PEO Scholarships for Women

PEO scholarships for womenoffer excellent college funding opportunities through a variety of different programs, including grants. P.E.O was initially founded in January of 1869 by a group of students at Iowa Wesleyan College. Eventually the group expanded to include off-campus members who shared the same enthusiasm for opportunities for women. Today this group has grown to encompass nearly 250,000 members in chapters located not only in the United States, but also Canada.

The cornerstone of P.E.O is friendship, with a goal of providing support and encouragement to women who wish to realize their potential in whatever endeavor they may desire. As such, education remains the main philanthropy of P.E.O. This group currently sponsors six international projects or philanthropies; each specifically designed to help women with reaching their own personal educational goals.

As a result, P.E.O continues to make a difference in lives of women around the world. More than 85,000 women have benefitted through P.E.O’s loans, educational grants, special projects, awards and a special stewardship of Cottey College. P.E.O, to date, has awarded millions of dollars in loans, scholarships and grants.

Award, loan and grant recipients do not need to be members of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Recipients are typically sponsored by local P.E.O. chapters. The only exception to this is the International Peace Scholarship.

Cottey College was initially founded in 1884 as an institution where young women would be able to fulfill their dreams. Ownership of Cottey College was given to the P.E.O. Sisterhood in 1927. Today, Cottey College remains the only nonsectarian college in the nation that is completely owned and operated by women. Cottey College offers both two-year and four-year programs.

The Star scholarship for women is just one of several programs operated by P.E.O. Originally established in 2009, this P.E.O. scholarship provides for a $2,500 award to seniors in high school with goals of pursuing a college education.

P.E.O. Scholar Awards were established in 1991 as a way of providing substantial awards for women throughout the United States and Canada who are working toward a doctoral degree or who are pursuing postdoctoral research. Applicants for this award must be sponsored by a local P.E.O. chapter. The number of awards granted each year is determined based on funding available. Applications become available in August and are accepted through November 20th.

The P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education was originally established in 1973 as a way of offering need-based grants to women throughout Canada and the United States. Applicants for these women’s grants have typically had their education interrupted and who are now returning to school as a way of supporting themselves and their families. Candidates applying for this program must demonstrate a financial need. The maximum grant for this program is $3,000. Grants of lesser amounts may also be available based on available funding and individual needs. This is a one-time only grant. Grant funds may be used for expenses such as tuition, fees, transportation, books and childcare.

The P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund was established in 1907 in an effort to offer loans to qualified women with goals of pursuing a higher education and who also needed financial assistance in completing their goals. Applicants for the P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund must be nominated by a local P.E.O. Sisterhood chapter. All candidates must also be within two years of completing their individual course of study. Currently, the maximum loan amount is $10,000 at a 3% interest rate. Loans are expected to be repaid within six dates of the issuance date. Interest will begin accruing on the loans only after the recipient’s graduation date.

The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship was established in 1949 to offer scholarship funds to women from countries other than Canada and the United States. The maximum award amount through this women scholarship program is $10,000. P.E.O. scholarships of lesser amounts may also be available based on individual needs. Applications become available between August and December 15th. All applications must be submitted by no later than January 31st.