Places That Offer Financial Support for Moms Returning to Education
Guest post from: Jennifer Lewis
Going back to school is a great move for any mom to make because statistics show that people with a degree will make significantly more over the course of their working days than those who do not have specialized training. This extra money can make a great impact on a family’s financial picture in the long run, but how can a mom find the money to pay for the cost of college today? This question is not as tough as it seems because thousands of dollars are set aside by the government, private corporations, colleges, and industry to help moms who are desirous of returning to education. The following are sources that are currently offering this type of funding:
Great Government Offers
The U.S. Government has set up several programs which make it less costly for women train for a better job. By filling out a Free Application for Financial Student Aid at www.FAFSA.org, women can find out if they can get some of this federal money. The following are just a few of the programs for which women might qualify:
- Pell Grants
- Low Interest Loans
- Special Tax Incentives
- Work Study Programs
The state governments in many locales also offer grant and scholarship money for women wishing to upgrade their education.
Business Sponsored Funding for Education
Moms should check with a college financial aid officer for help finding scholarships and grants from private donor sources. Although, as a whole, the amounts of these offers are not as great as the sums offered by the government, they can be helpful if several different ones are procured. Several of the best offered to women include the following:
- Microsoft Tuition Scholarships: These annual scholarships are given out to women doing undergraduate work in disciplines related to computer science. These awards, from $1,000 to $10,000 are given to those in undergraduate programs.
- Target All-Around Scholarships: These are merit based awards given to undergraduates who have contributed greatly to their community through volunteerism or social services. Applicants must demonstrate outstanding academic success as well. In the past, some of these awards have been as much as $10,000 a year.
- Wal-Mart Associate Scholarships: These funds are reserved for employees of Sam’s Club or Wal-Mart who have shown community involvement and are in financial need.
- AARP Foundation’s Women’s Scholarship Program: Low-income women who are over fifty should apply for money, which can be used at any technical school or accredited college, from this foundation. Funds are dispersed on the basis of need, with the majority going to women who have been unemployed for more than a year, mothers caring for the children of another family member, women veterans, and those with low-paying jobs.
There is no doubt that going back to college can drain the family budget, but money is available to keep the costs in check. Any mom who truly wants to make herself more employable can get the education to do so without spending every penny in her emergency account.
About the author: Jennifer writes for a website that lists more sources of grants or scholarships for women, including college grants for pregnant women. She thinks it’s worth moms taking the time to research and apply for any financial aid they may be entitled to.
