By Will Geiger

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Updated: October 4th, 2021

According to research from the Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success, 40% of the current undergraduate students at US colleges and universities are nontraditional. These students do not fit into the 18 to 24 year old demographic of people who go to college directly after high school. Luckily, there are a number of scholarships for nontraditional students available!

Jump ahead to:

• Scholarships for Nontraditional Students
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Summary of Top Scholarships for Nontraditional Students
• Upcoming Scholarships

Many nontraditional students are working and are trying to juggle both school and a job. For information on eligibility, the award amount, and application links, for all of the scholarships for nontraditional students keep reading!

Scholarships for Nontraditional Students

Get Educated Online College Scholarship

• Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in an accredited online degree program in the USA who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Amount: $1,000 
• Deadline: October 15th or March 15th of each year

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

• Eligibility: All high school students, college students, graduate students, and adult learners
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: December 31, 2021

American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students

• Eligibility: Applicants must be two-year, dues paying members of the American Legion, Auxiliary, or Sons of The American Legion. Applicants may be 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 each year

Ford Opportunity Program

• Eligibility: Single parents from Oregon and Siskiyou County, California who are/planning to earn a college degree
• Amount: Award covers 90% of unmet college costs (50 are awarded!)
• Deadline: March 1 of each year (must fill out the FAFSA to apply, which opens on October 1–the earlier you fill out the FAFSA, the better!)

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.

See also: Top College Scholarships for Adult Learners

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.

Summary of Top Scholarships for Nontraditional Students

1. Get Educated Online College Scholarship
2. American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students
3. Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
4. Ford Opportunity Program

Scholarships that are closed, but will open soon

$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 

Google SVA Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to  to student veterans who are planning to or already pursuing a higher education degree for computer science in the United States
• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: December 4, 2020

Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship

• Eligibility: Low-income women age 35 or older planning to/pursuing a technical or vocational education, an associate’s degree, or a first bachelor’s degree
• Amount: Varies 
• Opens: November 2021

Little Bundle Mother’s Day Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all mothers
• Amount: $1,000