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How to Get Scholarships for Part Time Students

Attending college part-time is a great way to obtain a college education even if you aren’t in a position to enroll full-time. Luckily, there are many scholarships out there for part time students. While many scholarships require full-time enrollment, some have no requirements. Some scholarships even cater specifically to part time students. 

We’ve assembled a guide to show part time students how to find scholarships that match their demographic and life situation. We also recommend that you look through our other scholarship lists to find potential matches; there are many scholarships out there that allow part time student candidates.

Look for scholarships that cater to your situation

As a part time student, you may have extenuating life circumstances that prohibit you from enrolling full-time. These circumstances can actually make you uniquely qualified for selective scholarships; it’s a good idea to seek these scholarships out, as they tend to have smaller applicant pools and are catered to specific situations.

Some examples of situations that would encourage part time enrollment are parenthood, disabilities/illnesses, and job/career responsibilities. Each of these considerations could prevent you from devoting yourself to full-time studies, but they also qualify you for many scholarships! Here are some of our scholarship lists for demographics that commonly enroll part time:

• Top scholarships for moms and single moms
• Top scholarships for online students
• Top scholarships for adults
• Top scholarships for disabled students
• Top learning disabilities scholarships
• Top scholarships for non-traditional students

You can also make use of our personalized scholarship search tool, which will custom-match you to vetted scholarships and automatically update with new opportunities.

Utilize the Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is available to all students who demonstrate financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The amount that you will receive depends on a broad variety of factors, including your family’s income, your enrollment status, and your assets. However, students of any enrollment status are eligible for Pell Grant funds, so be sure to fill out your FAFSA in a timely manner to ensure that you are considered for Pell Grant funds.

Read more: When is the 2021-2022 FAFSA deadline?

Use your life experiences in your applications

If you have a story to tell in your applications, make sure that you tell it! Part time students can arise from a complex life situation, which can leave an impression on scholarship applications. If you have beaten the odds to obtain a higher education, you should ensure that your readers know however much of the story you feel comfortable telling.

Part time students with children can discuss the lessons they have learned from balancing an education and raising their children. Students who are working full-time can discuss the life skills they have picked up from their job. Students with disabilities can mention the lessons they have learned from managing their disabilities.

When you are telling your story, make sure to zoom out and discuss how your experiences have impacted you as a student, as a person, and as a future member of the workforce. Reflecting on your experiences is a key part to standing out from the crowd.

Read more: How to write a winning scholarship essay

Good luck on your search for scholarships. Remember to utilize what makes you unique to stand out from the crowd! Seeking out scholarships that appeal to your life story, and telling that story succinctly and powerfully will make a strong impression on your reader.

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