Many women have a hard time paying for college. However, this burden becomes exponentially more difficult when you’re pregnant and still enrolled in school. Luckily, there are specific scholarship and grant options out there designed to help expectant moms pay for college so they don’t have to give up on their dreams.
10 Society Of Women Engineers Scholarships
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) offers several annual scholarships to help encourage more women to pursue both bachelor and graduate degrees in the fields of computer science, engineering, or engineering technology. Any woman attending college to obtain a degree in one of these STEM-related fields can look at the scholarship options and apply through the SWE website. The organization also offers grants in addition to endowed scholarships and corporate-sponsored scholarships.
9 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a specific type of federal grant program open to any undergraduate students who show proof of extreme financial need. While this grant is not exclusive to pregnant women, it is one that any single expectant moms will likely be eligible for, especially if they are full-time college students. You can check with your school’s financial aid office to find out if your school participates, and get more information to apply for the grant.
8 Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation Scholarship
Each year, the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation offers five scholarships of $ 5000 each to low-income mothers so they can pay for their college tuition. Besides need, you must meet the other requirements regarding your degree program and some service or civic-related goals. However, this can be a great option for expectant mothers who have dreams of going into a career field where they plan to make a difference in the world.
7 Jeannette Rankin Foundation Scholarship
Scholarships aren’t just for pregnant women in their late teens or early 20s. In fact, the Jeannette Rankin Foundation Scholarship is specifically designed for low-income women over the age of 35 who are hoping to create better lives for themselves and their children. Applications are accepted between November and February each school year, and any female US citizen attending an accredited institution to obtain an undergraduate degree or trade school certification is eligible, assuming they meet the income requirements.
6 Federal Pell Grants
Pell Grants are available to all college students with extreme financial needs, including pregnant mothers. Depending on your household income when you complete the FAFSA, you may qualify for as much as $ 5,000 per semester. Because it is a federal program, the only way to determine whether you qualify is by completing the FAFSA for the upcoming school year.
5 Women’s Independence Scholarship Program
If you are a pregnant woman who recently left an abusive relationship, you may be eligible for a scholarship from the Women’s Independence Scholarship Program. The program awards tuition and housing scholarships for women who are enrolled in school but disadvantaged after leaving a domestic violence or abusive relationship situation. You can also receive this scholarship even if you are attending part-time, making it a great option for moms who plan to cut back on school in the semester after their child is born.
4 PEO International Scholarships, Grants, and Loans
Since 1869, PEO International has been helping women gain access to higher education through scholarships, loans, and other forms of financial aid. Currently, the organization offers a total of 5 scholarship, grant, and low-interest loan programs for women. The organization frequently awards scholarships to pregnant women and mothers, and totals can reach over $ 10,000 depending on your need and what qualifications you meet.
3 Women’s Opportunity Awards
The non-profit Soroptimist offers a wide variety of aid options to women who are trying to better themselves and break the cycle of poverty. However, one specific scholarship option is the Women’s Opportunity Awards, which is only available to current and expectant mothers who are looking for additional options to help them pay for college. You can apply between July and December 1 each year, and awards are given out through local chapters, which increases your odds of qualifying.
2 American Association of University Women
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) awards yearly scholarships, grants, and other types of financial assistance to women across the United States. They have multiple aid options, so it’s a good idea to go onto their website and research the best options based on your need and other qualifications.
1 Other Scholarships
In many cases, women are eligible for scholarships based on a wide variety of characteristics, not just the fact that they’re pregnant. Therefore, it may be worth using college scholarship search sites to determine what types of assistance you may qualify for based on your demographics and family history. Who knows, you just may find that you qualify for several great scholarships by simply being yourself.
Paying for college can be stressful for anyone. However, being a pregnant mother makes it that much harder. Hopefully, this list can help you access some additional scholarships and grants, so you can stay in school and provide for your child in years to come.
Sources: Society of Women Engineers, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation, Jeannette Rankin Foundation Scholarship, Women’s Independence Scholarship Program, PEO International, Soroptimist, American Association of University Women