Raising your children and managing your household on your own is hard enough. It becomes more of a challenge when you add to this the challenge of going back to college to earn for yourself a bachelor’s degree in your chosen field. But, there is no other way you can improve your income earning potential than equipping yourself with a degree. Given the importance, any single mother should try to get college money for single mothers.
If you are a struggling single mother, you have a great number of options in institutions offering college scholarship for single mothers. With the help of these institutions and foundations, you can successfully add to your educational qualifications in order to make you eligible for jobs with better pay. Soon, you will not only be able to meet the basic necessities of raising your children but also their other needs as well. Do an Internet search to find out what your options are in terms of college scholarships offered only for single mothers. The availability of these scholarships depend on where you are located and whether you meet the eligibility requirements or not.
The first step you should take when looking for college scholarships for single mothers is to apply for a Federal Pell Grant. Such an application for federal financial aid is often a pre-requisite to applying for college scholarships for single mothers. A Federal Pell Grant is not a loan and thus, need not be repaid. These grants are actually a federal financial aid facility that helps students who want to earn their bachelor’s degree. Grants for college for single mothers are a good first step.
Last year, the maximum amount disbursed to a student under the Federal Pell Grant amounted to about $5,000. This grant money cap could vary on a yearly basis as other factors as program funding, actual financial need of applicant, and the commitment of the student to attend either on full-time or a part-time basis.
To apply for a Federal Pell Grant, you can download the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form or request for a paper copy through the mail. This process takes some amount of time so do not dilly-dally. Find out how much time you have before you need to enroll and make your tuition payments, and file your FAFSA at the soonest time possible. There is also a need for you to secure for yourself a Personal Identification Number or PIN with the Department of Education as part of your FAFSA application. Each time you apply for a federal financial assistance, you will have to use this PIN number.
When it comes to college scholarships for single mothers, there are a lot more sources of funding other than the federal government. These scholarships could be offered on a nationwide basis or limited in the particular state where you are located.
Some of the groups that offer nationwide college scholarships for single mothers only are the Raise the Nation program, the Sunshine Lady Foundation Scholarship, the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards, and so many other private foundations and organizations. There are other private foundations that only offer college scholarships for single mothers in particular states like New England states for the R.O.S.E Scholarship Program, Wyoming for the Our Families Our Future Program, and Arkansas for the Single Parent Scholarship Program.
Some colleges and universities have their own financial assistance programs for single mothers who want to finish their degree and make them qualified for higher paying jobs that will give them more money and resources for their families’ living expenses. Try to apply for as many different money for single mothers as possible to ensure your financial success in attending college.
