Financial Aid For Single Mothers In College

Q: Are there any special programs available that offer financial aid for single mothers to help them pay for college?

A: There are many single mothers out there who are interested in obtaining a college education. The good news is that, likely you are eligible for all of the federal and state financial aid that any other college student would be eligible for, but the even better news is that often times you can find special college financial aid programs specifically for single mothers. As always, the very first thing you will want to do is complete a FAFSA. The FAFSA is the application required to qualify for any and all federal financial, as well as most state financial aid for college. After you have completed a FAFSA, take some time to speak with your college financial aid advisor, and research all of the organizations that are willing to provide college financial aid to single mothers, such as the examples we have listed below:

The Women’s Opportunity Awards
The organization’s major project is the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards, which assists women by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills and job prospects. You can learn more about The Women’s Opportunity Awards at www.soroptimist.org.

Sunshine Lady Foundation
A primary focus of the Foundation is to continue, develop and enhance efforts to end domestic violence. Additional funding priorities of the Foundation include primary education, scholarships and families in crisis. To determine if you qualify, visit the Sunshine Lady Foundation at www.sunshinelady.org.

Institutional Grants
Some colleges and universities will offer grants to qualifying students who are currently enrolled at the school. These can be anything from money awards to funds for required college items, such as computers.