College Grants For Single Moms | Educational Grants

American colleges and universities can be pricey for all students, especially parents. If you're a single mom, trying to balance your financial situation and childcare can make it feel impossible to earn a degree � but it's possible with various forms of financial aid.

Many states and colleges offer grant programs to help students with financial needs, including single mothers, cover the cost of their degrees. Keep reading to discover some college grants for single moms.

College Grants for Single Mothers

Grants are very similar to scholarships, in that they are both a type of gift aid. However, grants are given based on financial need, while scholarships for single moms are usually, but not often, merit-based. Grants are also typically offered by the government or by public schools, while scholarships may be offered by private entities.

There are no grant programs specifically for single mothers, but there are many grants that can help single mothers pay for college. We've highlighted several below.

1. Federal Pell Grants

Federal Pell Grants are the most common type of college grant in the country. These are grants offered to low-income students based on financial need as determined by the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA).

The current maximum amount students can receive from the Federal Pell Grant per year is $7,395. The amount you receive depends not only on your financial need, but on the cost of your program, whether you attend full-time or part-time, and whether you attend for the whole year or just a term.

2. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is another grant offered by the federal government. The award amount ranges between $100 and $4,000 per year and is meant for college students with the greatest financial need.

Colleges and universities must opt into this program, and they have a certain amount of funding they can use toward it. Your school will determine your eligibility for this program.

3. Arizona Promise Program

The Arizona Promise Program guarantees coverage of all tuition and fees for qualifying students. This is a last-dollar program, which means it covers whatever costs are left after the Pell Grant and any other grants and scholarships are applied.

The eligibility requirements for this program include:

• must be an Arizona resident
• must be a high school graduate with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
• must fill out the FAFSA
• must qualify for the Pell Grant

Qualifying students can access this need-based grant at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, or the University of Arizona.

4. M.J. Foster Promise Program

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Louisiana has the highest number of single mothers in the country. Low-income women who need help paying for their higher education can look into the M.J. Foster Promise Program.

This program provides financial assistance to eligible students who enroll in a qualified program at a two-year public college like a community college or a university. These include Lousiana's Community and Technical Colleges, Lousiana State University Eunice, and Southern University at Shreveport.

This program is for undergraduate students studying construction, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, and transportation and warehousing. Students must apply with an additional application; this assistance program is not automatically given based on your FAFSA results.

5. NC Promise

Through the NC Promise, qualifying students at Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and Western Carolina University can reduce their tuition to just $500 per semester. This financial support can significantly reduce the need for student loans.

Students who prefer to receive their college education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have a separate option: The Tar Heel Guarantee. This program provides grant and scholarship funds to students with a family income of less than $80,000 a year, completely covering their tuition costs after federal aid like the Pell Grant. There is no separate application for this, students just need to fill out the FAFSA.

6. New Jersey College Promise

The New Jersey College Promise is a two-part program that helps postsecondary students pay for their tuition. The first part is the Community College Opportunity Grant.

In this program, New Jersey residents with an adjusted gross income of less than $65,000 will pay no tuition costs, while those with an income between $65,001 and $100,000 pay a reduced rate. Students can use this financial aid at one of New Jersey's community colleges.

The second part is the Garden State Garden State Guarantee, which students can use at New Jersey public four-year institutions during their third and fourth years of study. Students with an AGI of $65,000 or less will pay no tuition costs, while those with an AGI of $65,001-$80,000 pay no more than $7,500 per academic year, and those with an AGI of $80,001-$100,000 pay no more than $10,000 per academic year.

7. North Star Promise

Students in Minnesota whose families have an AGI below $80,000 can attend any public college or university in the state for free. The North Star Promise is another last-dollar program, helping with the amount that isn't covered by other grants and scholarships.

This program is for undergraduate students who do not already have a bachelor's degree, and students can use this financial assistance at all Minnesota State colleges and universities, University of Minnesota campuses, and all tribal colleges in the state. Eligibility is determined by FAFSA; there is no additional application required.

8. U.C. Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan

The U.C. Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan ensures that California residents with a family income of $80,000 or less do not have to pay any tuition and fees out of pocket if they attend a University of California system school. The university will provide college scholarships and grants to cover whatever costs are remaining after federal aid.

Students must be in an undergraduate program, and qualify based on their FAFSA results. Additional aid is available to eligible students to help them pay for other educational expenses, like textbooks and housing.

9. Washington College Grant

Single mothers in Washington State may qualify for the Washington College Grant, which allows them to go to college or complete a training or apprenticeship program for free or at a reduced cost. Students whose families earn less than $78,500 per year may qualify for free tuition, while those earning up to $120,500 per year may get other amounts of aid.

This is a broad program and students can attend full-time or part-time to qualify. Students can apply for this program by filling out their FAFSA.

10. Wisconsin Tuition Promise

The Wisconsin Tuition Promise is a program that the University of Wisconsin System offers to help students pay for their tuition. It covers tuition costs for Wisconsin residents whose families make less than $55,000 per year.

At UW-Milwaukee, this is called the Milwaukee Tuition Promise and is available to students whose families earn up to $62,000 per year. At UW-Madison, it's called Bucky's Tuition Promise, and students may qualify if their families earn less than $65,000 per year.

Additionally, UW-Madison offers returning adult and single-parent scholarships. There are a few ways to qualify, including being the single parent of at least one dependent child.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Application Process

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the U.S. Department of Education's application for federal student aid. To fill out the application, you'll need to:

• create an account at StudentAid.gov
• gather your financial and personal information, including Social Security numbers for your dependent children and records of child support payments
• put all the information into the FAFSA form
• sign and submit the FAFSA

Once you've submitted your application, you can track its status through your StudentAid.gov account.

FAQs About Financial Aid for Single Moms

Below, we've answered a few frequently asked questions about financial aid for single moms.

How Can a Single Parent Pay for College?

Utilizing need-based grants is a great way for a single parent to pay for college, but there are also many scholarship programs available to single parents. Use tools like the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop scholarship search tool to find scholarships and information about the application process.

How Can I Apply for Grants for Single Mothers Online?

The easiest way to apply for grants is by filling out the FAFSA online at StudentAid.gov. Grants that require additional steps beyond FAFSA usually have online applications on their websites.

What Other Financial Aid Is Available for Single Mothers Attending College?

As mentioned above, there are many scholarships available to single mothers. You can also look for financial aid options through your college or university, and if needed, apply for student loans.

Explore Online Bachelor's Degree Programs Offering Financial Assistance

Find affordable online bachelor's degree programs by exploring the options featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools today to learn more about their financial aid options.