Yea! Since you landed on this page, it looks like you are, or are thinking about, starting or returning to college. In retrospect, I wish I knew about scholarships for adults back when I started college as the mother of three school-age sons. This post was created to support all the brave adults who embrace lifelong learning!

Jump ahead to:

• Top Scholarships for Adult Learners
• Resources for Adult Learners
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Summary of Scholarships for Adults
• Recently expired scholarships for adults

If you are planning on attending a local college, university, or trade school, don’t forget to explore the scholarship opportunities offered at those institutions. If you don’t know where to start your search, stop in at your local library for assistance. Finally, in addition to applying for scholarships, make sure that you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Good luck, fellow learners!

Top Scholarships for Adult Learners

$1,000 “Mom to Scholar” Scholarship for Mothers 

• Eligibility: Mothers over the age of 35 either accepted to or a attending technical, community, or four-year college/university
• Amount: $1,000 
• Deadline: June 1, 2021

$500 Cosmetology No-Essay Scholarship — Adult Learner Award

• Eligibility: Residents of Arizona, Utah, or Colorado interested in pursuing a career in cosmetology, hair styling, hair design, or a related field
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: May 31, 2021

American Legion Non-Traditional Student Scholarship

• Eligibility: Applicants must be members of the American Legion, Auxiliary, or Sons of The American Legion for the two preceding years preceding application. The scholarship if offered to applicants pursuing training in a certified, trade, professional, or technical program, or a two-year or four-year degree program
• Amount: $2,000
• Deadline: March 1 of every year

Beacon Scholarship for Rural America

• Eligibility: All low-income college-bound graduating high school seniors, current college students, or adult learners residing in a rural areas are eligible to apply
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: October 31 and June 30 of each year

Boomer Benefits Scholarship

• Eligibility: The Boomer Benefits scholarship is designed for an adult student age 50+ who has returned to school to complete their degree
• Amount: $2,000
• Deadline: August 27, 2021

Job-Applications.com Scholarship Programs

• Eligibility: parents who are full or part-time adult students enrolled in an accredited U.S. post-secondary educational institution. Both a national and an Ohio specific scholarship are offered
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: August 31, 2021

College Jumpstart Scholarship

• Eligibility: Applicant must submit an essay about why they are committed to earning a higher education degree
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: April 15 and October 17 of each year

Resources for Adult Learners

The following resources are a solid place to start your higher education journey or help you navigate the next steps. In crafting this post, one could not help but notice all of the for-profit organizations out there. The following resources are credible and free, so make good use of them!

Adult Literacy League

This website, run by the Adult Literacy League located in Winter Park, Florida, lists a number of links to other credible free websites that feature quality learning resources for adult learners.

College for Adults

The College for Adults website (part of the National College Transition Network (NCTN)) offers advice and resources to adults who are going to college for the first time. This includes career planning, college selection, and the application process.

U.S. Department of Education Contacts by State

This handy list of state resources that the U.S. Department of Education offers is invaluable. For example, if you live in NJ, there are phone numbers and official websites for the four main state education departments, including the State Adult Education Agency. Bookmark this website!

Frequently Asked Questions

What about local scholarships?

When it comes to increasing your odds of winning scholarships, local is the way to go. The reasons for this is obvious (less competition), but that doesn’t mean that you won’t have to put plenty of effort in. Finding local scholarships means you need to do more legwork since finding them might take more than a Google search. Click here for a quick guide on how to start searching and applying for local scholarships.

What is the best strategy for applying for scholarships for adults?

Our advice is simple: Apply to as many scholarships as you qualify for while keeping quality in mind. This means that while it is fine to apply for a few “easy to apply” for scholarships, your time will be better spent applying to scholarships that have more specific requirements. Show your maturity, and give the scholarship application process the time and effort it deserves!

Summary of Scholarships for Adults

1. $1,000 “Mom to Scholar” Scholarship for Mothers 
2. $500 Cosmetology No-Essay Scholarship — Adult Learner Award
3. American Legion Non-Traditional Student Scholarship
4. Beacon Scholarship for Rural America
5. Boomer Benefits Scholarship
6. Job-Applications.com Scholarship Programs
7. College Jumpstart Scholarship

Recently expired scholarships for adults

$500 WiseGeek Lifelong Learners No-Essay Grant

• Eligibility: Open to students at every level who have student loan debt
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: April 30, 2021

Association for Nontraditional Students in Higher Education Scholarship Program (ANTSHE)

• Eligibility: Non-traditional adult students that demonstrate need and achievement. Students must become members of ANTSHE, which costs $35.00. A variety of scholarships are offered
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: March 13, 2021