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Top 11 Scholarships for Nontraditional Students in September 2022
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 about scholarships for nontraditional students
- Upcoming scholarships
- Explore these other scholarship categories
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
“Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: All postsecondary students, regardless of the type of training/education they are pursuing
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: January 31, 2022
$1,000 “A Daring Path” No-Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students and non-students from any field of study who create their ideal life
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: October 30, 2022
Thiel Fellowship
- Eligibility: Individuals under 23 who plan to drop out of college (or not enroll in college) in order to pursue an entrepreneurial project
- Amount: $100,000
- Deadline: Rolling
Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school, college, and nontraditional / adult students who write a 140-character blurb about the dangers of texting while driving
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: September 30, 2022
Get Educated Online College Scholarship
- Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in an accredited online degree program in the U.S. who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: October 15th and March 15th of each year
Worthy Women’s Scholarship
- Eligibility: Women age 30 or older who have decided to enroll in school to pursue their passions
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: December 5, 2022
UNIMA-USA Puppetry Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to UNIMA-USA members who propose a puppetry workshop of their choice that would take place outside the U.S.
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: December 30, 2022
Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
- Eligibility: All high school students, college students, graduate students, and adult learners
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: July 31st and December 31st of each year
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 1st 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!)
E-waste Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school, college, and nontraditional / adult students who answer a prompt expressing their opinion on e-waste.
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: April 30, 2023
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. You can also try out our free scholarship search tool, which custom-matches you to vetted scholarship opportunities.
See also: Top College Scholarships for Adult Learners
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.
Related: Guide to financial aid for part-time students
If I am a 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.
Also see: Advice for low test takers
Upcoming scholarships
Boomer Benefits Scholarship
- Eligibility: Adult students age 50+ who have returned to school to complete their degrees
- Amount: $2,500
Education Support Award
- Eligibility: Low-income mothers pursuing an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree
- Amount: $5,000
- Opens: May 2023
“Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to all postsecondary students, regardless of the type of training/education they are pursuing
- Amount: $500
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
Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship
- Eligibility: Low-income women age 35 or older planning to/pursuing a technical or vocational education, an associate degree, or a first bachelor’s degree
- Amount: Varies
- Opens: November 2022
“Mom to Scholar” Scholarship for Mothers
- Eligibility: Open to mothers over the age of 35 either accepted to or a attending technical, community, or four-year college/university.
- Amount: $1,000
Explore these other scholarship categories:
- Top scholarships for moms
- Top scholarships for adults
- Easy scholarships to apply for
- Top scholarships for online students
- Top no essay scholarships
