Scholarships for Adults

The emphasis on scholarships for high school students makes finding scholarships for adults (who didn’t take the traditional route to college) more challenging. Just because you took an alternate path, doesn’t mean there aren’t college scholarship opportunities out there to help you minimize the burden of paying for school.

3 Tips to Find Scholarships for Adult Students

1) Be specific.

Remember that scholarships are given for a variety of reasons, so the more information you include in your search, the higher the chances you’ll find a relevant scholarship.

For example, if you are a single parent looking for a scholarship, searching “scholarships for single parents” will likely provide more relevant results than searching “scholarships for adults” or “adult scholarships.”

2) Search with similar words.

As you know, there are many different ways to say the same thing. Apply this mentality to your scholarship search. When you are searching for scholarships, use specific terms and synonyms.

Search “single mothers” and “single moms.” Search “scholarships for adults” and “scholarships for non-traditional students.” You get the idea.

3) Be persistent.

We know that searching for scholarships can take some time, but it’s totally worth it. As you start your scholarship search, it may be a challenge to find those that are a great fit for you. However, as you refine your searches, you will see that the more you describe yourself in different words, the more relevant scholarships you will find in your search results. This is important because the more you match the criteria for a scholarship, the more competitive your application is going to be.

Now we also wanted to provide you with a little more help. Here’s a list of scholarships we’ve assembled to help you get started.

Adult College Scholarships

Return 2 College Scholarship Program

This scholarship is for current students or students who are starting a higher education program within the next 12 months. Applicants must be at least 17 to apply.

CollegeAmerica Career Success Grants

Located in Arizona and Colorado, CollegeAmerica offers the First Time College Grant to meet the needs of adult students who have never attended college. For those who have taken some college credits but have not received a degree yet, CollegeAmerica also offers a Return To Learn Grant.

Scholarships for Single Parents

Bernice Murray Scholarship Award

Bernice Murray was a longtime aide to former U.S. Senator James Jeffords of Vermont. This scholarship honors her commitment to improving the lives of Vermonters. Eligible recipients are single parents with primary custody of at least one child under 13 years of age and lack the funds to attend an accredited school approved for federal student aid.

Ellen M. Cherry-Delawder Memorial Scholarship

Single mothers with an interest in studying business are preferred candidates for this scholarship. To apply, you must complete the FAFSA and the HCC Scholarship Application.

Scholarships for Adult Women

Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship

Designed for women 35 or older, this scholarship is ideal for those pursuing their associate or first bachelor’s degree. Recipients will be selected based on their goals, plans for reaching those goals, and how they plan to use their education to give back to the community.

Society of Women Engineers Scholarship

The Society of Women Engineers has Reentry/Non-Traditional Scholarships available for women who have been out of school or the engineering/technology workforce for at least two years prior to starting their current courses.

Full-time and part-time students are eligible to apply. Also, women entering any year of engineering school are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Adult Scholarships by State

A great place to look for scholarships and grants, your state!

Your state may offer opportunities to help fill a workforce need, or for returning learners. Many state scholarships will only require you to complete the FAFSA, but you will want to double-check to make sure there aren’t additional applications.

Adult Student Grant

Adult students who live in Indiana can receive up to $2,000 as they work on an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or certificate. Students can apply by completing the FAFSA and the scholarship application. Created for working adults with financial need, this scholarship is a great opportunity for adults in Indiana who need money for college.

Higher Education Adult Part-Time Student Grant Program

Adults planning to enroll at a college or university in West Virginia can receive up to $2,000 toward tuition. Students can apply by completing the FAFSA and the scholarship application. Applicant eligibility and availability of funds impact who gets selected to receive this grant.

Easy Scholarships for Adults

ScholarshipPoints $2,500 Scholarship

By signing up for the ScholarshipPoints program, you are automatically entered into the $2.500 scholarship. There is no essay or GPA requirement.

To increase your chances of winning the scholarship sweepstakes, earn points by completing activities on the website. Entrant(s) must be a U.S. resident, be at least 13 years of age as of the date of entry.

Niche “No Essay” Scholarship Sweepstakes

Any U.S. resident attending college or planning to attend college within the next year is eligible for this $2,000 prize. Students can enter into the scholarship sweepstakes by setting up an account.

Imagine America Adult College Grants

The Imagine America Foundation, through the Adult Skills Education Program (ASEP), offers tuition assistance to qualified students who enroll in participating career colleges. Some of the participating colleges are ECPI University, Salem University, and Academy of Art University.