Financial aid for single mothers returning to school is indeed a noble and appreciable initiative. This article has some useful information about different kinds of financial aid available for them. Read on to know more…
We all know how difficult single parenting can be. It is not only physically exhausting, but also can put a lot of stress on the finances of a family. Imagine a mother working for eight to ten hours a day, then doing the household chores like cooking and cleaning and taking care of small children. Thus, it is a very tough and fast life for single mothers, and this leaves for them very little time for themselves. So, if such a woman is interested in continuing education, what should she do? The financial aid for single mothers provided in the form of grants and scholarships can help them to a great extent to achieve their educational goals and targets.
Programs
The Federal Pell Grant for single mothers has become very popular because of its great offerings. With financial aid received from this grant, single women with kids can complete their degree education from a reputed educational institution. Once you are declared eligible for this grant, you will receive regular checks to finance your study requirements. The Obama College Grants for Moms has received a very good response from single mothers. This program is also famous by the name ‘Moms Return to School’ and offers grant money up to $10,000.
Among other college grants, the Teach Grant is well-known. With the help of this unique grant, single mothers can complete their education and teach in elementary as well as secondary schools. If you are an undergraduate in need of money for educational purposes, then the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) would be a great choice for you. The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) can be helpful for those single mothers who have already enrolled themselves in school, and are facing shortage of cash to continue their education. You can also opt for a loan like the Federal Perkins Loans irrespective of whether you want to attend the school part-time or full-time.
Financial aid for single mothers returning to school is also provided in the forms of scholarships. It is necessary to understand that these scholarships are awarded on merit basis and at most places you will have to clear personal interview rounds and prove your worth. One of the finest scholarships is the Project Working Mom scholarship which takes care of the tuition fees and study material expenses. The Women’s Independence Scholarship Program (WISP), Raise the Nation Foundation and Denny’s Single Parent Student Scholarship are also ideal ones for single moms interested in higher education courses. Among the funds, there are the ROSE fund and Single Mothers Scholarship Fund which can be very beneficial. The Jeannette Rankin Foundation can help females with a less income get good quality education in reputed schools.
Single mothers who have children younger than nineteen years of age can take advantage of the Temporary Assistance To Needy Families (TANF) program floated by the United States government. Then, there is the Individual Responsibility Plan (IRP) program of the duration of sixty months which helps these women to become financially independent. You can benefit from this scheme, only if your yearly income is less than the amount declared by the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program can help single mothers receive food coupons to buy nutrition rich foods for their children.
You should keep a tab on eligibility criteria and prerequisites to get government grant and scholarships and apply before the declared date. By doing so, you will not only improve your educational qualifications, but also your standard of living by getting well paid job after course competition.