Where to Find Scholarships Designed for Mothers

Scholarships for mothers exist, but they're scattered across different organizations rather than listed in one place

You won't find a single database of "scholarships for moms" the way you might search for general scholarships. Instead, money for mothers comes from specific organizations — some tied to your field of study, some to your employer, some to the state you live in, and some created by foundations focused on women's education. The fastest way forward is to search by your actual circumstances: what you're studying, where you work, whether you're returning to school after time away, and what state you live in. Each of these details opens different funding sources.

Most scholarships for mothers are smaller than you might expect — often $500 to $3,000 per year rather than full tuition — but they add up when you apply to several at once. Many also have less competition than broad scholarships because they're designed for a specific group. You'll spend time on the search, but the return on that time is usually higher than applying to general scholarships where thousands of people compete.

Key Takeaways

• Scholarships for mothers come from employers, professional associations, state programs, and foundations — not from one central source.
• Your field of study, employer, state of residence, and whether you're returning to school all determine which scholarships you can find.
• Smaller scholarships ($500–$3,000) often have less competition because they target mothers specifically rather than all students.
• You can search free scholarship databases and then filter by your circumstances, or contact your school's financial aid office to ask what they know about mother-specific funding.

Employer-based scholarships and tuition assistance

Start with your own job. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement or scholarships for employees' education, and some have specific programs for parents. Ask your HR department whether your company has an education benefit, what fields of study it covers, and whether there are additional funds for employees with caregiving responsibilities. Some large employers — particularly in healthcare, tech, and finance — have dedicated scholarships for working parents.

If you're not currently employed, check whether your partner's employer offers dependent scholarships. Some companies extend education benefits to spouses and adult children, and a few explicitly include scholarships for employees' partners returning to school. The benefit might not be advertised widely, so a direct call to HR is worth the effort.

If you're self-employed or work for a very small business, this route won't help you, but it's quick to rule out. A five-minute call to HR answers the question.

Professional associations and field-specific scholarships

If you're studying nursing, teaching, engineering, business, or any other field with a professional association, that association often funds scholarships. Many explicitly set aside money for people returning to school or balancing education with family responsibilities. Search "[your field] professional association scholarships" — for example, "nursing association scholarships" or "teachers association scholarships" — and look for language about non-traditional students, working professionals, or parents.

Some associations require membership to apply, but membership is usually inexpensive ($50–$200 per year) and comes with other benefits like job boards and continuing education resources. If you're serious about the field, joining makes sense anyway.

If you haven't chosen a field yet or are changing careers, this step comes later. But if you know what you're studying, this is one of the highest-yield places to look because the competition is smaller and the organizations actively want to support people in their profession.

State-specific scholarships for mothers and non-traditional students

Many states fund scholarships specifically for non-traditional students — a category that usually includes parents, people returning to school after time away, and adults over a certain age. Search "[your state] non-traditional student scholarships" or "[your state] adult learner scholarships" to find what's available where you live.

Some states also have grants for single parents or low-income parents specifically. These are often administered through your state's higher education agency or through community colleges. Your state's higher education website (usually found by searching "[state name] higher education agency") lists these programs, though the names vary — they might be called grants, scholarships, or assistance programs.

If you're planning to attend community college, ask the financial aid office directly what state funding exists for parents and non-traditional students. They know the landscape better than any website does, and they can tell you which programs are currently open and what the actual deadlines are.

Foundation scholarships and nonprofit funding

Foundations and nonprofits focused on women's education, single parents, or specific causes (like breast cancer survivors returning to school, or military spouses) often fund scholarships. These are harder to find because they're not centralized, but a few places to start are the Foundation Center, your local community foundation, and organizations focused on your specific situation.

If you're a single mother, search "single mother scholarships" plus your state. If you're a military spouse, search "military spouse education funding." If you're returning to school after a specific life event — illness, job loss, leaving an abusive relationship — search for nonprofits focused on that situation. Many have education funds built in.

Your school's financial aid office often knows about local and regional foundations that fund scholarships. These smaller foundations are less competitive than national ones because fewer people know about them. A conversation with financial aid can point you toward funding sources specific to your area.

Free scholarship search databases and how to use them

Scholarship search sites like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and College Board's Scholarship Search let you create a profile and filter by your circumstances. When you set up your profile, be specific: enter that you're a parent, that you're a non-traditional student, your field of study, your state, and any other relevant details. The more specific you are, the more targeted the results.

These databases are free to use. Some will send you matching scholarships by email once you've created a profile. Expect to spend an hour setting up your profile and then reviewing matches as they arrive. Not every match will be a fit — you'll still need to read the requirements — but the filtering saves you from scrolling through thousands of scholarships that don't apply to you.

Be cautious of sites that charge a fee to search scholarships or that promise to do the search for you. Legitimate scholarship searches are free. If a site asks for money upfront, move on.

What to do when you find a scholarship

When you find a scholarship that fits, read the full requirements before you start the application. Check the deadline, what documents you need (transcripts, essays, letters of recommendation), and whether there are restrictions on your field of study, income, or school type. Some scholarships are only for four-year universities; others only for community colleges. Some require you to be enrolled full-time; others allow part-time students.

Keep a spreadsheet with the scholarship name, deadline, what documents you need, and the date you submitted. Many scholarships have rolling deadlines or open once a year, so tracking what you've applied for helps you remember to reapply next year if you don't win this time.

Write strong essays. Scholarship committees often read hundreds of applications, and a thoughtful essay about why you're returning to school and what you plan to do with your degree makes you memorable. Be honest about your situation — many scholarships exist specifically because the organizations want to support mothers, and your story is part of why you're a good fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be enrolled full-time to get a scholarship for mothers?

Some scholarships require full-time enrollment, but many don't. When you're searching, filter for part-time may be able to access or read the requirements carefully. Community colleges and online programs often have scholarships that allow part-time study, which matters if you're working or managing significant caregiving responsibilities.

What if I don't know what I want to study yet?

Start with state non-traditional student scholarships and general scholarship databases, which don't require you to declare a major. Once you've narrowed down your field, you can add professional association scholarships to your search. Many people change direction during school anyway, so you're not locked in by applying for field-specific money.

Can I apply for scholarships if I'm going back to school after many years away?

Yes — in fact, many scholarships specifically target people in this situation. Search for "non-traditional student scholarships" or "adult learner scholarships" in your state. Your time away from school doesn't disqualify you; it often makes you a stronger candidate because organizations want to support people making the effort to return.

How much money can I actually expect to get?

Individual scholarships range from $500 to $5,000 per year, though some are larger. Most mothers apply to multiple scholarships and receive several smaller awards rather than one large one. If you apply to ten scholarships and win three, you might receive $2,000 to $4,000 total — which won't cover all costs but meaningfully reduces what you need to borrow or pay out of pocket.

Do scholarships count as income for financial aid purposes?

Scholarship money can affect your financial aid package, but the rules depend on your school and the specific scholarship. Some scholarships reduce your loans; others reduce your grants. Ask your financial aid office how a particular scholarship will affect your overall aid package before you commit to applying. It's rare that a scholarship makes your situation worse, but understanding the full picture matters.