
According to the Foundation's website, "Since 1978, Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund has awarded scholarships to help over 500 women across the United States attend college." The Jeannette Rankin Foundation offers scholarships for female low-income earners who are at least 35 years of age and have been accepted to or are already attending an accredited school.
Raise the Nation Foundation
The Raise the Nation Foundation aims to aid single mothers who desire to raise a financially independent family. Accordingly, the Foundation offers education scholarships to single mothers.
Soroptimist
Soroptimist is an international organization which, according to its website, offers Women's Opportunity Awards for women "who provide the primary financial support for their families and who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and cannot have already earned an undergraduate degree." The program has offered help to many women desiring to return to school. According to the Women's Opportunity Awards website, "Since the Women's Opportunity Awards program began in 1972, about $25 million has been disbursed to help tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families."
Tags: single mothers, have been, Jeannette Rankin, Opportunity Awards, Women Opportunity