Many scholarships are intended for recent high school graduates, but a lot of these scholarships or grants can be for anyone regardless of age. Today we are going to learn about the best options for scholarships for adults over 30, so you can continue your education.
Is there any age limit to receive financial aid for your studies?
There is no age limit to receive federal financial aid, including both federal grants and student loans. If you are seeking scholarships for adults over 30, you must complete a free FAFSA application, and renew it each year.
However, there are also a number of private scholarships and grants that do not require applicants to be of a certain age. Some scholarships offer grants specifically for teenagers or high school seniors. But, there are also many organizations that only require enrollment in a higher education program.
There are also other grants that are specifically designed for older or returning students. Regardless of which scholarship you want to apply for, it’s best to complete the FAFSA so you can see how much federal financial aid you can get.
Scholarships for adults over 30 to return to college
Scholarships are awarded based on merit, while grants are based on need. Many private companies and other organizations offer different scholarships for you to finance your studies. Among the options you can find for students over 30 years old are:
Ford Opportunity Program
This is a scholarship that is specifically aimed at parents of any age or students over 25 years of age. For this, you must be pursuing a degree or bachelor’s degree, and the expected family contribution cannot exceed $10,000.
This is an award that will help cover 90% of the cost of attendance and is valid only for students in Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. Normally 96 of these scholarships are awarded annually and are renewable.
Return2College
This is a scholarship for which anyone who is 17 years of age or older may apply. For this scholarship, you must plan to enroll in the following school year, and the award you can get is $1,000. This scholarship does not have a maximum age to apply, and you only need to complete a form in which you will indicate why you are earning your degree in three sentences.
JumpStart
It is a college scholarship that is based on student merit and achievement and offers an annual award of $1,000. The main requirement is that you are committed to going to school and that you can express your goals of obtaining a higher education.
Your application is very simple, just fill out a form to explain in 250 words the educational objectives you have.
Female Executives International Adult Female Students in Transition School or ASIST
This is a scholarship awarded to adult students who are going through a period of physical, social, or economic transition. Applicants must be pursuing a certificate program or an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree.
Awards under this scholarship range from $2,000 to $10,000, for which a local application must be submitted.
Boomer Benefits
This scholarship is intended for adults 50 years of age and older, offering two awards of $2,500 per year. To apply for this scholarship you will need a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and to be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university.
Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible. A statement describing professional goals and community service experience must be included with the scholarship application.
Jeannette Rankin National Scholarship
This is a scholarship specifically for women or non-binary students who are 35 years of age or older and have low incomes. To apply you must be a student at a four-year institution or technical school. The award is renewable for up to five years and provides unrestricted non-tuition funding.
Imagine America Adult Skills Education Program
To qualify for this program you must be at least 19 years of age, and there is no maximum age for application. For this scholarship, you must be enrolled in an eligible career or vocational training program. This scholarship can be awarded up to $1,000.
Federal Grants
Federal grants such as the Pell Grant, or the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant are available. These grants are available to all students regardless of age. With the Pell Grant, you can get up to a maximum of $6,895, while with the FSEOG you can have up to $4,000 annually.
Both scholarships are based on financial need, and to be considered for either scholarship you must complete the FAFSA.
These are some of the scholarships for students over 30 that you can apply for, and with which you will be able to continue your studies when you are older.
REFERENCES
- Zinn, D. (2023, February 8). 11 Scholarships And Grants For Adults Going Back To School. Forbes Advisor. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/scholarships-for-adults/
- Team, G. (2023, May 8). 15 Scholarships For Adults Over 30 (2024) – GenThirty. GenThirty. https://genthirty.com/scholarship-for-adults-over-30/