Every student is concerned about how they will source their college education, and there is no exception for non-traditional students. As per the Center for Economic and Postsecondary Success, approximately 40% of the existing undergrad students across the US universities and colleges are non-traditional students.
Many students postpone their education after high school and enter the workforce to take up jobs. Later onwards, they resume their studies for better professional opportunities or to widen their basic knowledge.
In other cases, the students’ college might have been interrupted because of financial difficulties or growing families. Now, they might want to finish what they left midway.
Returning and non-traditional students feel left out in the scholarship programs. However, many scholarship programs are dedicated solely to assist such students in accomplishing their lost goals. Luckily, this guide exclusively focuses on the plenty of grants and scholarships for non-traditional students to aid them in their college education and cover financial expenses.
General Scholarships for Non-traditional Students
Unlike regular students, non-traditional students do not fit into the category of 18 to 24-year old students who directly go to college once they complete their high-school. Many adult students are returning to college because the growing demands of cutthroat marketplaces have made university education integral for growth across many professions.
Here are some general scholarships backed by professional universities, associations, and advocacy groups. These scholarship opportunities for non-traditional students will give returning and new students a rough idea of what is offered to those college-going students who fit in a different group.
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American Legion Auxiliary Non-traditional Student Scholarship
This scholarship grants a monetary award of $1000 to all the AL Auxiliary, American Legion, or Sons of The American Legion members. It is available to adult students who are going to college/university for the first time or are reverting back to finish their interrupted studies.
For this, the student must be registered in an accredited professional school or a 2- or 4-year college program.
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Association for Non-traditional Students in Higher Education
This scholarship is specifically bestowed to encourage and support adult students turning to college to complete their degree programs. This association governs 3 scholarship programs, namely:
- The Contributors Scholarship.
- The Marius “Gabe” Degabriel Scholarship.
- The Kazimour Scholarship.
The grant money will vary based on the non-traditional students’ academic courses, achievements, and financial requirements.
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Adult Students in Scholastic Transition Scholarship
The Executive Women International supports the ASIST scholarship. It grants it to all the adult-age learners who are reverting back to college/university to acquire further educational training and enhance their career opportunities.
The applicants can comprise displaced homemakers, single parents, or first-time entrants in the labor force. Over 150 scholarships worth $1000-2000 are granted every year.
➔ READ MORE: A Constructive Guide on How to Start a Scholarship Essay.
Scholarships for Non-Traditional Single Parents
A significant number of non-traditional students are made up of single parents. In attempts to make their own lives and their children’s lives better, these single parents often revert back to college to take some form of educational training that can make them stand out in a packed workplace.
Here are some professional corporations, associations, and government-sponsored scholarships for single parents who wish to upgrade their family’s future prospects.
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George Snow Scholarship Fund
This program offers impressive scholarships for single parents who go back to college and take up courses to help them progress ahead in their careers. They are regional scholarships for the Broward and Palm Beach counties in Florida. The scholarship amount varies based on the fund availability and non-traditional students’ financial status.
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Ford Opportunity Program
This program is specifically designed to help single parents pursue their education and get a degree. As parents + students, the responsibilities are endless. This scholarship award covers approximately 90% of the applicants’ unmet academic expenses.
It is calculated on the institute’s cost of attendance (fees, room, board, tuition, personal expenses, etc.). Almost fifty renewable scholarships are granted to students from Siskiyou and Oregon Counties in California.
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Frank Kennedy Vernoy Scholarship
This scholarship program grants up to $1,000 to non-traditional students who are single parents and have attended Westminster College for at least half of the course duration before leaving for whatsoever reasons. These students must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA to win the scholarship prize.
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Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship
This program offers scholarship aid for single parents who are attending colleges in Arkansas. This program’s eligibility criteria suggests that single parents must have at least 50% of their child’s physical custody, have a GED or high school diploma, and be below the central poverty point.
The scholarship amount is based on the applicants’ financial needs.
Scholarships for Non-Traditional Women
Amongst the non-traditional students are also women who give up everything and put their education and careers on hold to fulfill the complicated tasks of raising their families. The following scholarship programs are sponsored exclusively by professional corporations, associations, and women’s advocacy groups.
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Women with Promise Scholarship Program
This program allows the women of North Texas to start afresh or restart their educational journey. As per the criteria, women should be sponsored by a non-profit organization.
This program prioritizes women and targets funds to those going through a financial crisis and could use them to complete their education. With this financial aid, they can enroll themselves in college and enhance skills for better career opportunities in the future.
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Jeanette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund
These scholarship funds are allocated to low-income women who are 35 years or above and working in the corporate world to secure a career the get rid of poverty. It is named after Jeanette Ranking, the first woman who got elected in the US Congress. Since then, this program has been helping low-income women earners accomplish their academic goals.
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Judy Kay Wendland-Young Scholarship
This program grants up to $10,000 to women aged 35 years or older who have previously been unable to study at an accredited institution offering bachelor’s degrees. To be eligible, they must now be registered as 1st-year students in a 4-year undergraduate program from an accredited university in the US and demonstrate financial requirements.