Scholarships to Empower Single Parents

For many seeking to advance their education and career, being a single parent comes with significant additional challenges beyond just coursework demands. Juggling the roles of parent, provider, and student can feel nearly impossible without support. However, scholarship opportunities are explicitly designed for those facing this situation, which could make continuing your education much more attainable. In this post, we will cover various single-parent scholarships available and how to find the one that best fits your situation.

 What Are Single Parent Scholarships?

Single-parent scholarships recognize the obstacles single moms and dads encounter when choosing to pursue higher education. Grants are awarded based on financial need and family status rather than academics. Unlike traditional scholarships, the focus is on assisting students who are the sole caretakers of dependent children under 18 living at home. Qualifying usually means being unmarried, separated, divorced, or widowed. Awards can help cover tuition, books, childcare, and other expenses.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for most single-parent scholarships, applicants generally need to:

• Be the primary custodial parent of minor children living at home
• Demonstrate financial need through required documentation like tax returns, income statements, etc.
• Be accepted into an accredited undergraduate or vocational program
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress
• Meet any additional criteria of the particular scholarship program

Common Award Opportunities

From national foundations to local community resources, here are some places offering single-parent grants:

• American Association of University Women (AAUW)- Several national scholarships up to $10,000 each year
• Hermitage Club Foundation- Awards for single moms in the New England region
• Jack Kent Cooke Foundation- Top scholarship covers tuition, living expenses for a bachelor’s degree
• Soroptimist International- Clubs in 40 countries provide single mother/head of household aid
• Career online high school- Vocational program scholarships for single parents nationwide
• Community colleges- Many two-year institutions offer their single-parent funds

 The Application Process

Most deadlines are in spring for the following academic year. You will need to submit:

• Completed application form with personal statements, goals, and essays
• FAFSA report to verify financial need and dependency status
• Copies of tax returns, pay stubs, child support documents
• Proof of acceptance/enrollment at an eligible school
• Letters of recommendation from professors, employers, or community leaders

With the proper support, single parents can achieve educational dreams. Make use of this valuable resource – empower yourself through higher learning!