Niche College Scholarship

Scholarships for Moms

scholarships for moms

Mothers, particularly young, single moms with young children often feel like post-secondary education is not an option for them. The mere thought of taking a full course load or even just 2-3 classes per semester can seem daunting and then there is the matter of paying for it.

It may surprise you to know that there are actually quite a few scholarships available to women with young children. Some are specifically for single moms, but there are also those for any mother who wants to go back to school to improve her career options.

Where Can I Find Scholarships for Moms?

You’re in luck; we actually have a number of them listed and linked at the bottom of this article. We curated a list of some of the best scholarships for moms and you can easily review them and determine whether you are eligible to apply.

How to Apply for Scholarships for Moms

Like any other scholarship, you may qualify based on the fact that you are a mom, but there also could be other criteria to qualify. Make sure you get matched to each one by creating a Scholarships.com Profile or logging-in if you already have an account. If you are a match, you will see it listed among your Scholarship Matches.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships for Moms

Do I need to complete the FAFSA to apply for scholarships for moms?

You definitely should complete the FAFSA, as most scholarships of this kind will likely have a financial need component. That, and we always recommend completing the FAFSA to ensure you don’t miss out on any other scholarships you may not be aware of but qualify for.

Will my grades be a big factor of whether I am eligible to apply?

There is a good chance grades will be a factor, but how much of a factor is going to vary considerably. If you aren’t sure about one in particular, you can ask the scholarship provider directly before spending a lot of time applying. Typically, they will post GPA range or another metric they use to gauge eligibility.

How can I improve my odds of winning?

Like any other scholarship, follow the rules. To the letter. Also, make a note of the deadline and add it to your personal calendar with a notification to remind you as it gets closer. You don’t want to miss a deadline and take yourself out of the running because you forgot about a particular scholarship.

Do I qualify for scholarships for moms if I am married?

There are myriad different scholarships for moms; some will be for single moms and some will be for single moms still in high school, etc. Others may be open to any mother with a dependent child who is looking to further her education or even exclusively be for that scenario. It is important to read the requirements before beginning to apply and if you are unsure, you should definitely call or email the scholarship provider to verify your eligibility.

Are there scholarships for single fathers, too?

Yes, there absolutely are. Most of these will be for a single parent or simply anyone with a minor dependent whom they must support and also wish to continue or further their education. These are available to moms as well as dads. For example, the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund was created for single parents living in Arkansas who are pursuing a course of instruction that will improve their income-earning potential.

Explore more scholarship categories

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund

  • Amount
    Varies
  • Deadline
    October 15, 2023

The purpose of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) is to provide supplemental financial assistance to those single parents living in Arkansas who are pursuing a course of instruction that will improve their income-earning potential. Guidelines for the manner in which the scholarship may be used are at the discretion of each scholarship provider. Dollar amounts for the ... Read more

Live Your Dream- Utah Single Mother Scholarship

  • Amount
    Varies
  • Deadline
    November 10, 2023

The Live Your Dream supports single-mother families by providing scholarships for single-mothers who desire to gain an education to better provide for their children. The scholarship recipients must be residents of Utah; however, they may attend college online in another state. Applicants must complete the FAFSA and be able to demonstrate financial need in order to be eligible for the Live Your ... Read more

Soroptimist's Live Your Dream Award

  • Amount
    $16,000
  • Deadline
    November 15, 2023

The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards (formerly known as the Women's Opportunity Awards) assists women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills, and employment prospects. Applicant must be a female who provides the primary financial support for herself and her dependents. Dependents can ... Read more

Second Chances Scholarship

  • Amount
    $1,500
  • Deadline
    November 30, 2023

The Lagman Foundation grants scholarships to a new generation of diversely talented high school students who have overcome adversity, given back to their communities, and demonstrated a commitment to turning their life around through an interest in academic or creative pursuits. The Foundation identifies and rewards high school seniors who have experienced hardship, and then demonstrated ... Read more

Washington-Nixon Nursing Scholarship for Single Mothers

  • Amount
    Varies
  • Deadline
    January 5, 2024

The Washington-Nixon Nursing Scholarship is for single, non-traditional females, providing primary support for custodial child/children. Junior or senior college students actively pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing are also eligible. Students must show academic promise and have a minimum GPA of 3.0, completed 60 hours of prerequisites and be enrolled full-time during the award ... Read more

ANSWER Scholarship Endowment

  • Amount
    $22,000
  • Deadline
    February 1, 2024

The ANSWER Scholarship Endowment provides financial support and encouragement to adult women age 25 and older who are raising school-age children (grades Pre-Kindergarten -12) and are seeking to earn a four-year undergraduate degree in the field of their choice. Scholarship award amounts will vary annually at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee, though they typically range from $2750 per ... Read more

BYU Marriott School Single Parent Scholarships

  • Amount
    Varies
  • Deadline
    February 1, 2024

BYU Marriott has several scholarships specifically donated by the Spouse Association of the school’s National Advisory Council to help single-parent graduate BYU Marriott students with educational expenses. In order to be considered for this scholarship, the following conditions must be met:

Applicant is a single parent (mother or father) with custody of dependent child(ren); Applicant must be ... Read more

Judith Heavenrich Memorial Scholarship

  • Amount
    Varies
  • Deadline
    February 9, 2024

Education is vital to the growth and future of every community. Because of this, the Saginaw Community Founda­tion administers a variety of scholarship programs for high school, community college, university and vocational stu­dents. Since awarding our first $500 scholarship in 1987, the Saginaw Community Foundation has awarded more than $8 million in scholarships. Learn more about all of our ... Read more

VSAC Bernice Murray Scholarship

  • Amount
    $4,000
  • Deadline
    February 15, 2024

To be eligible for the Bernice Murray Scholarship, applicants must: be a single parent with primary custody of at least one child 12 years of age or younger; be seeking an undergraduate degree; be enrolled at least part-time; demonstrate financial need; and be attending an accredited school approved for federal Title IV funding. Selection for this scholarship will be based on financial need, a ... Read more

Ford Opportunity Program Scholarship

  • Amount
    Varies
  • Deadline
    March 1, 2024

Oregon’s single largest private scholarship provider is The Ford Family Foundation. Offering unique, renewable scholarships for Oregon and Siskiyou County, California residents, the Foundation selects over 250 new recipients for their need-based programs and awards over $11 million annually to support students’ success in college and beyond. Selection criteria is centered on applicants’ ability ... Read more

Wings Over America Scholarships

  • Amount
    $5,000
  • Deadline
    March 1, 2024

The Wings Over America Scholarship Foundation annually sponsors scholarships to further the postsecondary education of Navy dependents from the aviation community. Most scholarships are for $5,000, and some are renewable. Scholarships may be used for trade school certification, community college or four-year university/college undergraduate study and cover tuition only at an accredited ... Read more

Dr. Wynetta A. Frazier "Sister to Sister" Scholarship

  • Amount
    $1,000
  • Deadline
    March 1, 2024

The Wynetta A. Frazier "Sister-to-Sister" Scholarship was created to provide financial assistance to mature African American women in their pursuit of post-secondary education. An applicant must be a returning student, whose education was interrupted by family responsibilities or other personal demands and is now ready to complete college, or one who is entering college for the first time because ... Read more

Women In Need Scholarship

  • Amount
    $4,000
  • Deadline
    April 30, 2024

The Women In Need Scholarship is for a woman who is the primary source of support for her family and is completing her sophomore year of academic pursuit to earn a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. It is awarded in the amount of $2,000 per year for two years and will be renewed for the second year upon completion of satisfactory course work as evidenced by a 3.0 GPA. Applicants must be US citizens ... Read more

Capture the Dream, Inc. Single Parent Scholarship

  • Amount
    $1,000
  • Deadline
    June 30, 2024

The goal of our scholarship fund is to help eliminate one of the leading obstacles preventing single parents and minority students from attending college – the soaring cost of tuition. We believe when students have the opportunity to attend college, our society thrives. We provide talented students with the means to be able to reach a higher education, which helps develop the future leaders of ... Read more

Women With Promise Scholarship

  • Amount
    $5,000
  • Deadline
    Varies

The Women With Promise Scholarship Program offers North Texas women the opportunity to begin or restart their journey toward a college degree. Support is available for full or part-time students from Dallas and Collin counties attending or planning to attend educational programs at accredited institutions of higher learning in Dallas or Collin counties. Also, they must have a nonprofit ... Read more

Last Reviewed: September 2023