There are many scholarships for adult learners and nontraditional students!

According to research from the Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success, 40% of the current undergraduate students at US colleges and universities are nontraditional and do not fit into the 18 to 24 year old demographic of people who go to college directly after high school. Some of these students may have attended college in the past and some may have an associates degree from a two-year college. Many nontraditional students are working and are trying to juggle both school and a job. Luckily, there are several scholarships that help support nontraditional students who are looking to earn their college degree.

For information on eligibility, the award amount, and application links, for all of the scholarships for nontraditional students keep reading!

The “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all students, including high school, college, and graduate students
• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: July 31

The “Be Bold” No-Essay Community Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to students who register to Bold.org and has invited many friends
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: July 31

$1,000 Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all students ranging from high school students to college and community college students. 
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: July 31

Capture the Dream – The Single Parent Scholarship

• Eligibility: Low-income single parents who will be attending a two or four year college in the fall. Eligible applicants must be residents of the Bay Area (CA).
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: June 30th JUST ENDED! Check back next year

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

• Eligibility: All high school students, college students, graduate students, and adult learners
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: July 31st

Huggable Supermom College Scholarship

• Eligibility: College and graduate students who are single moms
• Amount: $2,000 (winners will also receive a year of free high-quality, organic baby formula from Huggable!)
• Deadline: June 30th JUST ENDED! Check back next year

Niche $2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all high school or college students
• Amount: $2,000
• Deadline: July 31

ScholarshipOwl “You Deserve It ” Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all high school and college students
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: July 29th

ScholarshipPoints $10,000 Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: Open to all high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.
• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: July 31

Frequently asked questions about scholarships for adult learners:

Can nontraditional students get scholarships?

Yes! There are a number of scholarships for nontraditional students, many of which are in this post! We also recommend that nontraditional students and adult learners complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid so that they can qualify for need-based financial aid.

Will I qualify for scholarships and financial aid if I am a part-time student?

It depends on the scholarship and on the specific college or university. Different scholarship organizations and colleges will have different requirements about the number of credit hours that you need to qualify for scholarships. You should also know that some scholarships and financial aid programs also have an academic requirement that says you must maintain a specific GPA to remain eligible.

If I am an nontraditional student, will I need to submit SAT or ACT scores?

Some colleges will require all students to submit the SAT or ACT. However, there are a growing number of colleges that are test-optional and do not require any sort of testing for students. Some graduate programs, such as MBA programs, may also waive testing requirements for students with a certain amount of relevant work experience.

To summarize, these are the top scholarships for nontraditional and returning students in 2020:

1. The “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship
2. The “Be Bold” No-Essay Community Scholarship
3. $1,000 Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship
4. Capture the Dream – The Single Parent Scholarship
5. Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
6. Huggable Supermom College Scholarship
7. Niche $2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
8. ScholarshipOwl “You Deserve It ” Scholarship
9. ScholarshipPoints $10,000 Scholarship Program