Scholarships for Mothers and Women

For some mothers and mothers-to-be, juggling college courses and parenting is no easy feat. Balancing day care with libraries and textbooks with children's books is a reality many mothers face that can quickly become overwhelming. Financially, the strain is enormous. But the good news is that there is help available.

Here's a list of scholarships for women to take advantage of, investing in themselves to create a better and safer future for their children.

Each year, hundreds of scholarships go unused simply because no one applied for it. There's truly nothing to lose - except the possibility of receiving free money. Good luck and happy scholarship hunting!

BEFORE YOU START, REMEMBER:

One eligibility requirement for most scholarships listed below is that you must qualify financially.

Most often, this requires you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Do this with your previous year's tax return and complete the FAFSA every year in February.

Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation

As the force behind Title IX, the legislation bringing gender equality to higher education, Patsy Takemoto Mink's legacy lives on in all women that walk across the graduation stage.

Available to: Any woman with minor children, enrolled in a training program (including GED) or pursuing a degree. The program must be accredited and you must qualify financially.

What does it mean to qualify financially? Your family income must meet the financial criteria found on the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation award application page.

Tell me more: Hear a heart-wrenching story of a 2009 scholarship recipient that went from sleeping in mall bathrooms to earning her degree.

Deadline: August 1

Capture the Dream Single Parent Scholarship

Available to: Single parents and minority students who are California residents and are either graduating from high school or are full-time undergraduate students at a two- or four-year college or university.

Selection criteria:

Financial need
Leadership history
Community service record
Professional recommendations
Academic performance

Application information: Capture the Dream Single Parent Scholarship aims to thwart the obstacle of soaring tuition costs for single parents and minority students. Applications can be submitted by the deadline found on the Apply Now page.

Deadline: July 15

Illinois Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs

Long name, great scholarship. The IOMOTC Scholarship is available to any Illinois resident with multiples (twins, triplets and so on). Students apply for a $100 scholarship and also a $300 scholarship.

Each applicant must:

Have financial need
Be involved in an accredited university or GED program
Receive a C or better in all coursework
Be a resident of Illinois

Deadline: August 31

Women's Opportunity Awards

Each year more than $1.5 million in scholarships are provided through cash awards to assist women who are the primary supporters for their families. These scholarships give these women the resources they need to improve their skills and education, thereby improving their career opportunities.

Applicants must first determine their eligibility for the women's opportunity awards.

Each applicant must:

Have financial need
Be enrolled in or accepted to an accredited program (undergraduate)
Reside in one of the member countries found on the eligibility page
Complete a scholarship application

What should I expect from the process? Hear from past recipients and meet some finalists as they tell their stories.

Deadline: December 1

Get full details on how to apply for the Women's Opportunity Awards.

American Association of University Women Scholarship (AAUW)

The AAUW offers an array of scholarships for women in select states. There is also a great fellowship and grant program for women seeking career advancement both in the United States and internationally.

What can I do today? Have a good understanding of your career path as the grant committee will want to hear about your goals and timelines. If you have a great story of breaking gender barriers or have a project in the works, delve into the AAUW awards.

Apply for scholarships if: The scholarship section has many scholarships with many different requirements. Find the one corresponding to your geographic location.

Deadline: December 15

Learn more: http://www.aauw.org

Minnesota State University Mary Jane Young Scholarship

Mary Jane Young put herself through college doing housekeeping and kitchen labor. After her death in 1989, her legacy lives on through this scholarship for non-traditional women attending the University of Minnesota.

Eligible for scholarship if:

You are a single mother over the age of 25 (there are exceptions for mothers that are married and meet the financial need requirements and for those who have delayed entry to college to raise a family)
You are a full-time undergraduate student pursuing any major while attending Minnesota State University
You are re-entering college (applicants must have completed at least 30 semester credits or transfer credits)

Is there anything else I need to know? Yes. Consider the Coplan Donohue Single Parent Scholarship as well. Similar eligibility requirements exist for this. Read the requirements and complete the scholarship application by the deadline of April 25.

Deadline: April 25

APS Education Foundation

Although this award is specific to Aurora Public Schools in Colorado, this scholarship can provide amazing assistance to the right individual.

Available to students who: Graduate from an Aurora Public School and are teen parents. One would hope that if you are a teen parent in Aurora Public Schools in Colorado and are set to graduate, your guidance counselors have been prepping you for this great opportunity for a $500 scholarship! Download the application here.

Deadline: March 29

Hero's Fund for Single Parents

A hero can be defined many different ways. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire defines a hero as a single parent returning to school, which might require more time and energy than being an actual comic book super hero.

Apply today: Single parent applicants hoping to attend UW-Eau Claire can put this on the top of their to-do-lists.

Apply if: You are a single parent and have applied to UW-Eau Claire, have been admitted to the college, and have financial need. Complete the online application and submit the complete copy by the date on the website. There are also merit-based scholarships (based on GPA) available to single parents once enrolled at the college.

Deadline: April 15

Southern California Mothers of Twins Clubs

Another long name, another great scholarship. Unfortunately, this great opportunity is only available to residents who live in Southern California or Clark County, NV.

Each applicant must:

Be either a senior in high school with aspirations to attend college or vocational school OR a student currently attending college or trade school
Be a mother of multiples

Deadline: February 1

Learn more about the Southern California Mothers of Twins Clubs.

Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship

The Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund seeks to provide support to low income women across the nation who are 35 and older in order to help them secure employment and break the cycle of poverty.

Who is eligible?

Women age 35 or older
Students pursuing technical or vocational education, associate's degrees, or first bachelor's degrees
Low-income students (qualify financially)
US citizens

Deadline: The application cycle opens November 1. Learn more about the income guidelines and qualifications.

Still have questions? Check out the Jeannette Rankin Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions page.