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Top Scholarships for Students With a Disabled Parent in October 2024
By
Lisa Freedland
Lisa Freedland is a Scholarships360 writer with personal experience in psychological research and content writing. She has written content for an online fact-checking organization and has conducted research at the University of Southern California as well as the University of California, Irvine. Lisa graduated from the University of Southern California in Fall 2021 with a degree in Psychology.
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Students with a disabled parent go through a unique set of hardships that can make affording college difficult. Luckily, there are a large number of scholarships available specifically to help those with disabled parents fulfill their college dreams. Remember, although other types of college aid are available, scholarships never need repayment!
Jump ahead to:
- Top scholarships for students with a disabled parent(s)
- Pell Grants for students with a disabled parent(s)
- Tips for applicants
- Upcoming scholarships
- Frequently asked questions
- Additional scholarship categories
Keep on reading to find out about the top scholarships available to you, including information about each scholarship’s eligibility criteria, award amount, and deadline.
Scholarships for students with a disabled parent(s)
ENF Emergency Educational Grant
- Eligibility: Children of deceased or disabled members of the Elks National Foundation (applicants must demonstrate financial need, attend a university in the U.S. as a full-time undergraduate student, and be under 24 years of age)
- Amount: up to $5,000
- Deadline: December 31, 2024
Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship
- Eligibility: Children and spouses of roadway workers killed or left permanently disabled in roadway work zones
- Amount: Up to $10,000
- Deadline: February 15, 2025
SFM Foundation Scholarship
- Eligibility: Children of workers left disabled or fatally injured while working for a Minnesota or Iowa employer (applicants must be between 16 and 25 years of age and planning on pursuing postsecondary education)
- Amount: Up to $15,000 per year
- Deadline: March 31, 2025
Missouri Public Service Survivor Grant
- Eligibility: Children/spouses of public safety officers who have been killed or left permanently disabled in the line of duty (applicants must be enrolled in or accepted to enroll at a Missouri postsecondary school and be less than 24 years old)
- Amount: Tuition for 12 credit hours at the school where you are enrolled full-time
- Deadline: None!
Pell Grants for students with a disabled parent
In addition to ordinary scholarships, students with a disabled parent may be able to receive Pell Grants, scholarships given to help undergraduate students progress their academic careers within their field of interest. Generally, students must demonstrate exceptional financial need in order to qualify. However, on the bright side, Pell Grants require no repayment (except in certain circumstances)! Learn about specific criteria by reading more about Pell Grants.
Tips for applicants
If you’re applying to scholarships for students with disabled parents, you should make sure submit your best applications possible to make them worthwhile. Writing effective essays is one of the best ways to do this. We can help you through the process with guides on starting and ending a scholarship essay, responding to a “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” prompt, writing about yourself, and writing a 250 or 500-word essay. Once you’ve checked those out, try our complete guide to writing a winning scholarship essay. Good luck!
Upcoming scholarships
180 Medical Ron Howell Caregiver College Scholarship
- Eligibility: College students who are the primary unpaid caregiver for a loved one with a chronic disability or medical condition requiring consistent in-home care
- Amount: $1,000
- Opens: January 1
Dependent Children Scholarship Program
- Eligibility: Open to full-time undergraduate students in Tennessee whose parents were left deceased or disabled while on the job in the state of Tennesee
- Amount: Varies based on the student’s financial need and the availability of funds
First Responders Children’s Foundation Scholarship
- Eligibility: Children of first responders attending college
- Amount: $6,250
Kathern F. Gruber Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to spouses, dependent children, and grandchildren of blind and low-vision veterans looking to receive financial assistance for their higher education tuition.
- Amount: $2,000
- Opens: December 2024
Millie Brother Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school and college students who have a deaf parent(s)
- Amount: $3,000 (two scholarships are awarded!)
- Opens: January 1, 2025
Paralyzed Veterans of America Scholarship
- Eligibility: Children of disabled US veterans
- Amount: $1,000 to $2,500
- Opens: March 1, 2025
Pinnacol Foundation Scholarship
- Eligibility: Children of workers who were injured or killed in work-related accidents while working for a Colorado-based employer
- Amount: Varies
- Opens: November 1, 2024
Victoria Ovis Memorial Scholarship
- Eligibility: Children of law enforcement officers who were killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty (applicants must be from or reside in and attend school in New York state)
- Amount: Varies
Vincent Bennett, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
- Eligibility: Incoming college freshmen who are the children of law enforcement officers or firefighters who were killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty (applicants must maintain academic eligibility requirements over the four years of the award)
- Amount: 20,000 over a four-year period ($5,000 per year)
