If you’re a single mom looking to go back to school, you may be daunted by the costs of higher education, especially while trying to raise a family. Luckily, there are resources available to you and other students. Below is a list of state-sponsored scholarships and grants. Click on the links for more information.
Alabama
The Alabama Commission on Higher Education provides a list of state-sponsored scholarship resources. Two scholarships that might be applicable to you are the Alabama Student Assistance Program and the Alabama Education Grant Program.
Alaska
The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education provides resources on paying for higher education in Alaska. You may be eligible for the Alaska Performance Scholarship, with a maximum award amount of $4,755 annually, or the AlaskAdvantage Education Grant, which ranges in award amounts from $500 to $2,000.
Arizona
The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education offers a number of grants and scholarships. First, the AzLEAP grant provides funds to low-income undergraduates. The CAC Last Stretch Scholarship is a need-based scholarship designed to help students who have started their degree but have not completed required credits. Unfortunately CAC Last Stretch Scholarship was ELIMINATED in the 2014-2015 academic year and applications will not be accepted. Other Arizona scholarship resources are listed here.
Arkansas
The Arkansas Department of Higher Education sponsors numerous scholarships and grants for in-state students. Highlights include the Academic Challenge Scholarship, the Go! Opportunities Grant, the Second Effort Scholarship, and the Workforce Improvement Grant. Find the complete list with more information on how to apply.
California
The California Student Aid Commission offers programs such as Cal Grants and the Chafee Grant for foster youth. Here you’ll find a full list of scholarship and grant aid programs offered by the state of California.
Colorado
The Colorado Department of Higher Education provides a list of available scholarship and grant money, including Colorado Need-Based Awards, available to both undergraduates and graduate students with documented need. More details found here.
Connecticut
The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Board of Regents for Higher Education provides some limited information on scholarship and grant money. You will need to apply via the FAFSA and will be informed of your eligibility and receipt of state-based aid. Find basic information here.
Delaware
The Delaware Higher Education Commission administers 23 state-sponsored financial aid programs and 6 private scholarship programs. Complete the Common Merit Application and find a full list of available scholarship and grant money.
District of Columbia
Through the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (District of Columbia), you will find several programs, including the DC Tuition Assistance Program, the US Senate Youth Program, and OSSE Scholars Program. Eligibility and application information is located here.
Florida
The Office of Student Financial Assistance (Florida) offers lots of programs for college students. A list of programs with detailed information is available here.
Georgia
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The Georgia Student Finance Commission offers the Georgia HOPE program scholarships, the Zell Miller Scholarship, and a host of other programs. Find here complete information and links to various offerings.
Hawaii
The State Postsecondary Education Commission (Hawaii) offers Regents and Presidential Scholarships for Hawaii residents through the Board of Regents. Though the offerings are limited, scholarship amounts are extremely generous. Find eligibility and application information here.
Idaho
The Idaho State Board of Education provides a list of scholarships available to state residents, including the Freedom Scholarship, the Opportunity Scholarship, and more.
Illinois
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission indexes the state’s extensive scholarship and grant offerings with links to more program information.
Indiana
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education administers the state’s Cash for College program. On this website, you’ll find a list of available grants and scholarships, as well as additional financial planning info.
Iowa
The Iowa College Student Aid Commission has a listing of numerous scholarships that you may be eligible for, depending on your need and what you want to study.
Kansas
The Kansas Board of Regents lists available grant and scholarship money. With one simple application form for all opportunities, these are definitely worth checking out.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority administers several different scholarship programs. Links to each program are provided here.
Louisiana
The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance administers scholarship, grant, and loan programs to help students defray the costs of higher education. Check out their list of programs.
Maine
The Finance Authority of Maine provides a searchable state scholarship index based on eligibility criteria, as well as a comprehensive listing of 116 different scholarships. Further information on Maine financial aid programs is also available here.
Maryland
The Maryland Higher Education Commission offers State financial assistance programs and applications broken into several categories, including need-based aid, merit-based scholarships, and career-based scholarships. Here is a list of links.
Massachusetts
It’s no surprise that the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education offers many forms of scholarship and grant aid to state residents. Grants, scholarships, tuition waivers, and a no-interest loan program are listed here.
Michigan
The Student Financial Services Bureau lists eight active scholarship and grant programs with varying eligibility requirements. Find a list with links here.
Minnesota
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education lists information on both state and federal grants and scholarship opportunities on their website, under “Financial Aid You Don’t Repay.” Find out if you’re eligible for any of these great opportunities.
Mississippi
Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning offers grant and scholarship programs broken down into the categories of undergraduate, graduate, and loan repayment programs. Check out their great resources here.
Missouri
The Missouri Department of Higher Education has compiled a list of links to grants and scholarships on the right-hand menu of this website.
Montana
The Montana University System lists grants here and scholarships here. Several different types of tuition waivers are also available.
Nebraska
The Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education (Nebraska) administers three grant programs.
New Hampshire
Though it does not list specific scholarship and grant programs, the New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission does provide a list of links on financial aid that may be useful.
New Jersey
The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority of New Jersey provides a list of state grants and scholarships here.
New Mexico
The New Mexico Higher Education Department lists its state scholarships and available grants here.
New York
The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation has a chart of state grants, scholarships, and awards here. Their website also includes information on other sources of funding.
North Carolina
Check out the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority for a comprehensive list of state grant and scholarship programs.
North Dakota
The University System of North Dakota offers information on available grants and scholarships, as well as how to apply, on their website.
Ohio
The Ohio Board of Regents funds and administers nine different scholarship opportunities, found here.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education lists state grants here and scholarships here.
Oregon
The Oregon Student Assistance Commission offers the Oregon Student Child Care Grant, for which many single moms will be eligible.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency administers a state grant program and numerous other programs.
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority provides a list of links to grant and scholarship programs on the state and federal levels.
South Carolina
The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education has compiled a list of scholarships and grants available to undergraduate students. Find it here.
South Dakota
On the website of the South Dakota Board of Regents, you’ll find information on the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship, BOR Endowed Scholarships, Dakota Corps Scholarships, and Reduced Tuition Programs.
Tennessee
From the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, you’ll find resources on the Tennessee Educational Lottery Scholarships, as well as a list of other federal and nationwide programs and useful websites.
Texas
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s college for all Texans website has a list of federal and state grants and scholarships available to state residents.
Utah
The Utah System of Higher Education offers three scholarship programs to state residents, detailed here.
Vermont
Three different state grants and over 150 scholarship opportunities are listed by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation.
Virginia
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia splits financial aid opportunities into undergraduate and graduate categories.
Washington
Here are the Washington Student Achievement Council’s recommendations for on where to search for scholarships.
West Virginia
The college foundation of West Virginia has a useful list of state-level financial aid programs.
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board website includes extensive information on state-sponsored financial aid programs here.
Written by Angie Picardo
Angie Picardo is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a financial literacy site that helps parents understand how to approach college tuition planning, from knowing the difference between prepaid tuition and college savings plans to capitalizing on the tax benefits of a 529 savings plan.
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