So you’re a single mom who wants to go back to school, but you don’t know where to start. No worries! College grants for single moms are everywhere. It might not seem like there are all that many, but the key is in the specialization. General grants might be hard to come by, but if you have a particular career path in mind, specialized grants for single moms might be the way to go. Here are a few you might not have considered:
State-sponsored grants. The state you are in might have several grants available. If you live in a state where the lottery is popular, lottery grants are meant to help those who need a hand up, and are often awarded as scholarships based on need. Check with your state department of education to find out exactly what your state has in store for your educational help.
College-sponsored grants. Those who contribute to the college in a meaningful way might be eligible for college-sponsored grants. These grants are awarded for things like environmental consciousness, highest grade point averages, leading your fellow students, or college organizations that address the need of single mothers.
Situation-specific grants. If you are a woman, disabled, in a minority, a non-traditional student, or a single mother, you can often find yourself eligible for grants that you might not have considered before. Did you know there are even grants for those who have a specific disease or illness? There is even a cancer-survivor fund to help those who have survived through cancer to go back to school. If you qualify for any of these, contact the college or talk to the administrators of the charitable organizations that offer the grants.
Profession-specific grants. This is where you can find the most help with college grants for single mothers. Each profession wants to help its young stars blossom, and to that end, certain professions will offer grants to those who show promise. For instance, if you are into agriculture and intend to work in the farming industry, grants from the Future Farmers of America might help you. National Geographic is known for giving very specific grants to those who have a certain course of study that could lead to scientific breakthroughs. If you are an artist, that perfect gallery showing could be your ticket to a large grant to help pay for the remainder of your schooling.
It’s important to get creative and look into grants that are very specific — who knows? You might qualify!
