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Top 10 Scholarship Opportunities for Women Returning to College

by Robert Morris

The great goals in life are not usually achieved by following a straight path. As far as educational dreams are concerned, many people have decided to drop out of college due to various reasons. Luckily, everyone can return to school and get a scholarship that will help them get on the right track without the need to spend a small fortune on education. In the continuation, we will list 10 available scholarships for women who have decided to return to college.

1. AARP Foundation Women’s Scholarship Program

This foundation is a known and trusted resource that provides many opportunities for women over the age of 50. The goal of this scholarship is to open the doors to employment for low-income women. AARP’s program funds skills upgrades, training, and education that increase women’s financial security.

2. Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity awards

This program is meant to offer assistance to women who are providing the main financial support for their families. The organization provides three $10,000 awards on international level; region-level awards of $5,000 or $3,000; and local-level awards with varying award amounts. Women who are interested in this program must apply through this organization’s local branch.

3. Shirley Holden Helberg Grants for the Mature Women

This program is provided by the National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW), which provides three scholarships of $1,000 to inspire women to continue their education in the creative fields of Letters, Art, and Music. This scholarship is intended for women at and above 35 years of age.

4. SWE Scholarships

The Society of Women Engineers provides scholarships for women interested in pursuing an engineering degree. Two of these scholarships are specifically aimed at women who are returning to college. The BK Krenzer Memorial and the Olive Lynn Salembier scholarship support women who are re-entering school to complete their degrees in engineering, and offer $2,000 and $1,500 respectively.

5. EWI Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) Scholarship

Executive Women International (EWI) provides twelve annual scholarships of $2,000 for non-traditional students who are facing physical, social, or economic challenges. The students interested in the scholarship need to be at least 18 years old, and are required to apply through a local chapter of EWI.

6. Linda Lael Miller Scholarship

Besides pleasing many women with her contemporary and historical romance novels, the bestselling author Linda Lael Miller also provides them with encouragement to pursue their educational goals. This scholarship awards a total of $10,000 for applicants at or above 25 years of age.

7. Emerge Scholarships

This organization’s goal is to empower women through education. Its mission is specifically targeted at women whose education was somehow interrupted, but have overcome the obstacles and are giving in return to their communities. Emerge awards ten different annual scholarships, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. The program is also intended for women of at least 25 years of age.

8. Jeannette Rankin Scholarship for Women

Jeannette Rankin was the first women elected to serve in the Congress of the United States. This scholarship is provided in her honor, celebrating women with a positive vision of the improvements they can make for the community, their family and themselves by educating themselves. The program is aimed at low-income women who are at least 35 years old.

9. P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education

The Philanthropic Educational Organization provides one-time grants of maximum $3,000 to outstanding women whose lives can be greatly improved by returning to school. In order to be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must have been a non-student for a minimum of 24 consecutive months. The applicants are also required to be sponsored by a P.E.O.chapter.

10. Talbots Women’s Scholarship Program

Talbots provides one Nancy Talbots Scholarship Award of $30,000, as well as thirty awards of $5,000. The program in honor of Nancy Talbot has an aim to celebrate women who demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit.

Conclusion

With so many opportunities supporting women who wish to return to school, there are no more excuses for pursuing educational goals. These scholarships can completely change your life, so don’t hold back and make sure to send your applications in time!

Robert Morris is writer and researcher based in New York. Now he works as professional dissertation writer at NinjaEssays.com, custom writing service. Robert focuses on social and economic policy as part of the Economic Growth Program at the New America Foundation. In the three years he partnered with numerous publishers and universities and grew business globally. You can find NinjaEssays on FacebookGoogle+ and Twitter!