This may have come as a surprise, but there are actually several scholarships for women over 50 available in the United States. Getting a higher education level is one of the fastest ways to increase one’s salary, and that is a legit reason to pursue a degree. Moreover, women in this range of age are relatively ‘free’ from their responsibility to take care of their children and family.
Since the kids are all grownups now, it is the perfect chance to seize the opportunity for that dream once more. By completing a degree these women can have better self-esteem, confidence, and also better chance in career.
Foundations of Scholarships for Women over 50
However, the cost of education in United States is especially high. Statistics have shown that most people have to spend around $20,000 for a four year college education. There are several ways to cover the tuition cost, which include paying the tuition fee yourself, getting some grants and also scholarship.
Grants and scholarships are the most ideal option for most students. They are basically free money that can be used to cover a part of your education fees. Below are some of the foundations in United States offering either grants or scholarships for women over 50:
Talbots Women’s Scholarship Fund
This scholarship program is issued by the Talbots Charitable Foundation. There are several scholarships available for women who earned their high school diploma at least 10 years ago. Currently there are 60 scholarships available from this foundation. From that number, there are 50 $1,000 scholarships and 10 $10,000 scholarships. The deadline is rather fast, so you may want to submit your application as soon as possible.
AARP Foundation Women’s Scholarship Program
http://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/our-work/income/womens-scholarship-program/
This scholarship program aims to help women over 50 who come from low income families. The scholarship is available for many sectors, including skill upgrade, training and also education. Hopefully these women can get better jobs and better life for their family. The low income criterion for this scholarship is maximum 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. There are some preferences given for the unemployed, people with low salary, and people with children, and veterans. The scholarship money will be transferred to the school directly for tuition, books and fees.
The American Association of University Women
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is a big group that helps women go to school. They want to make sure all women can get a good education, no matter how much money they have. AAUW gives over $3.7 million to support more than 245 fellowships and grants.
They have seven different types of fellowships. One of them is called the International Fellowship. It helps women who want to study or do research in the United States but aren’t from here. It’s a good opportunity for women living in other countries.
- US citizen: Not required
- Living in the US: Not necessary
- Minimum age requirement: Varies depending on the fellowship
- Application deadline: Varies depending on the fellowship
Jeanette Rankin Foundation Scholarship Fund
The Jeanette Rankin Foundation offers scholarships to women who are over 35 years old and are citizens of the United States. To apply, you need to be enrolled in an accredited school and meet specific income criteria.
The Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund helps women with low incomes improve their lives through education. It has given over $2 million in scholarships to more than 700 women.
Here’s what you should know:
- US citizen: Required
- Live in the US: Yes
- Minimum age requirement: 35
- Deadline for application: Applications start in November
The Soroptimist Club
The Soroptimist Club supports the Live Your Dream Award program, which assists women who need financial aid for their education. This program is not just for women over 55. Soroptimist is a worldwide group of volunteers that helps women and girls access the education and training they need to become financially independent.
People from countries and territories where Soroptimist operates can apply for this award. These include the US, Canada, Argentina, Panama, Venezuela, Bolivia, Taiwan Province of China, Brazil, Guam, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Chile, Philippines, Colombia, Peru, Korea, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Japan.
- US citizen: Not required
- Live in the US: Not necessary
- Minimum age requirement: No specific age requirements
- Deadline for application: November 15th
Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation
Founded in 2003, the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation continues the legacy of Patsy Mink by focusing on providing educational opportunities for low-income women, particularly mothers, and educational support for children.
Here’s what you should know:
- US citizen: Required
- Live in the US: Yes
- Minimum age requirement: 17
- Deadline for application: To be announced (TBA)
Newcombe Foundation
The Newcombe Foundation is an organization in the United States that helps mature women by offering financial aid for them to earn their bachelor’s degree.
They work together with universities and colleges in New York City, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Washington, DC. This could be a good choice for women living on the East Coast of the United States.
Here’s what you need to know:
- US citizen: Required
- Live in the US: Yes
- Minimum age requirement: 25
- Deadline for application: Varies
Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting (EFWA)
EFWA assists women in advancing their careers in accounting. They offer scholarships at all education levels and provide special Women in Transition (WIT) and Women in Need (WIN) Scholarships for women who are the primary breadwinners for their families.
Here’s what you need to know:
- US citizen: Required
- Live in the US: Required
- Minimum age requirement: None
- Deadline for application: April 30th
Literary Grants
If you’re a writer, there are various groups you can look into for support. These include the National League of American Pen Women or Loft Literary Center. You can find a more detailed list on the Women’s Art website.
Here’s what you need to know:
- US citizen: Based on the availability
- Live in the US: Depends on the availability
- Minimum age requirement: Depends
- Deadline for application: Depends
Government Programs
Some older students may think that they are automatically unqualified to become one of the awardees from the government’s student aid program. This is a misconception. You should submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) too, because this program doesn’t have age restrictions. To be eligible, you have to be financially needy and are currently pursuing undergraduate degree. Contact your college’s financial office and ask for the information about the scholarships for women over 50 from them. Hope that helps!
References :
- AARP Foundation Women’s Scholarship Program : aarp.org/aarp-foundation/our-work/income/womens-scholarship-program
- Business and Professional Women’s Foundation Scholarships : bpwfoundation.org/index.php/about/scholarships
- Talbots Women’s Scholarship Fund : talbots.com/scholarship
- Image : huffingtonpost.com
- (https://sixtyandme.com/10-places-to-look-for-scholarships-for-women-over-50/)
