12 Promising Single Mom Scholarships for 2020

I think we can agree that going back to college presents a catch-22 for single moms.

On one hand, earning a degree or certification can be the ticket to earning more money and providing stability to your family. On the other hand, college is expensive and as a single parent with one income, you’re already maxed out.

This is why applying for grants and scholarships is so important.

If you’re heading back to college your first step should be filling out a FASFA. After that, consider applying to these single mom scholarships for 2020 to get the extra funding you need.

Patsy Mink Foundation

The Patsy Mink foundation regularly awards up to five, $5,000 scholarships to women each year.

Eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Must be a woman, at least 17 years old, with minor children
• Must be pursuing a first degree in one of the following – vocational, certification, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree
• Must be enrolled in a not-for-profit institution
• Must be considered low income

The application process will open up early spring 2020. Here’s where you can find the application instructions.

Bethel Foundation Grace Scholarship

The Bethel Grace Scholarship is awarded 3 times per year, depending on funding. Award amounts are up to $1,500 for full-time students and up to $750 for part-time students. Money can be used for tuition or books.

To apply you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• US Resident
• Highschool Diploma or GED recipient
• Single and Head of household with at least one minor child
• Pursuing a career-oriented course of study
• Low income
• Pell Grant recipient

Application deadlines are March, June, and October 15^th each year. You can view the application here.

Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award

Every year Soroptimist grants up to 2 million dollars in financial awards to head-of-household women pursuing their degrees.

They have three levels of awards that range from $1,000 – $16,000. And the awards go out to around 1,450 women per year.

To apply you’ll need to meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Provide primary financial support for your dependents
• Has financial need
• Has been accepted or is enrolled in an undergraduate program or vocational skills program
• Lives in a qualifying area
• Has not previously received a Soroptimist Dream Award

The application period runs from August 1^st to November 15^th each year. You can read further eligibility requirements and application instructions here.

Jeanette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund

Jennette Rankin was the first woman in Congress and a huge proponent for women’s rights. The Jeanette Ranking Scholarship was started in 1978 to help low income women pursue education. Since then over $2.75 million dollars’ worth of scholarships have been awarded.

If you’re interested in applying for the Jeanette Rankin scholarship, you’ll need to meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Female, 35 years or older
• Low Income (I’ve included a pic of income guidelines above)
• Enrolled in accepted to an accredited, not for profit institution
• Going for a vocational education, first-time bachelor’s degree, or an associates degree

Application acceptance runs (approximately) from November to March each year. You can get more information on how to apply here.

American Association of University Women

The American Association of University women awards several million dollars of scholarship money to women and girls and each year. They have different scholarships and awards programs, awarding different amounts of money.

Here are some of the programs you can apply to:

• American Fellowships
• Career Development Grants
• International Fellowships

Application dates generally run from August 1^st to December 1^st. You can take a look at the specific opportunities from AAUW here.

Rosenfield Injury Lawyers Single Mother Scholarship

The Rosenfield Injury Lawyers award 2 scholarships to single mothers each year. One scholarship goes toward a single mother enrolled in an undergraduate program or community college. The other scholarship goes to a single mother enrolled in an accredited law school.

Both scholarship awards are $1,000.

Here are the eligibility requirements:

• Enrolled in a US acrredited university, college, or highschool
• Must maintain a 3.0 grade average
• Must be a mother attending school

Applications are due by Dec. 5^th. You can find more info here.

Emerge Scholarships (Georgia)

Emerge awards scholarships to women who are low income, Georgia residents, and meet other guidelines.

Here are the basic eligibility requirements:

• Must be a resident of Georgia
• At least 25 years old
• Must be enrolled in a regionally accredited institution that is not for profit
• Must meet income eligibility

The application process opens up in November. You can see further instructions here.

Beatrice F. Kroesche Memorial Scholarship (University of Utah)

Beatrice F. Kroesche Memorial Scholarship is available for single mothers enrolled in the University of Utah who participate in one of the following programs:

• College of Education
• College of Humanities
• The Department of English
• The David Eccles School of Business
• College of Engineering

You can get more information here.

The Ford Family Foundation (Residents of Oregon or Siskiyou County, California)

The Ford Scholarship is a need-based scholarship that will award up to 90% of unmet financial obligations, up to $25,000 per year.

Here are the eligibility requirements:

• Must demonstrate financial need
• Be a resident of Oregon or Siskiyou County California
• Have no felony convictions
• Be a single parent with full custody of at least one minor child
• Seeking an Associate Degree or Bachelor’s Degree
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher
• Attend full-time, on campus, eligible institution

Application deadline is March 1^st of each year. You can find more information here.

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Single Parent Scholarship Fund (Arkansas or Bowie County, Texas)

The Single Parent Scholarship fund was started in 1984 to help remove barriers to low income, single parents across Arkansas.

They have awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships.

If you’re interested in applying the eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Single, custodial parent of a dependent child
• Earned a high school diploma or GED
• Have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree
• Have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher
• Household income is no more than 250% of federal poverty guidelines
• Have completed the FASFA
• Attending (or will be) an approved school

The deadlines vary depending on which term you’re applying for. You can see further application information here.

Kentucky Colonels Better Life Scholarship (Kentucky – SKCTC)

The Kentucky Colonels awards scholarships to single, working parents with kids ages 12 and under. They’ve awarded over a million dollars in scholarships.

Here are the eligibility requirements:

• Attend Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
• Full time student pursuing an Associate Degree
• A parent with a child age 12 or under
• Financial need not met by other sources

The deadline is August 7^th each year. The award amount is $2,500. You can see further application instructions here.

Helping Hands for Single Moms (Dallas and Phoenix)

The Helping Hands for Single Moms scholarships is aimed at helping low income, single moms pay for college.

This scholarship actually helps beyond just college and covers the following:

• Scholarship award of $270 per month
• AAA Towing
• Assistance with Auto Repairs
• Tech Assistance
• Hair Cuts
• And more…

The eligibility requirements are different for Dallas and Phoenix. Click here for Dallas requirements. Click here for Phoenix requirements.

Single Mom Scholarships for 2020 and Beyond…

Your first step in covering the cost of college should be filling out the FASFA. After that, taking the time to apply to any of these scholarships that you’re eligible for can really pay off.