The School Tool

A scholarship is a monetary award granted to a student for tuition (usually for college) bases upon standards set by those who donate the money.  Scholarships can be categorized as 5 different types based upon the criteria for eligibility.

Merit based scholarships are the most common.  Students eligible for a merit scholarship have excelled in academics, athletics, or the arts.  Need based scholarships are geared towards students who are financially challenged.  Institutional Scholarships are awarded by colleges and universities.  Tuition money offered by companies or corporations to the children of their employees is a prime example of the "general" or "miscellaneous" type of scholarship.

The other type of scholarship is based on Sociology.  These scholarships are offered to students because of their gender, race, religion, or nationality.  Predominantly, these scholarships come from the private sector (i.e. not a government grant).  There are many organizations that provide tuition money to young mothers, single mothers, older women, and African American women.  The Scholarships for Moms program falls into this category.

Naturally, any mother planning to attend college should begin her financial aid search with the federal government.  By filling out the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), the college hopeful have her eligibility determined for a number of government grant and loan programs.

In fact, mothers who wish to attend college will find that their eligibility for standard financial aid is almost guaranteed.  President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has increased funding to these programs and has opened eligibility.

After applying for all the government financial aid that is available, a mother wishing to attend college can then begin to look in the private sector for other scholarships, such as through the Project Working Mom program.  Project Working Mom is an education venture created by a consortium of colleges aimed at increasing the enrolment of American mothers in higher education by offering scholarships.

The money is out there.  A little research and time will help many mothers to get out of their dead-end jobs and into a classroom, and a future.

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**Update** Did you know you can get a $10,000 scholarship for Moms just for registering? Apply right now for free: Scholarships for Moms