Adult Students Can Earn Big Scholarships

Posted by Ben Kaplan
Terrific scholarship opportunities are available for adults going back to school

As a 44-year-old mother of six, Grace MacDowell-Boyer didn’t fit the profile of a “typical” college student. 

But after years of volunteering with developmentally challenged kids—plus raising three autistic children of her own—Grace decided to return to school to pursue a degree in psychology and research new ways to help other autistic youth.
 
When Grace heard about the All-USA College Academic Team—a prestigious national scholarship program for college undergraduates—she realized that although most prior winners were young enough to be her kids, this didn’t mean she couldn’t apply.  So she decided to go for the $2,500 prize.
 
When the scholarship results were announced, surprise, surprise:  Of the 20 national winners, Grace was the only grandmother.

 For other ambitious grandmothers—plus mothers, fathers, grandfathers and other non-traditional students over age 25 who want to go back to college—know this:  There exists a rich cornucopia of exciting scholarship opportunities and possibilities just for someone like you.
 
A wide variety of associations, organizations and foundations have created scholarships that recognize the broader life experiences and unique accomplishments of adult and non-traditional students.  The Jeannette Rankin Foundation, for instance, has awarded more than 450 scholarships to women ages 35 or older who have faced substantial challenges in their lives.
 
Some of these groups—such as the Golden Key International Honour Society and the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation—require that a student be a member to apply.  Joining one or more of these organizations is beneficial to any scholarship seeker; the many benefits accrued by belonging to these groups usually outweigh the nominal student-membership fees.
 
If you or a spouse belongs to a labor union, there are also additional college cash possibilities.  The Union Plus Scholarship Program, for example, has awarded more than $2.4 million in scholarships to labor union members and their families.
 
Another important source of scholarship dollars comes from businesses and corporations with a demonstrated interest in older students.  One such company is Talbots, the women’s clothing store found in shopping malls across the U.S.:  The company offers 55 different college scholarships each year, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, to women who earned their high school diploma or GED at least 10 years ago.
 
Many such scholarship programs emphasize an adult student’s reasons for going back to school and look for evidence of a heartfelt commitment to reaching his or her educational goals.  Such essay-based scholarship programs frequently ask each applicant to explain his or her desire to pursue a degree despite obstacles that may stand in the way.
 
Additionally, one of the best sources of aid for adult returning students comes from colleges and universities with large populations of older students on campus.  Penn State University, for instance, offers more than three dozen different scholarships for adult learners.  To find out more information about such programs at the school of your choice, check with the college’s “extension school” or adult re-entry department.
 
Those working for middle-to-large corporations should also inquire about “tuition reimbursement” programs offered by their employers.  United Technologies Corporation, for example, pays full tuition for degree programs, offers three hours paid leave per week to take classes and doles out a $10,000 stock reward upon degree completion.
 
A final source of tuition financing for older students comes from state, county and city governments that seek to assist workers who have been “downsized” or laid-off.  Many states even offer free or reduced tuition to prospective students over age 60.  The state of Alabama, for instance, offers free tuition to senior citizens attending public two-year colleges in the state.
 
One more thing:  Just like Grace discovered, older students can actually apply for many of the same undergraduate-level scholarships as younger students (many such programs don’t have age requirements).  In fact, as an older student, you likely have more interesting real-world experiences to share in your scholarship application materials that can give you the edge over traditional-aged applicants.
 
So maybe you decided to take some time off during college and never quite made it back.  Or perhaps you’re in the middle of your career and now are looking to retrain for a different line of work.  According to the U.S. Department of Education, more than 43 percent of college undergraduates are age 24 or older, with more than one out of four undergraduates at least age 30.
 
Whatever your situation, don’t let age or finances become an all-too-convenient excuse for failing to rekindle your educational dreams.  Forever engraved in stone at the National Archives building in Washington D.C. is the famous line from William Shakespeare:  “What is past is prologue.”

The most exciting and fulfilling chapter of your life could very well be the one yet to come. 

For more tips on how adult non-traditional students can earn college scholarships, see Ben Kaplan's life-changing DVD, Finding College Cash in Tough Times.  The DVD (plus the worksheets that come with it) features essential information for every adult or non-traditional student considering returning to school during the current economic recession.

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A Very Brief Biography

Ben Kaplan is one of the nation's leading experts on college admissions, scholarships, financial aid, educational savings and investing, student success, and youth personal empowerment issues.

He serves as the "mayor" of the City of College Dreams and has authored 12 best-selling books and CDs, including his new instructional DVD, "Finding College Cash in Tough Times."