20 Great Scholarships for Single Parents

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Scholarships for single parents reward mothers and fathers with free tuition money to afford returning to the college classroom.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 13.7 million single parents are raising nearly 22 million children nationwide. Around one-quarter of these parents have incomes below the poverty level. Juggling parenthood, careers, and college coursework on one salary is overwhelming for most. Custodial parents often depend on government assistance to keep their children fed, sheltered, and thriving.

Many public and private agencies have also reserved scholarship money to empower single moms and dads with higher learning. The following are 20 scholarships for single parents to:

  • finish their degree
  • find better-paying jobs
  • better their children’s lives.

Ranking the Great Scholarships for Single Dads and Single Moms

1. Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund

Deadline: March 15th

Funded by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund  grants several one-time scholarships of $500 to $1,750. They’re for single mothers and fathers who have full custody of at least one dependent child under 18. Eligible applicants must:

  • reside in participating Arkansas counties
  • have completed a diploma or GED
  • take six or more credits at an accredited college
  • carry a minimum 2.5 GPA
  • pursue their first bachelor’s or Master of Arts in Teaching degree.
Contact

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund
614 East Emma Avenue
Springdale, AR 72764
(479) 935-4888
bchapple@aspsf.org
Scholarship Link

2. Bernice Murray Scholarship Award

Deadline: March 4th

The Bernice Murray Scholarship Award was created by U.S. Senator James M. Jeffords in honor of his long-time aide. It’s presented by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation for $2,000 annually. Qualified recipients must:

  • be single parents with primary custody of children under 13 years old
  • lack the monetary means for attending an accredited Vermont college approved for Title IV funding

Undergraduate finalists must complete a personal interview.

Contact

Bernice Murray Scholarship Award
10 East Allen Street
Winooski, VT 05404
(802) 655-9602
info@vsac.org
Scholarship Link

3. Bethel Foundation Grace Scholarships

Deadline: October 15th or June 15th

The Bethel Foundation established the Grace Scholarships to award $1,500 each semester or $3,000 yearly. They’re for single female heads of household who have sole custody of one or more children under 18 years old. Eligible mothers must:

  • be U.S. citizens
  • have completed high school or a GED certificate
  • pursue career-oriented college study
  • live near the poverty level
  • qualify for the Federal Pell Grant
  • show perseverance in bettering their children’s lives.
Contact

Bethel Foundation Grace Scholarships
13003 North Western Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73114
(866) 442-1431
bethelfoundation@cox.net
Scholarship Link

4. Bruce and Marjorie Sundlun Scholarships

Deadline: May 13th

Valued at $1,500 apiece, The Rhode Island Foundation grants the Bruce and Marjorie Sundlun Scholarships. They’re  for single parents who are pursuing college-level study at an accredited two- or four-year institution. It must be for their first undergraduate degree. The scholarships are valued at $1,500 each. To apply, candidates must:

  • reside in Rhode Island
  • meet low-income poverty guidelines
  • maintain at least half-time enrollment

Preference is given to single parents who’ve received state aid or been incarcerated.

Contact

Bruce and Marjorie Sundlun Scholarships
1 Union Station
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 274-4564
info@rifoundation.org
Scholarship Link

5. Capture the Dream Single Parent Scholarship

Deadline: June 30th

The Capture the Dream Single Parent Scholarship is for moms and dads living in California’s Bay Area, including the counties of:

  • Alameda
  • Contra Costa
  • Marin
  • Napa
  • San Francisco
  • San Mateo
  • Santa Clara
  • Solano
  • Sonoma

The scholarship for $1,000. Interested low-income applicants must:

  • have significant financial need
  • faced delays in their higher education
  • attend accredited non-profit California colleges
  • maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA
  • have community service records.
Contact

Capture the Dream Single Parent Scholarship
484 Lake Park Avenue Suite 15
Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 343-3635
scholarships@capturethedream.org
Scholarship Link

6. EscrowTech Scholarship for Single Parents

Deadline: November 15th

EscrowTech International Inc. sponsors a $1,000 Scholarship for Single Parents. It’s to lessen the financial strain of earning a college degree while raising at least one child alone. Eligibility criteria requires:

  • being at least 18 years old
  • showing exemplary dedication to one’s family
  • attending an accredited U.S. university
  • attaining a cumulative B average

Applicants must upload a two-minute YouTube video discussing how technology will affect their field’s future.

Contact

EscrowTech Scholarship for Single Parents
3290 West Mayflower Way
Lehi, UT 84043
(801) 852-8202
scholarships@escrowtech.com
Scholarship Link

7. Financial Success for Single Mothers Scholarship

Deadline: October 1st

To honor his own courageous mother, the founder of Furzy Marketing Inc. started the $750 Financial Success for Single Mothers Scholarship. Qualified women over age 18 must:

  • be raising at least one child alone
  • have attained a minimum 2.3 college GPA
  • take 6+ units per semester at an accredited post-secondary school

To apply, create an article or video addressing how single moms can use Roth IRAs to improve their financial position.

Contact

Financial Success for Single Mothers Scholarship
570 El Camino Real Suite 150
Redwood City, CA 94063
(424) 242-4061
kamal@furzymarketing.com
Scholarship Link

8. Ford Opportunity Scholarship Program

Deadline: March 1st

The Ford Opportunity Scholarship Program provides 90 percent of unmet financial need for single parents living in Oregon and California’s Siskiyou County. It offers up to $25,000 per year. Suitable applicants must:

  • have a diploma or GED of 2650
  • have at least one year remaining for a bachelor’s degree
  • attend a participating in-state college full-time
  • verify a minimum overall GPA of 3.0
  • have no felony convictions
  • exhibit strong moral character.
Contact

Ford Opportunity Scholarship Program
440 East Broadway Suite 200
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 485-6211
fordscholarships@tfff.org
Scholarship Link

9. Flying Solo Single Parent Scholarships

Deadline: May 31st

The T&R Fund awards 50 Flying Solo Single Parent Scholarships yearly. They’re for $5,000 to full-time undergraduates at:

  • the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
  • University of Colorado Denver
  • Pikes Peak Community College.

They must be single fathers or mothers. Eligible candidates must:

  • have primary responsibility for a child under 18 years old
  • attain sophomore or higher status
  • earn at least 24 credits per year
  • have a 2.5 cumulative GPA
  • qualify for financial aid.
Contact

Flying Solo Single Parent Scholarships
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
(719) 255-3349
scholarships@uccs.edu
Scholarship Link

10. Health Record Services Endowed Scholarship

Deadline: September 30th

The American Health Information Management Association offers the Health Record Services Endowed Scholarship. It awards $1,000 to $2,000 to single working mothers. They must be are pursuing associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees in health informatics. Interested women must:

  • attend a CAHIIM-accredited college
  • actively enroll in six credits per term
  • achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.5
  • exhibit financial need
  • be committed to the HIM profession.
Contact

Health Record Services Endowed Scholarship
233 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 233-1131
bonnie.aguda@ahimafoundation.org
Scholarship Link

11. Lodestar Single Parent Scholarship Fund

Deadline: June 6th

The Lodestar Single Parent Scholarship Fund is one of America’s most profitable scholarships for single parents. It awards $18,000 to $26,000 annually through the Arizona Community Foundation. Eligible single moms and dads must:

  • be responsible at least half-time for children under 14
  • legally reside in Arizona
  • enroll full-time for at least 27 college credits per year
  • attend an Arizona-based nonprofit institution
  • demonstrate financial need on the FAFSA form.
Contact

Lodestar Single Parent Scholarship Fund
2201 East Camelback Road Suite 405B
Phoenix, AZ 85016
(602) 381-1400
info@azfoundation.org
Scholarship Link

12. Michele L. McDonald Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: April 30th

The Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting prefers gifting its $1,000 Michele L. McDonald Memorial Scholarship to hard-working mothers who are returning to college after raising children. To be eligible, single moms must:

  • be citizens of the United States
  • attend an accredited four-year business school
  • pursue a bachelor’s degree in accounting
  • have unmet financial need
  • maintain satisfactory academic progress

There’s also the Women in Need Scholarship.

Contact

Michele L. McDonald Memorial Scholarship
136 South Keowee Street
Dayton, Ohio 45402
(937) 424-3391
info@efwa.org
Scholarship Link

13. New Hampshire Adult Student Aid Program

Deadline: May 15th, August 15th, or December 15th

The New Hampshire Adult Student Aid Program ranges from $500 to $1,500. It supports scholarships for single parents. They must be looking to upgrade their skills at an accredited college or vocational school in New Hampshire. Qualified applicants must:

  • be at least 24 years old
  • pursue undergraduate-level study
  • have considerable financial need

The Medallion Fund is reserved for:

  • automotive technology
  • plumbing
  • construction
  • heating
  • other trades.
Contact

New Hampshire Adult Student Aid Program
37 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 225-6641
Jessica.Kierstead@nhcf.org
Scholarship Link

14. Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Awards

Deadline: August 1st

The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Awards provide $5,000 over two installments to cover tuition and living expenses for single mothers. They must be attending a nonprofit U.S. college for a degree, including:

  • certificate
  • associate
  • bachelor’s
  • master’s
  • doctoral

There’s no residency requirement, but qualified women must:

  • have custody of minor children
  • be at least 17
  • display academic merit
  • serve as community activists
  • meet the Foundation’s low-income levels.
Contact

Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Awards
P.O. Box 479
Honolulu, HI 96809
(808) 537-6333
scholarships@hcf-hawaii.org
Scholarship Link

15. Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: February 15th

The American Traffic Safety Services Association offers a Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship. It  could provide $5,000 to single parents whose spouses were killed while working in roadway construction zones. Eligible recipients must:

  • have custody of surviving children
  • hold at least a diploma or GED
  • attend any public or private U.S. college
  • demonstrate detrimental financial need
  • submit two letters of recommendation.
Contact

Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship
15 Riverside Parkway Suite 100
Fredericksburg, VA 22406
(540) 368-1701
foundation@atssa.com
Scholarship Link

16. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers’ Single Mother Scholarships

Deadline: December 5th

Located in Chicago, the Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers Office promotes two $1,000 Single Mother Scholarships annually. It’s for moms who are either pursuing an undergraduate degree or attending an ABA-accredited law school. Applicants must:

  • have sole custody of at least one child under 18
  • keep up a minimum B average
  • lack finances for school-related expenses

Finalists are selected based on their 500-word essay describing how motherhood has prepared them for academic success.

Contact

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers’ Single Mother Scholarships
33 N Dearborn Street Suite 1930
Chicago, IL 60602
(847) 835-8895
Jonathan@rosenfeldinjurylawyers.com
Scholarship Link

17. Scholarships4Dads Scholarship Program

Deadline: December 31st

Annually, the Scholarships4Dads Scholarship Program is hosted to provide several $10,000 awards to married and single fathers across the United States. They must be pursuing post-secondary education to advance their career and enhance their children’s lives. Eligible entrants must:

  • be at least 18 years old
  • enroll at an accredited two or four-year college within three months
  • need extra help balancing school with family life

Competition is high. Recipients for these single father scholarships are chosen by random drawing quarterly.

Contact

Scholarships4Dads Scholarship Program
4104 24th Street Suite 947
San Francisco, CA 94114
info@scholarships4dads.com
Scholarship Link

18. Soroptimist Live Your Dream Scholarships

Deadline: November 15th

Since 1972, Soroptimist International has awarded over $30 million in Live Your Dream Scholarships. The awards support women, especially single moms, who have overcome large obstacles, such as:

  • poverty
  • domestic abuse
  • drug addiction

To receive up to $10,000, candidates must:

  • be the primary breadwinner for their children
  • pursue accredited higher education
  • need tuition assistance
  • not hold a graduate degree

Applications are accepted from the United States and international nations from Venezuela to Canada and Korea.

Contact

Soroptimist Live Your Dream Scholarships
1709 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 893-9000
siahq@soroptimist.org
Scholarship Link

19. United Way of Siouxland Single Parent Scholarship

Deadline: May 25th

Partnered with Women Aware, United Way of Siouxland funds a Single Parent Scholarship for $1,000 to $5,000. It supports single mothers and fathers who are raising children under 18 while furthering their college education. Interested parents must:

  • have resided in Siouxland for two years
  • work at least part-time
  • take six or more college credits
  • need financial assistance

Eligible schools are:

  • Briar Cliff University
  • Morningside College
  • St. Luke’s College
  • Western Iowa Tech Community College.
Contact

United Way of Siouxland Single Parent Scholarship
701 Steuben Street
Sioux City, IA 51101
(712) 258-4174
lhass@unitedwaysiouxland.com
Scholarship Link

20. Wyoming Women’s Opportunity Scholarship

Deadline: March 15th

The Wyoming Women’s Foundation presents a need-based Opportunity Scholarship for at least $1,000 annually. It’s for single parents who are enrolling full-time or part-time at the University of Wyoming or its outreach schools. Selection criteria includes:

  • attaining at least junior status
  • pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree
  • qualifying for federal financial aid
  • maintaining an overall GPA of 2.0 or better,
  • supporting a positive family life.
Contact

Wyoming Women’s Opportunity Scholarship
1472 North 5th Street Suite 201
Laramie, WY 82072
(307) 721-8300
info@wywf.org
Scholarship Link

Securing a bright future for your children often begins with college. The Center on Education and the Workforce reports that bachelor’s degree holders earn 74 percent more than high school grads. A bachelor’s degree has an average lifetime value of $2.3 million! Finding enough money to afford rising tuition while providing for youngsters is a big challenge though. Luckily, single moms and dads have access to special scholarship funds that can dramatically lower out-of-pocket expenses. Apply for some of these 20 great scholarships for single parents to overcome financial strife with a degree.

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This concludes our coverage of top scholarships for single dads and single moms to make the college experience more doable.

Find Your Degree!