9 Scholarships For Moms Going Back to School 2025

Women who don't finish their degrees before having children have a significantly harder time completing their higher education. Studies show that 61% of women who have children in community college don't finish their degree. Only 40% of mothers are able to complete a degree within six years, and that number drops to 28% for single mothers.

To help combat these statistics, many organizations offer college scholarships for women finishing their degree. These are meant to help relieve the financial burden on women wanting to complete their education. Keep reading to learn more about scholarships for moms returning to school.

Scholarships for Moms Returning to School

There are several scholarships for moms going back to school that moms can use to help them pay for their higher education. We've highlighted scholarships that are great for stay-at-home moms, working moms, and single moms below.

Note that many individual states and schools have scholarships geared toward women; do a scholarship search for options in your area or at your college or university to find additional options.

Scholarships for Stay-at-Home Moms Returning to School

Some scholarships are specifically geared toward women who are stay-at-home moms. These are usually for women who don't have significant work experience and are looking to find a career outside the home.

Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation Scholarship

Patsy Takemoto Mink was an American attorney and politician from Hawaii. Elected in 1965, she was the first woman of color and first Asian-American woman elected to Congress. The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation continues her commitment to providing educational access for low-income women, especially mothers.

Every year, the foundation offers five scholarships to mothers with minor children who are pursuing their first postsecondary degree at an accredited not-for-profit institution. Awardees are selected based on multiple criteria, including financial need, personal circumstances, and educational goals.

Award Amount: $5,000

Deadline: TBD for 2025, information for the 2025-26 application will be posted in May of 2025.

Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund

Jeannette Rankin became the first woman to hold federal office in the U.S. when she was elected to the House of Representatives in 1916. She is the only woman ever elected to Congress from Montana.

The scholarships offered through the Jeannette Rankin Foundation are for students who identify as women, nonbinary, or Two-Spirit, and demonstrate financial need. Three scholarships are available: the National Grant, Emerge Grant, and Tribal Scholar Grant. Eligibility requirements vary for each program.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: TBD for 2025-26

ANSWER Scholarship

The ANSWER Scholarship provides college scholarships, mentoring, and professional development to moms in Mecklenburg and 11 surrounding counties in the Carolinas. Applicants can be married or single, but need to be the primary caregiver to at least one school-age child.

Scholarship recipients are provided with a mentor for the duration of the scholarship. They're also required to attend professional and personal development workshops held one Saturday a month during September, October, November, January, February, and March.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: March 1 of each year

Mom to Scholar Scholarship for Mothers

The Mom to Scholar Scholarship for Mothers is a scholarship opportunity offered by Scholarships360. It's open to mothers who want to begin or resume their college education.

Applicants must be mothers over the age of 35 and must be U.S. citizens. An essay is required for this application.

Award Amount: $1,000

Deadline: January 31, 2026

Scholarships for Working Moms

Scholarships for working moms are primarily for moms who are trying to complete their education while also working and taking care of their families. You'll find some college scholarships for moms going back to school below.

Women's Independence Scholarship Program (WISP)

The Women's Independence Scholarship Program (WISP) is for women who are survivors of intimate partner abuse. To qualify, applicants must have been physically separated from their abusers for at least one year and sought services from a nonprofit agency that provides services to survivors of intimate partner abuse for a minimum of six consecutive months.

Scholarship awards for tuition, books, and fees are paid directly to the educational institution. Charitable adjunct assistance awards for education-related living expenses that would otherwise be financial barriers to education are also available.

Award Amount: Up to $2,000

Deadline: Applications are open twice a year, from January 1 through March 1 and from September 1 to November 1

Ford Opportunity Scholars Program

The Ford Opportunity Scholars Program is an undergraduate scholarship available to parents of any age who have significant barriers to completing their higher education. It's available to residents of Oregon or Siskiyou County, CA.

There is no minimum GPA requirement to apply, but academic potential is a consideration for the award, as are community service, work ethic, and mindset.

Award Amount: Up to $40,000 per year

Deadline: TBD for the 2025-26 school year

Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards

Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization for women that works to empower women and girls. Its Live Your Dream Awards offers scholarships for women who provide the primary financial support for their families.

Live Your Dream Awards recipients may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare, tuition and transportation. Over half of our Live Your Dream Awards recipients are survivors of domestic violence, trafficking or sexual assault.

Award Amount: Up to $16,000

Deadline: November 15

Scholarships for Single Moms

Scholarships for single moms help single parents who are raising their kids on their own while trying to go to school. We've listed a few scholarships specifically for single moms and parents below.

Keep in mind that many individual colleges offer scholarships and support services for single parents, so check with your institution to see what you may qualify for.

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarships

The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund offers financial assistance and support to single parents across the state of Arkansas. There are a few requirements for this scholarship: students must be single and have at least 50% physical custody of their dependent children.

Applicants must also have not previously earned a bachelor's degree, have a minimum 2.0 GPA, and be attending an approved school or training program. Applications are open three times a year.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: September 1 for the fall 2025 semester

Oklahoma Single Parent Scholarship

The Oklahoma Single Parent Scholarship Program helps low-income single parents complete their college education. To qualify, you must be a resident of Oklahoma and attending a four-year college, community college, or trade school located in Cleveland, Grady, Lokan, Oklahoma, or Payne County.

You also must have completed at least one semester of college, be attending full-time, and have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Additionally, you must be the custodial parent of at least one minor child in a single-parent household. Applications are open twice a year.

Award Amount: $1,200

Deadline: June 15 for the fall 2025 semester

Grants for Moms Going Back to School

Both government grants and private grants are available for moms going back to school. Grants, like scholarships, are a type of financial assistance that doesn't require repayment. They're basically free money, and the more grants and scholarships you can get, the less you have to take out in student loans.

All college students should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This allows you to qualify for federal grants, like the Pell Grant, which currently offers up to $7,395 per student per year.

Additionally, many states offer grant programs for eligible students, including California, Colorado, New York, and Minnesota. These aren't specifically for moms but are instead need-based. Additionally, some states, like Arkansas and Oklahoma, offer financial aid for mothers going back to school.

You can also find grants through private organizations, like the American Association of University Women. The AAUW offers grants worth up to $20,000 for women continuing their education.

Find an Affordable College Degree

Start your journey toward your dream career by exploring the affordable degree programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools today to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and scholarships for mothers.