Scholarships for Single Moms: 10 Real Awards for 2026
Scholarships for single moms you never repay: 10 national awards from $1,000 to $16,000, plus state and grad picks. Amounts, deadlines, and how to apply.
Reviewed by
Subha
Published
Dec 6, 2025
Last Reviewed
Jun 25, 2026
Click to zoomA smiling woman graduate in a cap and gown holds her diploma outdoors, the milestone scholarships for single moms help make possible.
Going back to school as a single mom is hard enough without the tuition bill on top. Scholarships make it possible, and unlike loans, the money is yours to keep. Many awards are built specifically for mothers raising kids alone.
This guide rounds up 10 real national scholarships for single moms, plus state and situation-specific options, with amounts, deadlines, and exactly how to apply. All figures verified June 2026.
| Headline figure | What it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $16,000 | top award from the Soroptimist Live Your Dream program for women supporting a family | Soroptimist, 2026 |
| 10 | vetted national scholarships for single moms covered in this guide | Patsy Mink Foundation, 2026 |
| $0 | what a scholarship costs you, it is a gift you never repay | Federal Student Aid, 2026 |
| Feb to Mar | peak deadline window for the biggest awards, so prepare early | Rankin Foundation, 2026 |
What to know first
- Scholarships are not loans. The money is a gift you never repay
- Apply to several at once. Awards stack, and most have separate applications
- Watch the calendar. The biggest awards cluster around February deadlines, so start in fall
- The essay matters most. A clear, honest personal story beats a perfect GPA for these awards
- Never pay to apply. A real scholarship will not charge you a fee, ever
Why do scholarships matter so much for single moms?
Because they turn an impossible budget into a workable one. The Soroptimist Live Your Dream award alone runs up to $16,000, and you never repay a cent (Soroptimist, 2026). For a mom funding rent, childcare, and classes on one income, that is the difference between finishing and dropping out.
Many of these awards were created for women in exactly your situation. They weigh your story and your determination, not just test scores.
And they stack. A national scholarship, a state award, and a federal grant can layer together to cover most of your real costs. The trick is applying to several at once and starting before the deadline rush.
What are the 10 best national scholarships for single moms?
These 10 awards accept applicants nationwide and range from $500 to $16,000 (Soroptimist, 2026). Note each deadline and start gathering documents early, because the strongest awards close in winter.
1. Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards
The single biggest award on this list, built for women who are the financial head of their household. You apply through a local club, and winners can advance to regional and international funding.
- Award: up to $16,000
- Deadline: November 15 (opens August 1)
- Apply: soroptimist.org, through your local club
2. Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Support Award
Named for the congresswoman who fought for low-income women, this award favors single moms over 30 balancing family and a degree. Applications turn on your personal story of persistence.
- Award: up to $5,000 (five awards yearly)
- Deadline: August 1
- Apply: patsyminkfoundation.org
3. Women’s Independence Scholarship Program (WISP)
WISP supports single mothers who have survived intimate partner abuse and are rebuilding through education. Funding is renewable for up to five years. You show you left the abuser one to ten years ago and demonstrate need.
- Award: $500 to $2,000 per term
- Deadline: March 1 (spring cycle)
- Apply: wispinc.org
4. Jeannette Rankin National Scholar Grant
Built for women 35 and older with low income who need a first degree or certificate. It renews for up to five years, and the application centers on the economic barriers you face.
- Award: up to $2,500, renewable
- Deadline: February 13 (opens November 3)
- Apply: rankinfoundation.org
5. ANSWER Scholarship
For single moms 25 and older with school-age children in the Carolinas. It pairs money with mentoring and career support, a fit for moms returning to college after a break.
- Award: $2,750/year (2-year degree), $5,500/year (4-year degree)
- Deadline: February 28 (opens November 1)
- Apply: answerscholarship.org
6. Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund
Semester-by-semester help for single parents in certificate, associate, or bachelor’s programs, with mentoring to keep you on track. Covers Arkansas residents.
- Award: up to $1,600 per semester
- Deadline: February 1 (spring)
- Apply: aspsf.org, file FAFSA first
7. Bold.org Single Parent Scholarships
Bold.org hosts many awards for single moms, including the Promising Pathways Single Parent Scholarship. One profile lets you apply to several at once, with amounts and deadlines that vary by award.
- Award: varies, for example $2,000 for Promising Pathways
- Deadline: varies by award
- Apply: bold.org, build a profile
8. Colwell Law Group Single Parent Scholarship
Open to single parents in undergrad, graduate, or law programs, which makes it one of the few that fits moms in grad school. The application is an essay on your challenges and wins as a parent.
- Award: $1,000
- Deadline: May 31
- Apply: via the Colwell Law scholarship page
9. Mom to Scholar Scholarship
From Scholarships360, this helps moms resume a college or technical degree, a fit for single moms over 35 returning after time away. You explain how finishing school changes your family’s future.
- Award: $1,000
- Deadline: January 31
- Apply: scholarships360.org
10. Newland and Newland Single Parent Scholarship
Supports single parents pursuing law or related fields, with spring terms in several states including Florida. The application is an essay on your journey as a single parent.
- Award: $1,000
- Deadline: varies, check the site
- Apply: via the Newland and Newland scholarship page
How are scholarships different from grants?
Scholarships are competitive, won with essays, grades, or a specific background, while grants are mostly need-based and flow from the FAFSA. Single moms should chase both, because they stack on top of each other (Federal Student Aid, 2026).
Start with the free money that needs no essay. The Pell Grant runs up to $7,395 for 2026-27, and one FAFSA also opens FSEOG and state grants. Our guides to education grants for single moms and the Pell Grant for single mothers walk through every dollar.
Then layer the scholarships above on top. Grants build the floor, scholarships raise the ceiling.
What state scholarships can single moms get?
Where you live changes what you can win, because most states run their own awards (Florida Student Financial Aid, 2026). Here are standouts from the states single moms search most.
- Texas: Elizabeth Anne Ala Scholarship (up to $3,000) and the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant. See our Texas grants guide
- Florida: Step Up For Students (up to $7,800, renewable) and Bright Futures. More in our Florida grants guide
- Georgia: AAA Scholarship Foundation (up to $9,000) and Georgia Promise (up to $6,500). See Georgia scholarships for single mothers
- Ohio: Catalyst Scholarship on Bold.org (up to $10,000 for Ohio residents)
- Arizona: Helping Hands for Single Moms Phoenix award and Pathways, which can cover tuition, childcare, and a stipend
Are there scholarships for specific situations?
Yes, and the narrower the criteria, the smaller your competition (UNCF, 2026). If you fit a specific group, these can be easier to win than broad national awards.
- Single Black mothers: UNCF awards over $100 million yearly, NAACP scholarships ($2,000 to $5,000), and Black Girl Vitamins (up to $5,000)
- Moms over 30 and 40: the Bottalla Scholarship (up to $1,500) and Toptal Scholarship for Women. See our guide to scholarships for single moms over 30
- Graduate school: the Colwell Law award and A Bright Future Scholarship (up to $10,000 for minority single parents)
- Nursing: the Washington-Nixon Nursing Scholarship for single mothers in nursing school
How do you apply for scholarships for single moms?
The process is the same across almost every award, and being organized is what wins (Federal Student Aid, 2026). Work through these steps in order.
- Research on free platforms: Scholarships.com, Bold.org, and Fastweb, searching “single mom” and “single parent”
- Gather your documents: transcripts, proof of single-parent status, tax returns, and recommendation letters
- Write one strong essay: tell your real story as a single mom and how the degree changes your family, then adapt it per award
- Track every deadline: set phone reminders, since most close January through March
- Apply to several at once: tools like Going Merry submit one profile to many awards
- Reapply yearly: renew where allowed and reapply where you can, since your eligibility shifts each year
For peer tips and accountability while you apply, our single mom support groups guide points you to communities that share what actually works.
How do you avoid scholarship scams?
Real scholarships never charge a fee, so any award that asks for payment is a scam (FTC, 2026). Single moms searching for fast money are a common target, so guard your details before you apply.
- Never pay to apply: no legitimate scholarship has an application or “processing” fee
- Ignore guaranteed-win promises: every real award reviews applicants and picks winners
- Protect your bank details: a scholarship never needs your bank login or a gift card
- Verify the sponsor: search the name plus “scam” and confirm a real organization stands behind it
FAQs: scholarships for single moms
What is the easiest scholarship for a single mom to get?
Need-based awards with narrow criteria are often the easiest, because fewer people qualify. State funds like the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund and situation-specific awards face less competition than big national names. Apply to several smaller awards rather than betting everything on one large one.
Do scholarships for single moms have to be repaid?
No. Scholarships are gift aid you never repay, the same as grants. The only money that must be repaid is a loan. That is why you should exhaust scholarships and grants first, then borrow only what is left over, if anything.
Can I get a scholarship as a single mom going back to school after years away?
Yes, and several awards exist for exactly that. The Jeannette Rankin grant (women 35 and older), Patsy Mink award, and Mom to Scholar Scholarship all favor moms returning after a break. Your life experience and clear goals are an advantage in these essays, not a drawback.
How many scholarships should I apply for?
As many as you reasonably qualify for. Scholarships stack, so applying to 8 to 10 awards dramatically raises your odds of winning at least one. Reuse a single strong personal essay, adapt it for each award, and the per-application effort drops fast.
What documents do I need to apply?
Most awards ask for the same set: a completed FAFSA, proof of single-parent status, recent tax returns or income proof, school transcripts, and a personal statement. Gather these once, keep digital copies, and you can apply to many scholarships without scrambling each time.
- Soroptimist International. “Live Your Dream Awards,” award amount and eligibility. soroptimist.org (retrieved 2026-06-09)
- Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation. “Education Support Award,” amount and deadline. patsyminkfoundation.org (retrieved 2026-06-09)
- Jeannette Rankin Foundation. “National Scholar Grant,” award and renewal terms. rankinfoundation.org (retrieved 2026-06-09)
- Women’s Independence Scholarship Program. Award range and eligibility. wispinc.org (retrieved 2026-06-09)
- ANSWER Scholarship. Award amounts and application window. answerscholarship.org (retrieved 2026-06-09)
- Federal Student Aid. “Types of Grants” and FAFSA, Pell maximum for 2026-27. studentaid.gov (retrieved 2026-06-09)
- Federal Trade Commission. “Government Grant Scams,” fee-fraud warning. consumer.ftc.gov (retrieved 2026-06-09)
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Reviewed by Subha
Psychologist and writer covering the topics that matter most to single moms, money, mental health, and the small daily rituals that keep a family running. Every article is research-backed and edited four times before publish.
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