Many adult women are returning to school and if this is you there are college scholarships for women over 50 which may be able to help with your college tuition. Education should be a lifelong endeavor. Unfortunately, most people over a certain age do not make an effort to obtain further formal education. Due to changes in our world and the fact that we are living longer, this isn’t the case quite as much.
While it is not common for women over the age of fifty to return to school, our changing world is demanding this more often. Many women who find themselves widowed or divorced also find that they need more education to get the job that they need. In some instances, they find that the education that they received when they were younger no longer applies to the world we live in today. Scholarships for older women would certainly help.
Adult women who return to school are called Adult Students or Non Traditional Students. There are numerous adult scholarships for women over 50 of this type available, and believe it or not, the competition for these scholarships for older women won’t be as stiff as it was when you were twenty. It is important that you look for adult women scholarships that are specifically for women, and that you apply for those that are designed for women over the age of thirty, forty, or fifty, since all three could apply to you.
One such award is the AARP Foundation Women’s Scholarship, which is for women over the age of 40. These are also scholarships for women over 50 who are attending an accredited school or technical program, who will be entering the program within six months of making the application for the award. This award is made based on financial need.
Talbots also has a scholarship program for women, worth $10,000. Six of these awards are made annually, with an additional 60 scholarships worth $1000 awarded annually. While this Talbot scholarship is not specifically for women over the age of 50, it is intended specifically for women who hope to obtain their degree ‘later in life.’
If you are a low-income woman who will be pursuing a technical or vocational degree or certificate, an associate’s degree, or your very first bachelor’s degree, and you are over the age of 35, you should apply for the Jeannette Rankin Scholarship for women. This award is made based on your goals, the challenges you have faced, and your financial need. The amount of the scholarships are not made public. These make great scholarships for women over 50.
If you are returning to school to receive a graduate degree, you should check into the Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund Scholarship. This scholarship awards $11,000, and you must be over the age of 25, and planning to attend a graduate program in the United States or Canada. Additionally, you must have documented proof that you have worked in some capacity to serve women or children in your home country, and be willing to perform two years of this type of service in your home country upon your graduation.
Scholarships for Women over 50 Resources
- Moms scholarships for mothers going to College
- Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women
- For information regarding the Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund Scholarship visit the World Bank Family Network website at: http://web.worldbank.org.