According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, the number of single mothers in college more than doubled between 1999 and 2012. Between the costs of child care and time caring for their children, single moms face unique obstacles to getting their college degree. Luckily, there are a number of scholarships for single moms and moms in general to pay for college.

Jump ahead to:

• Top scholarships for single moms and moms in 2021
• Financial aid tips for moms
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Summary of top scholarships
• Upcoming scholarships

These scholarships for single mothers include awards that support students who are attending both two year and four year institutions. These types of scholarships are so important because they will transform the lives of moms and their children.

Moms and single moms may also be eligible for more general scholarships for women, so you can check out those opportunities too!

Top scholarships for single moms and moms in 2021

$1,000 Raquel Merlini Pay it Forward Scholarship

• Eligibility: Single mothers or divorced women pursuing or considering pursuing a degree in the medical field
• Amount: $1,000 
• Deadline: August 1, 2021

$1,000 Little Bundle Mother’s Day Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all mothers
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: August 9, 2021

Patsy Takemoto Mink Award

• Eligibility: Low-income mothers pursuing an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: August 1, 2021

Custody X Change Giving Fund Scholarship

• Eligibility: Parents who have primary physical custody of their minor children who are enrolled full-time as an undergraduate at an accredited college or university. Applicants must also have a GPA of 3.0 or higher or be a first-semester student
• Amount: $500 to $1,000
• Deadline: There are three due dates each year: Spring: Jan 31, Summer: May 31, Fall: Sep 30

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!)

Live Your Dream Award

• Eligibility: Women with financial need who provide the primary financial support of dependents. Dependents can include children, spouses, partners, siblings and/or parents
• Amount: $16,000
• Deadline: November 1, 2021 (opens on August 1, 2021, but start planning early!)

Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting Graduate Scholarship

• Eligibility: US citizens with financial need who are working towards a graduate accounting degree
• Amount: $1,000 to $2,000 (plus swag!)
• Deadline: April 30, 2022

Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting (EFWA)

• Eligibility: Working women who are the primary breadwinners for their families
• Amount: $1,000 to $16,000 per year
• Deadline: April 30, 2022

Financial aid tips for moms and single moms

Complete the FAFSA

The FAFSA will allow you to unlock need-based financial aid to pay for college. This can include need-based grants, like the Pell Grant, which do not need to be paid back and federal student loans which can have more favorable interest rates and more flexible repayment plans available to you.

We recommend that every single mother who is contemplating going back to college or finishing their degree applies for financial aid with the FAFSA. The other benefit to the FAFSA is that you can typically combine need-based financial aid with merit scholarships.

Apply for Local Scholarships

Chances are that your local community offers some great scholarship opportunities. We are a big fan of local scholarships, because students have a better chance of winning due to the smaller applicant pool. You can check out our guide to local scholarships to learn more about how to find, apply for, and win local scholarships.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do single moms qualify for Pell Grants?

There are four main factors that determine Pell Grant eligibility:

1. Students must demonstrate financial need through the FAFSA
2. Students must be US citizens or eligible non-citizens
3. Students must be attending college as an undergraduate student
4. Eligible students may only use their Pell Grant for 12 semesters (this is total semesters and not necessarily consecutive semesters).

As long as you check off the above eligibility boxes, you will be eligible for a Pell Grant! Remember, applying for the FAFSA will also qualify you for other types of financial aid including federal student loans and work study.

Summary of top scholarships for single mothers

1. $1,000 Raquel Merlini Pay it Forward Scholarship
2. $1,000 Little Bundle Mother’s Day Scholarship
3. Patsy Takemoto Mink Award
4. Custody X Change Giving Fund Scholarship
5. Ford Opportunity Program
6. Live Your Dream Award
7. Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting Graduate Scholarship
8. Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting (EFWA)

Upcoming scholarships for single mothers

Adult Students in Scholastic Transition Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: Adult women who are transitioning to the work force, higher education, or career training
• Amount: Varies
• Opens: January 4, 2022

Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship

• Eligibility: Women who are 35 or older
• Amount: Up to $10,000
• Opens: November 2021

Little Bundle Supermom Scholarship–High School Award 

• Eligibility: Open to all high school level single moms, children of single moms, or people whose lives have been impacted in positive ways by single moms 
• Amount: $1,000

Little Bundle Supermom Scholarship — College Award

• 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 Little Bundle!)

Women’s Independence Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: Female survivors of intimate partner abuse who have financial need
• Amount: $500-$2,000 per semester for undergraduate and $1,000 per semester for graduate study
• Opens: January 1, 2022