Top 15 Scholarships for Adults returning to College
You will be surprised to find Scholarships for adults returning to college. Applying to college and figuring out how to pay for it is a rite of passage for high school seniors. Safe to assume that it might be worse for adults.
Adults don’t have a guidance counselor to help them with FAFSA. More adults than ever are returning to college to get their bachelor’s or master’s degrees and advance their careers.
There are several grants and scholarships for adults returning to college than you can imagine.
Be Prepared
Preparation can help you improve your chances of qualifying for a college grant. Several public and private colleges would be keen to know about you. Your financial position, personal goals, and academic background.
If you are married, you will also want to have all this information for your spouse, as well. You would need to have either your previous year’s tax returns or W-2 forms from your employers.
You will be asked to report both your taxed and non-taxed income. Your college is looking forward to seeing your application telling them about your qualifications and personal background.
The more they know the more secure they feel about enrolling you in their college.
Top 15 Scholarships for Adults returning to College
There are several scholarships for adults returning to college. scholarship providers recognize students with the potential to complete their college to get a degree and offer scholarships specifically to such students because returning to school is an accomplishment in and of itself.
It’s necessary to keep in mind the eligibility criteria for some scholarships in terms of age.
Many of them don’t allow a certain age group but they are still willing to take non-traditional students.
Let’s look at the list of scholarship for you:
AfterCollege Succurro Scholarship
Enter to win this $500 scholarship by completing a free profile on the AfterCollege website. You must have a 2.5 GPA and enrolled in an accredited, degree-seeking program. Applicants must submit a 200-word, “resume-style” personal statement highlighting their goals.
Official Website - AfterCollege
Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarships
Applicants don’t need to be members of their school’s ASL chapter, but they must submit their applications to their chapter counselor for review. You must be enrolled in an associate’s or bachelor’s program and have completed 24 semester hours of coursework with at least a 3.2 GPA.
Official website - Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarship
College JumpStart Scholarship
Applicants must submit a 250-word personal statement based on one of a handful of required prompts. You should be enrolled in a two- or four-year college or a vocational school, or plan to enroll in the next 12 months.
It is open to non-traditional students and provides them 1000$ for their scholarship.
Official Website - College JumpStart Scholarship
Courage to Grow Scholarship
Any college student with at least a 2.5 GPA may apply for this $500 scholarship that recognizes one winner each month. Applicants must explain why they deserve the scholarship in 250 words or less. The award is sent directly to the winner’s school.
Official Website - Courage to Grow Scholarship
HotelPlanner Scholarship
Military vets and their families pursuing a degree related to technology may apply for one of these $1,000 scholarships from HotelPlanner. Applicants are required to submit a 500-word article. In which they are describing how their military experience sparked their interest in technology, what they plan to achieve with their degree, and their financial need.
Official Website - HotelPlanner
Executive Women International ASIST Scholarship
It offers the Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) scholarship to women and men looking to improve their economic outlook through education. It requires applicants to apply through their school’s chapter. Qualified applicants move to a national round where EWI awards 13 scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.
Official Website - Executive Women International ASSIST
Imagine America Adult College Grants
It allows Nontraditional students already enrolled in an eligible Adult Skills Education Program (ASEP) to apply for a $1,000 award from the Imagine America Foundation. Interested students must complete the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) Student Success Assessment before submitting their application.
Official Website - Imagine America Foundation
Niche “No Essay” Sweepstakes
Set up a free Niche account to enter these monthly sweepstakes with a $2,000 cash prize. If you’re a U.S. resident enrolled in college or plan to enroll in the next year, you’re eligible!
Official website - Niche
Return 2 College Scholarship Program
Any student who is 17 or above can apply for this scholarship. The applicant must be enrolled or be starting his/her college next year to win this 1000$ scholarship. You must submit a three-sentence essay that explains why you are getting your degree. If three sentences don’t seem like enough, no worries — you can submit as many entries as you wish.
Official Website - Return2College
Scholarship Detective Launch Scholarship
The applicant must explain how they will be utilizing scholarship money in 140 words to secure this 1000$ scholarship!
Official Website - Scholarship Detect active
SuperCollege Scholarship
Any student pursuing higher education or planning to start may enter this annual random drawing for $1,000 — only incomplete applications will be disqualified.
Official Website - SuperCollege
Unigo $10K Scholarship
Applicants must write a 250-word essay on the following topic: Imagine a historical figure is brought back to life. Who is it? What’s their favorite mobile app? They can earn a scholarship up to 10,000$!
You will come across several scholarships on their website.
Official Website - Unigo
Walmart Associate Scholarship
Walmart associates have until Nov. 30, 2020, to apply for the last remaining scholarships available to them and their dependents. Replacing those awards is the Live Better U program, which allows you to earn one of the 40-plus associate and bachelor degree programs for $1 a day.
Official Website - Walmart Associate
Society of Women Engineers Scholarship
Nontraditional students and re-entering students who have been out of school for a minimum of two years prior to the beginning of the current course of study can apply.
The scholarship is available to full- and part-time students entering any year, including graduate school.
Official Website - Society of Women Engineers
Can adults get financial aid for college?
Yes! There is absolutely no age-limit to federal aid. Almost everyone is eligible for some type of federal student aid.
The adult student still needs to complete the FAFSA form, and make sure not to miss any deadlines, just like any other student. Your first important step should be to fill out your FAFSA form.
We can’t stress this enough that your FAFSA application is the sole key to several federal aids that will help you to get financial aid for your college’s tuition fees.
As far as federal student aid is concerned, the steps are pretty much the same for adults as for younger students.
You will be amazed to find out several scholarships are available for you.
So fill your FAFSA application as soon as possible if you are planning to get back into your academic career!
Coverage and Limitations
Before accepting grants or scholarships make sure you get to know about them thoroughly. Most grants would only cover your tuition fees.
There is an outlined qualified expense that you should keep in mind or otherwise you might face problems financially.
Check each grant not only for what they cover but also if they expect documentation of the covered expenses.
So avoid these rude surprises and your documents properly before coming across any unwanted instance.
What Not To Do
Be very careful with whom and how much you pay for information about grants and loans.
The Web can give you a false sense of security when ordering catalogs, grant and scholarship searches, or other services.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that college grant scams sound very similar in their advertising.
Be careful to not fall for these scams that are generally too good to be true before you lose any penny. The FTC even lists organizations that have been identified as scams.
Conclusions
There will be several challenges before you including funding for your education. Don’t let these obstacles put you down. Deciding to complete your education is a big step in itself.
A college education, once achieved is something that no one can ever take away from you. It is a permanent asset to your life. Look for numerous opportunities in your way and make the best out of them.
