College Scholarships for Older Women

In recent years, a number of specialized scholarships have been created for older women, often called nontraditional or re-entry students, who are interested in obtaining job skills and higher education.

The best resource to find possible opportunities for women is to contact their State Education Bureau or Federal Student Aid Information Center, and find out if there are any programs for their age.

Here is the list of the names of the agencies and foundations that offer grants and scholarships for older or mature women according to their age, which help them to defray the costs involved.

AAUW’s Career Development Grants

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is one of the largest fund providers for educational programs that promote women and girls. AAUW’s Career Development Grants program provide support to those women who want to re-enter the workforce, change careers or advance in their current career through obtaining higher education, participating in technical training and in professional development institutes.

Eligibility

The program is open to women who:

• are citizens or permanent residents of United States;
• hold a bachelor’s degree not honorary;
• plan to participate in courses/activities, that are required for career advancement;
• plan to enroll in any one of the following degree programs:
  • Bachelor’s or associate’s degree in a field of study which is entirely different from the previously earned bachelor’s degree field of study
  • Professional degree such as M.D., J.D., etc.
  • Certification program
  • Master’s degree
  • Technical school
• Applicants must be enrolled in a degree/program at a two- or four- year college or university in the United States that is regionally accredited or at a technical school, which must be a licensed school or accredited by the U.S. Department of education.
• Funding can be provided to distance learning programs, only when the institution offering the program appears on the list of the U.S. Department of Education’s approved online/distance learning programs;
• Previous recipients of any AAUW national grant or fellowship are not eligible to apply for the Career Development Grants program;
• AAUW boards, staff, committees, panels and current interns cannot apply for the program.
• Funding is not available for Ph.D. coursework or dissertations and prerequisite coursework.

Scholarship Benefits

Awards ranging between $2,000-$12,000, will be granted to the recipients.

• The funds can be used to cover fees, tuition, books, supplies, dependent child care and local transportation.
• The funds cannot be used for other expenses like purchase of equipment, repayment of loans, insurance, for salaries, deficits, previous expenditures, travel expenses like train fare or air fare, shelter, moving expenses, periodical fees or professional dues, tuition expenses for dependent’s education or for attending conferences or seminars.

Application Requirements

• Online application form
• A financial statement for the total grant amount the applicant has requested.
• Applicant has to provide a narrative paragraph as requested.
• The grant amount the applicant requests must fall within the range of $2,000-12,000. Requests for an amount outside the mentioned range will be disqualified.
• Applicant has to submit one letter of recommendation online. The name and the email address of the recommender must be provided online.
• A nonrefundable $35 fee is required to pay for administering the applicant’s application process. Preferable payment methods are through Visa credit card/debit card or MasterCard. Other forms of payment will not be accepted.

Contact Information

To apply for AAUW’s Career Development Grants program, visit www.act.org. For any questions, contact them here. For application information, e-mail aauw@act.org,call 319/337-1716 ext. 60 or write to the customer service center at:
AAUW Fellowships and Grants
C/O ACT, Inc.
101 ACT Dr.
Iowa City, IA 52243-9000

Do not contact AAUW office in Washington, D.C., or local branches, for application information.

EFWA’s Women in Transition (WIT) and Women in Need (WIN) Scholarships

The Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting (EFWA) encourages and inspires women to advance their career in the accounting profession. The foundation provides scholarships at graduate, undergraduate and postgraduate levels for women who are interested in pursuing their Accounting degree. The foundation sponsors Women in Transition (WIT) and Women in Need (WIN) Scholarships to those women who are the primary source of their family income and who want to pursue their Bachelor’s degree in the field of Accounting.

Eligibility

For WIT Scholarship: Women applicants, enrolled as incoming freshmen to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, are eligible to apply.

For WIN Scholarship: To be eligible, the women applicants must complete their sophomore year of academic pursuit.

Scholarship Benefits

For WIT Scholarship: An award up to $16,000 over four years will be provided to the recipient.

For WIN Scholarship: For two years, an amount of $2,000 per year will be awarded to the recipient.

Application Requirements

• Official transcripts from college and junior college
• Proof of enrollment or acceptance of enrollment
• Record of the applicant’s employment
• Volunteer activities
• Professional activities
• List of awards and honors
• A statement describing the applicant’s career and personal goals and objectives
• Tax return forms for three prior years
• Letters of references: Two personal references and two or more professional references
• A statement stating the applicant’s overall quality of work
• Financial need form
• As the scholarship checks are directed to the educational institution, complete details of the applicant’s institution must be provided, which includes the contact name, address and telephone number
• A statement stating where the applicant heard about the scholarship

The completed application materials must be returned to:
Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting
136 South Keowee Street
Dayton, Ohio 45402-2241
FAX: 937-222-5794

Contact Information

For further information and questions regarding the scholarships, contact them by calling 937-424-3391 or email info@efwa.org. To download the application form, visit www.efwa.org.

P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education (PCE)

The mission of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) is to promote women to achieve their goals by providing scholarships, loans, awards, grants and stewardship of Cottey College. P.E.O.’s Program for Continuing Education was established with an intent to support those women, who want to support their family and/or themselves, by returning to school to continue their education which has been interrupted.

Eligibility

• A P.E.O. chapter must sponsor the applicant
• Applicant must be a citizen of United States or Canada and studying in the United States or Canada
• Applicant must be a non-student for at least 24 consecutive months in her adult life
• Applicants must be enrolled in an educational program that can lead them to job advancement or employment
• Applicants must be in a position to complete their educational goals within 24 consecutive months
• The applicants must not be enrolled in a doctoral degree program such as medical, educational, clinical or law

Scholarship Benefits

• The maximum grant amount is $3,000. Based upon available funds and individual needs, a lesser amount may be awarded to the recipient.
• The grant money, which is for one time only, can be used to cover expenses like books, transportation, tuition, education-related expenses or childcare.
• The grant money cannot be used for living expenses, costs of prerequisite courses or to repay educational loans.
• Grants may be awarded for technical or academic courses.

Application Requirements

• Application form
• Eligibility form
• Letter of recommendation from P.E.O. chapter
• Chapter’s recommendation form
• Statement of expenses and income

How to Apply

A prospective applicant is identified by the local chapter and is interviewed to determine the applicant’s eligibility by the chapter’s P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education (PCE) Chairman.

To submit an application successfully, the applicants must perform the following actions:

• The applicant must view the online tutorials for the PCE application
• The local chapter PCE portal account has to be set up by the applicant in order to access the necessary forms
• All the steps outlined in the video tutorials must be completed
• Online link and instructions are sent to the applicant, once the applicant’s eligibility is established and Chapter Recommendation is completed.

Ten weeks prior to the beginning of the term, the applicants must submit the application requirements electronically. Not more than four months prior to beginning of the term, the applications will be considered. The applications will not be accepted if they are not submitted ten weeks prior to the term’s beginning.

Contact Information

For instructions to submit the application form, visit www.peointernational.org. For more details about the program, check out this link.

Society for Women Engineers (SWE) Re-entry/Non-Traditional Scholarships

The Re-entry/Non-Traditional Scholarships sponsored by the Society for Women Engineers (SWE) assist women in obtaining higher education, through which they can make re-entry into the job market as engineers. SWE offers the BK Krenzer Memorial Re-entry Scholarship, Wanda Munn Scholarship and Olive Lynn Salembier Memorial Reentry Scholarship for nontraditional female students.

BK Krenzer Memorial Re-entry Scholarship

Eligibility: To be eligible for the scholarship

• Applicant must be a woman, who has been out of school and job market for a period of at least two years.
• Applicants must be enrolled in computer science in a CSAB-accredited program at SWE-approved institution or an ABET-accredited institution or in an ABET-accredited engineering program, engineering at universities and colleges approved by SWE.
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.

An award of $2,000 will be granted to the selected candidate. Visit the SWE scholarships page and follow the mentioned instructions to apply for the scholarship.

Wanda Munn Scholarship

SWE’s Eastern Washington Section offers a minimum $1,000 scholarship every year to a nontraditional engineering female student. To be eligible,

• Applicants must be nontraditional female students, trying to re-enter the job market by obtaining higher education
• Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate engineering study at an accredited school
• Applicant must complete full-time equivalent credits for a period of at least two years at an ABET-accredited school
• Applicants must reside in the Northwestern United States, which includes Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

An award of $1,000 is given to a nontraditional female student with preference given to Eastern Washington residents. The application requirements are:

• Completed Wanda Munn Scholarship Application Form
• Official transcript of the applicant’s grades for the current and/or prior colleges
• A letter of reference from the applicant’s faculty counselor, head of engineering department or a professor
• Personal letter of reference from a person who has known the applicant for at least three years (not from the applicant’s relative or family)
• Professional letter of reference from a community/professional organization or from an employer
• A 100-to-300-word essay discussing the applicant’s career goals and how the applicant plan to obtain those goals
• Another 100-to-300-word essay describing the applicant’s major obstacle in life and how the applicant responded and faced it
• Financial information

The application form can be downloaded from www.eastwashingtonswe.org. Completed applications should be returned to the chair of the Scholarship Committee:
Sandy Brower
EWS Scholarship Chair
PO Box 364
Richland, WA 99352
Phone: 509 -375-3112 (home)
Email: embrower@aol.com

Olive Lynn Salembier Memorial Reentry Scholarship

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be non-traditional or re-entry students enrolled in any year of engineering school, which includes graduate school
• Applicant must be accepted in a bachelor’s computer science program at a school approved by ABET or must be enrolled in a bachelor’s ABET/CSAB-accredited computer science or engineering degree program at SWE-approved colleges and universities
• Upper-class applicants require a minimum GPA of 3.0/4
• At least for two years, the applicants must be out of school and workforce in the field of engineering or technology
• Applicants need not have any prior engineering education or experience

An award of $1,500 is awarded to the selected candidate. The application requirements are:

• Online application form
• A letter of reference from faculty member
• Personal letter of reference
• Financial aid contact

To download the application, visit the SWE scholarships page. For further information, email scholarships@swe.org.

Accepted Levels of Majoring For SWE Nontraditional Scholarships

• Aerospace/Aeronautical Science
• Petroleum Engineering
• Architectural Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Material Engineering
• Computer and Information Sciences
• Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
• Electrical, Electronics and Communication Engineering

Study Areas To Be Eligible For SWE’s Scholarships

• Computer science and aeronautical/aerospace
• petroleum engineering
• astronautical
• materials science
• architectural
• manufacturing
• automotive
• mechanical
• civil
• industrial
• chemical
• environmental
• computer
• electrical

Levels of Enrollment for SWE Nontraditional Scholarships

College freshman, college sophomore, college junior, college senior, Doctoral-level study and Master’s-level study.

Soroptimist’s Women’s Opportunity Awards Program

Soroptimist is an international organization for professional and businesswomen, working towards the benefit of other women and girls. The Women’s Opportunity Awards program is the women’s education project established by Soroptimist, with a mission to support those women who want to attain higher education and training in order to improve their economic status.

Eligibility

• Women applicants who are the primary source of support for their family, who are enrolled in or accepted for an undergraduate degree program or a vocational/skills training program
• Residents of Soroptimist’s member countries and territories are eligible to apply, which include United States of America, Canada, Argentina, Panama, Venezuela, Bolivia, Taiwan Province of China, Brazil, Guam, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Chile, Philippines, Colombia, Peru, Korea, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Ecuador and Japan
• Employees and members of Soroptimist are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants must not be the previous recipient of Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Award.

Scholarship Benefits

• The scholarship amount varies at the local club level.
• Soroptimist’s 28 geographic regions grant region-level awards for which the local club applicants will be eligible. Each Soroptimist region awards an amount of $5,000 to a first-place recipient. Some of the regions grant additional $3,000 awards. The 28 first–place recipients from the 28 geographic regions will be eligible to receive one of three $10,000 finalist awards.
• The cash grants can be used to cover any costs which include childcare, books and transportation.

Application Requirements

• Completed application form
• Two reference letters from members who are not related to the applicant. To fill out the reference form, click on the link at www.soroptimist.org
• Demonstration of financial need
• A 300-word essay stating the applicant’s career goals and how the applicant is planning to achieve those goals through education and/or skills training
• A 750-word essay describing why the applicant deserves the Soroptimist’s Women’s Opportunity Award

The completed application form must be mailed to the relevant Soroptimist region, where it will be forwarded to a local participating Soroptimist club. For a list of the applicable regions and the email address of those regions where the applications have to be mailed, visit www.soroptimist.org.

Contact Information

For more information regarding the eligibility for the program or the application process, contact siahq@soroptimist.org. To download the application form, click here.

Alpha Sigma Lambda (ASL)’s Scholarship for Adult Students

The Alpha Sigma Lambda Adult Education Foundation offers scholarships to encourage adult students to pursue associate and baccalaureate degrees. Throughout the U.S., ASL has over 300 chartered chapters. The scholarships are open to adult/nontraditional students matriculating in an undergraduate program at accredited colleges or universities that are active chapters of Alpha Sigma Lambda national honor society.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate program in accredited institutions that are active chapters of Alpha Sigma Lambda national honor society
• At the time of application, the applicants must complete at least 30 graded semester hours at the institution
• Applicants must maintain a GPA of at least 3.2
• Must be 24 years of age or older
• Applicants must demonstrate financial need

Scholarship Benefits

Nine $1,700 scholarships will be awarded at the national level.

Application Requirements

Check out the appropriate ASL’s colleges/universities chapters to download the application form. The general requirements are mentioned below:

• Application form
• Official transcripts
• Letters of recommendation
• A personal statement

Contact Information

For a list of ASL’s chapters by state, visit www.alphasigmalambda.org.

Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation’s Education Support Awards

The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation offers Education Support Awards to support low-income women who are pursuing their higher education or training, especially women with children.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be women with minor children, of age at least 17 years
• Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited university or college pursuing a first bachelor’s degree, a technical/vocational degree, a professional/master’s/doctoral degree or an associate’s degree; or enrolled in a GED, skills training or ESL program
• Applicants must be of low income. For a family of two, the annual income must be less than $17,500; for a family of annual, the annual income must be less than $22,000; for a family of four, the annual income must be less than $26,500.

Scholarship Benefits

Five awards of up to $2,000 will be given to the recipients. The award funds can be used to cover living expenses or school expenses while the recipient is enrolled in an educational program.

Contact Information

For downloading the application form, visit www.patsyminkfoundation.org.

College Scholarships Foundation Women’s Scholarship

The College Scholarships Foundation offers many types of scholarships, which include scholarships to help deserving women with their education expenses.

Eligibility

The following criteria must be met by the applicants:

• Applicants must be women and U.S. citizens
• Maintain a GPA of 3.0
• Enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate program for full-time

Scholarship Benefits

$500 is awarded annually to a deserving female student.

Application Requirements

• Online application form
• Academic scores
• A 300-word limit scholarship essay. Any of the following questions can be used as the base for the essay:
• How the applicant’s education plans affected the applicant’s plans to start a family
• What trends the applicant can foresee for women in the workforce
• Where does the applicant see herself in 10 years

Contact Information

Go to www.collegescholarships.org to apply for the scholarship.

Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Adult Learner Scholarships

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County provides multiple scholarships for adult learners living along the west coast of Florida.

Eligibility

According to the foundation, adult learners are students who have been out of high school for a long time and are returning to finish their higher education by attending a college or vocational school. The community foundation scholarships cannot be used for graduate school.

List of Adult Learner Scholarships

The foundation’s adult learner scholarships includes the following:

The AAUW Sarasota Branch Scholarship Fund

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Sarasota Branch Scholarship Fund was established in the year 2000, with a purpose to provide scholarships for the residents of Sarasota County who are enrolled or accepted in an accredited four-year university or college. Preference is given to women returning to complete their higher education in order to re-enter the job market.

The AAUW Sarasota Branch Elizabeth Parker Scholarship Fund

Established in the year 2006, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Sarasota Branch Elizabeth Parker Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to women who want to finish their education by attending a four-year accredited college or university.

The ABWA Sunrise Chapter Scholarship Fund

The American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) Sunrise Chapter Scholarship Fund was established to support the needy individuals enrolled in an accredited university or college. Preference is given to female residents of Sarasota and Manatee Counties with need for financial aid. Applicants must maintain a high school GPA of 3.0 and must pursue a four-year degree, having a career goal.

The Byourself Scholarship Fund

The Byourself Scholarship Fund was established in the year 2002 to support adult learners in Sarasota County, men or women, who are interested in pursuing a CAN, RN or LPN nursing programs. To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicants must be enrolled in a nursing program at Sarasota County Technical Institute or Manatee Community College. In order to renew the scholarship, the student must maintain a GPA of 2.8. A major criteria for selection is financial need.

The Davis Educational Fund

The Davis Educational Fund was established to offer scholarships to adult learners, residents of Sarasota County, who are interested in pursuing a career in medical or nursing field. Applicants can be men or women enrolled in a vocational training or college in a health-related program. Scholarship recipients are based on the applicant’s financial need and his/her educational goals and objectives towards a career in the health care field.

The George W. and Ethel B. Hoefler Fund

The George W. and Ethel B. Hoefler Fund provides scholarships to the residents of Sarasota County. Based on the applicant’s financial need and commitment towards achieving his/her goals, the recipients are selected.

The Helen F. “Jerri” Rand Memorial Scholarship Fund

Established in the year 2006, the Helen F. “Jerri” Rand Memorial Scholarship Fund offers scholarships for those adult learners residing in Sarasota County, who are interested in pursuing a professional certificate in the field of Hairdressing. Applicants must be enrolled in any of Sarasota County’s accredited beauty schools.

The Sarasota Bay Club Employee Scholarship Fund

Employees of the Sarasota Bay Club are eligible to apply for the scholarships provided by the Sarasota Bay Club Employee Scholarship Fund, which was established in 2009.

James Franklin & Dorothy J. Warnell Scholarship Fund

The fund assists needy individuals who want to pursue a post-secondary education in the field of health care service programs.

J. Clifford W. & Doris E. Davis Educational Fund (1992)

The fund provides health care and nursing scholarships to the residents of Sarasota County. Adults returning to school or recent graduates of high school are eligible to apply for the fund.

Fast Track Educational Assistance Fund

The fund was designed to support the emotional, social, educational and financial needs of non-traditional/adult learner students of Sarasota County. The fund provides scholarships to adult learners who want to lead a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

Applicants must be enrolled in a Nursing Assistant Program at a Sarasota County Technical Institute or Manatee Technical Institute. Click here to download the application form.

Kerry Heaney Memorial Scholarship Fund for Public Safety of the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department

Members of the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department created this scholarship to support the adults and youth who are interested in pursuing a career in EMT, firefighting or paramedic.

The Zonta Fund for Women

Zonta Club of Sarasota, an organization of professional women, created the Zonta Fund for Women of the Community Foundation. The fund provides scholarships and grants to women who are interested in obtaining the training required to start a business or develop the current business that they have.

Application Requirements

The following documents are required to apply for the foundation’s adult learner scholarships:

• Online application form
• If the applicant attended the high school within the last five years, official transcript of high school is required
• If the applicant is currently enrolled or been previously enrolled in a college, the official transcript of the college is needed
• If available, acceptance letter form the college or vocational school, where the applicant is enrolled
• If possible, copy of applicant’s financial aid rejection letter or financial aid package
• ACT and/or SAT scores
• Applicant’s IRS tax forms. If the applicant’s income is Social Security, the applicant has to submit disability letter for verification
• Applicant’s Student Aid Report (SAR)
• One reference letter which must include name of the reference letter writer, the name of the applicant about whom the letter is written, how long the letter writer has known the applicant and description of the applicant’s achievements, character and the applicant’s ability to attain goals.

Contact Information

For questions regarding the foundation’s scholarships, contact the scholarship department at 941-556-7150 or email Scholarships@cfsarasota.org. Visit the foundation’s scholarship page to download the application form. If any problem occurs while downloading the application form, contact rebekah@cfsarasota.org.

Scholarships and Grants For Women Over 25

For women of age 25 or over who are planning to go to school or college, the following scholarships and grants can help them fund their higher education.

BPW Foundation’s Career Advancement Scholarship Program

The Career Advancement Scholarship Program was established by the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation (BPW), with an intent to provide scholarships to women 25 years of age or older who are interested in finishing their school and advancing their career.

Scholarship Benefits

The foundation awarded more than $6 million in the form of grants, loans and scholarships to over 8,000 women who want to improve their career. The scholarship award ranges from $1,000 to $2,000.

Eligibility Requirements

The criteria to be eligible for the scholarship is as follows:

• Women 25 years of age or older, pursuing bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) or related fields are eligible to apply;
• Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited U.S college, school, university or institution and be within two years of completing their degree;
• Applicants must be U.S. nationals or U.S. citizens;
• Applicants must demonstrate need for financial aid;
• Applicants must be in a position to demonstrate their career plans;
• Applicants must be able to show $2,500 or less in Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on the FAFSA.

Application Requirements

• Completed application form;
• Three recommendation letters;
• Official transcripts;
• Citizenship proof;
• Federal tax forms;
• Proof of enrollment in a program;
• Student Aid Report (SAR)

Application Process

Interested women must contact the foundation’s Legacy Partners in their local area for more information about the scholarship rules, timings and applications. Visit www.bpwfoundation.org for the foundation’s list of state and local legacy partners.

Contact Information

To learn more about their scholarships, visit the foundation’s website. For further information, call (202) 293-1100 or email foundation@bpwfoundation.org or contact:
Business and Professional Women’s Foundation
1718 M Street, NW, #148
Washington, DC 20036

Elizabeth Pfiffner Debot Memorial Scholarship

The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (UWSP) established the Elizabeth Pfiffner Debot Memorial Scholarship for nontraditional students. According to UWSP, nontraditional students are students 25 years of age and older, seeking their undergraduate degree.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be female, single parent, age of 25 years and older;
• Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate program at USWP;
• The applicants must demonstrate financial need;
• Applicants can apply for this scholarship multiple times.

Scholarship Award

The scholarship amount varies each year.

Application Requirements

• Online application form;
• Applicant’s goals and ambitions;
• One letter of recommendation

The above-mentioned documents must be mailed to:
Terri Taylor, UWSP Alumni Affairs & Foundation
2100 Main Street, Room 134
Stevens Point, WI 54481

Contact Information

For additional information, contact:

UWSP Scholarship Coordinator
Alumni Affairs
Terri Taylor
715-346-4027

Visit their website at www.uwsp.edu to learn more about their nontraditional scholarships.

The Lenice Christine Merrill Eskritt Memorial Scholarship

The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (UWSP)’s School of Education (SOE) awards scholarship money to those students who are dedicated to the profession of teaching. The university offers the Lenice Christine Merrill Eskritt Scholarship, which was established in memory of the late Lenice Christine Merrill Eskritt.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be 25 years of age and older seeking graduate or undergraduate degree at UWSP;
• At least 48 credits must be earned by the undergraduate applicant with declare major;
• Graduate applicants must earn 18 credits;
• The applicants must maintain a GPA of 3.00;
• Applicants must be in a position to demonstrate financial need;
• The applicant must have dependent children.

Scholarship Benefits

• For resident undergraduate recipients enrolled full-time, the scholarship awards one semester’s tuition and fees;
• For the recipients enrolled part-time, the scholarship awards tuition and fees for two or more semesters.

Application Requirements

• A completed School of Education Scholarship Application form;
• Copy of applicant’s class schedule;
• A reference form completed by the university staff, campus employer or faculty;
• An essay describing the applicant’s background, the purpose of being in the school, how the applicant selected the field of study/major, applicant goals, etc.;
• Another essay describing why the committee should select the applicant as the scholarship recipient.

How to Apply

All the above-mentioned documents should be mailed to Room 470, College of Professional Studies, 1901 Fourth Avenue, UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897, before the deadline.

While submitting the application form, the applicants will be asked to select a time to write scholarship essay. The times/dates to write the scholarship essay will be posted online.

Contact Information

For more information, call 715-346-2040 or email education@uwsp.edu. To download the application form, visit www.uwsp.edu.

Dick Toser Alumni Memorial Scholarship

The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (UWSP) offers the Dick Toser Alumni Memorial Scholarship to non-traditional students, defined as students who are 25 years of age and older seeking graduate or undergraduate degree.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate program at USWP;
• Maintain a GPA of 3.2 or higher;
• Applicants must demonstrate financial need and must have excellent academic performance;
• At the time of application, the applicants must be enrolled in at least 9 credits

Scholarship Benefits

An award ranging between $400-500 will be given to the recipient.

Application Requirements

• Completed application form. Check the checkbox for the scholarship you are applying for on the form.
• An essay describing applicant’s goals and ambitions
• A letter of recommendation from a faculty member

The above-mentioned documents must be submitted to:
Terri Taylor, UWSP Alumni Affairs & Foundation
2100 Main Street, Room 134
Stevens Point, WI 54481

Contact Information

For further information, call 715-346-4027. Visit www.uwsp.edu to download the application.

The Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women

Linda Lael Miller, New York Times bestselling author, personally finances scholarships for women who want to improve their life through education. The program awards scholarships annually to women who are 25 years or older.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be women who are 25 years or older;
• Must be a Canadian or U.S. citizen enrolled at a Canadian or U.S. university or college;
• Employees of Harlequin Enterprises and Nancy Berland Public Relations, Inc., their families and subsidiaries cannot apply for the scholarship

Scholarship Benefits

The program awards $10,000 in scholarships and the number of scholarships that will be awarded will be decided by the committee. The scholarship funds can be used not only for books and tuition but also for other expenses like transportation, childcare, etc.

Application Requirements

• Completed application form;
• A 500-word essay describing why the applicant is applying for the scholarship, how the applicant’s educational goals can elevate her and her family’s future, how the applicant want to use the scholarship funds and the amount the applicant is seeking through the scholarship (Maximum amount is $1,000);
• The recipient must submit proof of enrollment, course work documentation, etc.

Contact Information

The application form and the essay must be mailed to:
Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women—2012
7702 Barnes Road, Suite 140-81
Colorado Springs, CO 80922

For more information, contact Deb Korrell at 719-532-9141 or email her at debkorrel@aol.com. to download the application form, visit www.lindalaelmiller.com.

The Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation Scholarships for Mature Women Students

The Newcombe Foundation supports mature women by providing financial assistance to them in completing their bachelor’s degree. The foundation, in partnership with selected universities and colleges, provides scholarships with an intent to promote undergraduate mature women who want to pursue their first bachelor’s degree.

Four-year colleges and universities in New York City, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Washington, DC, are limited to use the foundation grants. The funded universities and colleges distribute the Newcombe grants as scholarships to the selected Newcombe Scholarship recipients enrolled in those universities and colleges.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be women who are 25 years of age or older
• Applicants may be enrolled full-time or part-time and must complete 60 credit hours towards their bachelor’s degree
• Candidates must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Funded institutions can award a portion to those women who are enrolled in post-bachelor’s certification programs or pursuing their second bachelor’s degree, if the candidate proves that a certificate or degree is required to get a job or benefit her employment situation.
• Individuals cannot apply directly to the foundation for the scholarships
• Applicants must demonstrate need for financial aid and a standard financial aid form is required at the time of application

Scholarship Benefits

• The scholarship provides less than the full cost of tuition for the year or semester
• The scholarship funds can be used to cover eligible costs, which include childcare, internship experience, tuition, academic textbooks, practice teaching or education-related fees.

List of Funded Institutions

Below is the list of the funded institutions granting the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation Scholarships. Click on the link, which connects to the university or college page with the details of the Newcombe Foundation Scholarship.

• American University (AU): www.american.edu
• Wilson College
• Arcadia University: www.arcadia.edu
• Widener University: www.widener.edu
• Bloomfield College
• West Chester University: www.wcupa.edu
• Cedar Crest College: sage.cedarcrest.edu
• Towson University: www.towson.edu
• Columbia University School of General Studies: www.gs.columbia.edu
• The University of Scranton: www.scranton.edu
• Elizabethtown College
• Saint Joseph’s University: www.sju.edu
• Fordham University
• Gannon University: www.gannon.edu
• Douglass Residential College at Rutgers
• Georgian Court University: www.georgian.edu
• Rider University: www.rider.edu
• Gwynedd-Mercy College: gmc.edu
• University of Pennsylvania
• Hunter College: www.hunter.cuny.edu
• The New School for Public Engagement
• Kean University
• Neumann University
• La Salle University: www.lasalle.edu
• Moravian College: secure.moravian.edu
• University in Maryland, Baltimore City (UMBC): my.umbc.edu
• Misericordia University: www.misericordia.edu
• University of Maryland, College Park: agnr.umd.edu
• Mercy College
• University of Maryland University College (UMUC): www.umuc.edu
• Marywood University: www.marywood.edu

Possible Woman Foundation International (PWFI) Scholarships

Linda Wind, CEO of Wind Enterprises, established the Possible Woman Foundation International (PWFI), a non-profit organization, with a purpose to support the older women in need returning to school for a better life. The foundation provides scholarships for women who are interested in returning to workforce by pursuing higher education.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be women enrolled or accepted in an accredited post-secondary institution
• Must be at least 25 at the time of application
• Single or stay-at-home moms are more encouraged to apply

Scholarship Benefits

The number of scholarships and the amount of each scholarship varies every year. The scholarship amount can be used to cover the costs of school tuition and fees.

Application Requirements

• Application form
• Proof of applicant’s program acceptance letter or current transcript
• Recommendation letters

Contact Information

For more information, visit possiblewomanfoundationinternational.org.

Scholarships and Grants For Women Over 30

The Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) Scholarship

Executive Women International (EWI) sponsors this scholarship to encourage adult students who want to improve their self-esteem through various educational opportunities. EWI Chapters collaborate with local social service agencies and educational providers select the ASIST candidates. Throughout the United States and Canada, EWI has Chapters located in 65 cities.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be able to define their career objectives and goals and should specify their educational requirements in order to attain them;
• Re-entry programs available through service groups or career professionals, community agencies and universities/colleges, must be utilized by the applicants;
• Non-traditional students are more encouraged to apply;
• Applicant must reside within the EWI Chapter boundaries.

Scholarship Benefits

• The scholarship award ranges from $1,000 to $2,500 per individual at Chapter-level. Twelve Corporate awards worth $2,500 will be granted annually to the selected Chapter-level candidates;
• The awards are provided to cover the recipient’s education and related expenses that include books, tuition, childcare and mandatory fees like the lab fees from the school. Other expenses such as travel expenses, rent, repayment of student loans and utility payments are not included.

Application Requirements

• Recent W-2 Form or federal or state tax return;
• Two letters of recommendation, of which one letter must be from the (a) applicant’s present or past guidance counselor, employer, teacher or school official, while (b) the other one must be from the individual with whom the applicant has worked on a volunteer or community service activity, through personal acquaintance or religious affiliation;
• ACT scores or official transcript of grades;
• Federal financial aid form;
• Form of the names and amounts of other grants or scholarships the applicant has received;
• A 750-word essay describing (a) the applicant’s objectives and goals and how further education can help the applicant attain those goals and objectives (b) what makes the applicant deserving of the scholarship.

Each EWI Chapter has its own deadline. While submitting the application form, the applicant must contact their local Chapter to know the timeline.

How to Apply

• Applicants must apply for the scholarship through their local EWI Chapters. For the list of participating Chapters, visit www.ewiconnect.com;
• To find a Chapter, visit the Chapter page;
• After being selected at the local Chapter level, the recipients are then given an opportunity to be selected for the Corporate awards.

Contact Information

To submit the application form, contact EWI Corporate Office at 801.355.2800 or ewi@ewiconnect.com. For more details about the scholarship, visit www.ewiconnect.com.

The Leopold Schepp Foundation Scholarship

The Leopold Schepp Foundation grants awards every year to deserving full-time graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs.

Eligibility

• Undergraduate applicants must be 30 or younger
• Graduate applicants must be 40 or younger
• The applicants must be enrolled full-time and must maintain a GPA of 3.2
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents by law
• Applicants must travel to New York City at their own expense for a personal interview with the Trustee and Executive Director of the foundation
• Applicants who applied for a Leopold Schepp Foundation Scholarship previously and were denied are not eligible to reapply for the scholarship award
• High school seniors can apply for their first year in college

Scholarship Benefits

A maximum award of $8,500 will be granted to the recipient.

Application Requirements

• A formal written request should be mailed to obtain the scholarship application form. Click here to access the request form.
• Reference letters from personal associates, academic advisors or deans and employers
• Official transcripts maintaining a GPA of 3.2
• Demonstrate financial need
• Recent income tax returns of the applicant and applicant’s parents must be submitted
• An estimate of academic resources and expenses must be submitted.

Contact Information

To obtain the application form, the formal request form must be returned to:
The Leopold Schepp Foundation
551 Fifth Avenue
Suite 3000
New York, NY 10176-3201

For further details about the scholarship, visit www.scheppfoundation.org.

Scholarships and Grants For Women Over 35

The Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship

The Jeannette Rankin Foundation established the Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship in memory of Jeannette Rankin, the first woman who was elected to the United States Congress and a proponent of women’s rights. The scholarship provides aid to adult women who want to return to school.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be women of age 35 and older, with low income;
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents by law;
• Applicants must be pursuing a first bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree or a technical or vocational education, enrolled at a regional or ACICS accredited school;
• Applicants must meet the lower living standards of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Scholarship Benefits

The foundation awards the scholarships every year. The amount of scholarship varies based on the foundation’s resources and recipient’s need.

Application Requirements

• Application form;
• Official transcript;
• Two letters of recommendation

Contact Information

For further information, email info@rankinfoundation.org or call at 706-208-1211. To download the application, visit www.rankinfoundation.org.

The Shirley Hoden Helberg Grants for Mature Women

The National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW) sponsors awards throughout the year with intent to promote professionalism in music, art and letters and to inspire talented women to pursue their further education.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens;
• Applicants must be women of 35 years and older

Scholarship Benefits

• An award of $1,000 in each of three categories for music, art and letters;
• A two-year honorary associate membership in the League will be provided to the recipient

Application Requirements

• Applicants must provide name, address, city, state, phone number and email details on a cover sheet;
• Applicants must provide a one-page letter describing their educational goals and information about themselves, which includes the statement: “I AM A CITIZEN OF THE U.S. I was born in (city and state) on (date)”;
• Applicants must provide details of the college where the scholarship award will be paid, which includes name, street address, city, state, and telephone number of the college;
• A $10 check must be enclosed payable to NLAPW;
• Applications submitted through email are not accepted;
• Applicants applying for Letters: A 3,000-word manuscript must be provided, in any one of these categories: three poems, article, television script, drama, a chapter of a novel, essay or short story;
• Applicants applying for Art: Three 4″x5″ or larger color prints (no slides) must be submitted: original works on paper, oil, mixed media, watercolor, acrylic, etc. Sculpture: three 4’x6″ or larger photos must be provided. Photography: three 4″ x 6″ or larger prints in black and white or color must be submitted;
• Applicants applying for Music: two compositions of THREE-MINUTE PERFORMANCE TIME and a separate FIVE-MINUTE PERFORMANCE TIME, must be submitted. CDs are allowed only for this category;
• Indicate the applicant’s name, address, city, state and phone number details on a cover sheet and send the completed applications to the authorized person below, by United States mail:
  • For Letters: Ms. DeAnn Lubell, 37 Santo Domingo Dr., Rancho Mirage, CA 92270.
  • For Art: Ms. Jo Anne Durham, 4300 Plantation Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76116.
  • For Music: Dr. M.J. “Sunny” Zank, 202, Montford Av. Ada, Ohio 45810

Contact Information

For more information, visit www.nlapw.org.

Sophie Greenstadt Scholarship for Mid-Life Women

The National Council of Jewish Women – Los Angeles sponsors the scholarship, with intent to promote women who want to re-enter or continue school in order to obtain skills, which can lead to financial independence.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be women 35 years of age or older;
• Applicants must be residents of or attend school in in the Greater Los Angeles area in California, which includes Orange and Ventura Counties;
• Applicant can be either single or married, with or without dependent children;
• Applicants can be college freshmen, sophomores, juniors or seniors.

Scholarship Benefits

The scholarship awards up to $1,000 to the recipients.

Application Requirements

• Applicants must submit essays related to applicants goals and ambitions, applicant’s personal courage and her commitment towards attaining the goals;
• Demonstrate the need for financial aid.

Contact Information

Contact the Scholarship Coordinator via email at brandee@ncjwla.org or call (323) 852-8515 for more details about the scholarship.

Displaced Homemaker Scholarships

Displaced Homemaker Scholarships are offered by The Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA), a national Indian organization working for the welfare of Alaska Natives and American Indians. The scholarships are granted to those men and women, due to family circumstances, were unable to complete their educational goals.

Eligibility

• Applicants can be men or women approximately 35 years of age or older;
• Applicants must be Alaska Native or Native American (continental US tribes), enrolled in their tribes;
• Applicants can be (a) those who are entering college for the first time due to family circumstances (b) those who want to return to finish their school as they have attended college but kept school on hold and never received their degree;
• Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited school for both fall and spring semester as full-time students;
• Applicants can be graduating high school seniors, doctoral students, current college seniors, freshman, juniors, sophomores and graduate students;
• AAIA does not fund certificate programs or seminary.

Scholarship Benefits

An amount of $1,500 will be given to each of the selected candidates. $750 will be disbursed per semester directly to the college, which can be used to cover educational costs and other expenses, which includes transportation, basic living and childcare expenses. AAIA does not provide summer funding.

Application Requirements

• Applicant’s student information form;
• Proof of applicant’s enrollment in his/her tribe;
• Applicants from federally recognized tribes must submit a copy of Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB), showing a proof of at least 1/4 Indian blood;
• A three-page essay must be submitted, describing the applicant’s life experiences, such as family, family responsibilities/situations, military, participation in the Native community, faith, clubs, employment, educational & post-graduate goals, tribal/cultural-related activities, sports, and plans to serve the Native community;
• For the funds to be disbursed for the spring semester, a copy of the spring semester class schedule and fall semester satisfactory grades is required to be submitted by the recipients.

The above-mentioned documents should be mailed to:
Lisa Wyzlic, Director of Scholarship Programs
Association on American Indian Affairs
966 Hungerford Drive, Suite 12-B
Rockville, MD 20850

Contact Information

Contact Lisa Wyzlic at 240-314-7155 or email her at lw.aaia@verizon.net to determine whether you qualify as a displaced homemaker or not. For further information about the scholarship, visit www.indian-affairs.org.

Royal Neighbors of America (RNA)’s Returning Students Scholarships

Royal Neighbors is a unique insurance firm with a mission to support women who want to improve themselves and their families, provide benefits for its members such as health discounts, scholarships, disaster aid and opportunities to volunteer.

Royal Neighbors helps its beneficial members in attaining their educational goals by providing scholarships. Beneficial members are those who own an annuity or insured with Royal Neighbors of America. The firm provides traditional scholarships for high school seniors and returning student’s scholarships for its members who want to return to college or seek a training program to advance their education or career.

Here is the list of returning student’s scholarships, which are specifically designed for its beneficial members:

New Horizons Scholarships

Eligibility:

• Members of age 18 years or older and who have graduated from high school previously are eligible to apply
• Members must be enrolled at an accredited university, college or junior college pursuing a degree as a full-time or part-time student

Scholarship Award: Ten grants of up to $5,000, which are non-renewable, are awarded every year to its beneficial members.

New Horizons Leader Scholarship

An amount of $5,000 a year is awarded to an outstanding female candidate for up to four consecutive years. The recipient will be selected from the qualified batch of New Horizons applicants.

Life Enrichment Scholarships

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be beneficial members 18 years or older and graduated from high school who are interested in seeking training in programs that provide skilled training or training for semi-professional occupations in industry and business.
• The program is not intended for those members who are enrolled in a master’s or bachelor’s degree.

Scholarship Award: Five grants of up to $500 will be awarded annually to the selected beneficial members, which are non-renewable.

Application Requirements for RNA’s Scholarships

• Royal Neighbors of America (RNA)’s membership is required
• RNA Chapter number
• RNA Certificate number

Contact Information

To apply for their scholarships, visit www.royalneighbors.org. Call (800) 627-4762 to talk with their customer service representative.

Scholarships and Grants For Women Over 50

Talbots Scholarship Program for Women

The Talbots Charitable Foundation offers Talbots Scholarship Program for women, who are interested in pursuing their college degree later.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be women residing in Canada or United States;
• Women applicants who are older ranging from 20-60 years of age are eligible to apply;
• Applicants must have their GED or high school diploma on or before September 2001;
• Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate program at an accredited 2- or 4-year university or college;
• Applicants must have at least 24 or more credit hours remaining before completing their undergraduate program.

Scholarship Benefits

• A scholarship of $10,000 or $30,000
• A Talbots Gift Card
• A Reinvention Resumé Plus eKit

Contact Information

Visit www.talbots.com to learn more about the program.

Osher Reentry Scholarships

The Bernard Osher Foundation sponsors Osher Reentry Scholarships. The foundation was founded by Bernard Osher, who is a community leader and a respected businessman. The foundation offers post-secondary scholarship funding to universities and colleges, especially for reentry students.

Eligibility

• Applicants aged 25 to 50 who experience a gap of five or more years in their education and want to continue their studies
• Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate program and must be pursuing their first bachelor’s degree in a university or college which receives Osher Reentry Scholarship grant funds.

Scholarship Benefits

Check out the institute website for the grant amount. The scholarship awards are used to cover student tuition fees exclusively.

Application Requirements

• Proof of financial need
• Applicant’s commitment towards completing their degree, with good academic progress

Contact Information

Currently 86 institutions in 47 states receive scholarship funding from the Bernard Osher Foundation’s Osher Reentry Scholarship Program. To find out the list of institutions offering the scholarship, visit www.osherfoundation.org.