Financial Aid Funding Sources for Women
- Increasing numbers of women are going to college
- Competition for aid is rising
- Review sources of educational funds
More women are going to college in the United States now than during any other time in history. According to the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics, just 41 percent of all students attending college in 1969 were women.
As of 2005, women made up 57 percent of the U.S. college student body. Those are great strides, to be sure, but one problem still remains: finding the cash to pay for college.
With more women attending colleges and universities, not only on campus but online, there is more competition for scholarships, grants and other sources of financial aid. Add to that the growing number of women who are raising children in single parent households and the necessity for student aid becomes even more important.
The good news is there is still plenty of financial assistance available for women who want to pursue higher education, provided the students do their homework and know where to look.
Financial Aid from the Government
GovBenefits.gov
For women who plan to attend college and live in low-income or single-parent households, their first stop should be GovBenefits.gov.
This is a U.S. government web site which was designed with the sole purpose of connecting people with any federal benefits for which they might be qualified. Not only can you find government loans and grants for education through this site, but also financial assistance for child care, counseling, food, housing, health insurance and utility payments.
Loans and grants listed on GovBenefits.gov can help low-income families pay for things like:
- Child care
- Counseling
- Education
- Food
- Health insurance
- Housing
- Utilities
For some of these benefits, you must meet low income guidelines, but if you quality and are attending college to improve your financial situation, you are the person these benefits were designed to help.
Not sure which benefits you might be eligible for? Simply fill out the online questionnaire at GovBenefits.gov, and it will compile a list of programs for which you might be qualified.
FAFSA
The next source of funding everyone, not just women, should check out is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
The FAFSA can also be completed online, and can point you to federal grants and loan programs. Even if you do not live in a low income household, you will still want to complete a FAFSA.
There are many different kinds of student aid available from the U.S. government such as Pell Grants, Stafford and Perkins Loans, as well as campus-based and work-study programs. Even if federal aid doesn't completely cover the cost of tuition every bit helps. Chances are you will be pointed to the FAFSA through the GovBenefits.gov web site.
Funding at the State, Local Level
The federal government isn't the only source of government-based aid.
Most states also offer grant and scholarship programs (search for these government programs in our Debt-Free College Guide). In fact, some states will write off a student's entire cost of education in an effort to fill critical job areas such as law enforcement, teaching and nursing.
The only catch is once a student has their degree they must work in that state for a specified period of time, but if you are enrolled in a online degree program in the state in which you live that probably won't be an issue for you.
Scholarships
Searching on the Web
If government assistance falls short, there are other options as well.
One of the largest databases of scholarships is located at FastWeb.com. Do you belong to a civic group, volunteer for a charity, go to church or have a knack for writing essays? FastWeb.com can match you to scholarships offered by hundreds of organizations.
There are many scholarships listed here that are not based on merit (grades), but rather a student's ties to their community and their ability to express their education goals in an essay. Scholarship awards range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Remember, scholarships, unlike loans, do not need to be repaid, so FastWeb.com is definitely worth checking out.
Funding Just for Women
Of course, there are many scholarships and grants which are aimed specifically at women and helping them achieve their goal of higher education.
The AAUW (formerly American Association of University Women) offers several grants, fellowship and awards to help women:
- change careers,
- advance in the workplace,
- re-enter the workforce
- or enter a degree program in which participation by women has traditionally been low, such as architecture, computer science and engineering.
Other fellowships are further restricted to women of a specific age group and economic background.
Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund offers a scholarship to women who are accepted at or enrolled at a regionally or ACICS accredited institution earning a "technical or vocational education, an associate's degree, or a first bachelor's degree." Scholarship recipients must be at least 35 years old and demonstrate financial need.
Funding by Career Field
Are you interested in a particular career field?
There is usually a professional organization for each technical or skilled career, and they are a good place to check for scholarships. For example, if you are interested in engineering, there is:
- the Society of Women Engineers;
- the Association for Women in Science offers scholarships and fellowships for women interested in studying physics or geoscience;
- and the Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting has a list of awards for women who are interested in crunching numbers.
If you have a pretty good idea of which college or university you would like to study with online, don't forget to ask them about any college-based aid which might be available. There are many grants and scholarships available through colleges and universities with campus-based programs, and many also offer financial assistance to their distance learning students as well.
In fact, some scholarships are available ONLY to distance learning students, so spend a few minutes checking the school's web site or ask your admission counselor about college-based aid. Even colleges which are considered strictly "online" schools offer some forms of financial aid.
Excelsior College, for example, offers several different scholarships based upon financial need, area of study and grade point average.
Protect Yourself from Fraud
Despite advertisements for scholarship search services, there is no such thing as student aid which goes "unclaimed". There is a lot of competition for grants, scholarships and fellowships. The key is to find the money that is being offered to prospective students, apply to as many different funding sources as possible and apply early.
Good Luck!
With the number of women attending college increasing each year, the number of women applying for aid is also on the rise. Now that you know where to find the financial aid, take the next step, fill out all necessary forms and brush up on your essay writing skills, and you could be well on your way to enrolling in college and earning your degree.
Terrance Lee is a veteran news reporter with more than 20 years of experience in radio and television broadcasting. He currently works in marketing and public relations and is a distance learning student.
Comments for Financial Aid Funding Sources for Women:
11 comment(s)
Clarice Schmidt On Saturday, February 27 2010
Excellent articles. I am wondering if there are scholrships, grants,etc. available for pharmicists. I know of someone who is a Pharm. Tech who has the ability and desire to go the whole way but strapped financially, a family. Interested in on=line and integrated learning. thank you.
Sharon White On Wednesday, March 10 2010
I think it's wonderful to have such a variety of funding sources to help one get an education. There are so many, I am not sure where I should inquire. I am wondering if there are grants, financial aid, etc. available for writing. I am currently enrolled at Tidewater Community College in Virginia for pre-Nursing. I already receive FAFSA for the campus classes there. I know I will not be eligible for that aid. I am a single mother of 2 children and I do not work. My interest is with Pen Foster's online course in Freelance Writing. I love to write and came across some online jobs for Freelance Writing/Editing. I am so very eager to commit myself to this but do not have the funds to pay for the tuition. Thank you.
Kelly Balsizer On Sunday, March 21 2010
I have been accepted into the Dental Hygiene program, but must have the fiancial part secure by April 10, and I am trying to find grants for single, unemployed moms, and everything I seem to find the deadline has past. I lost my job 16months ago and I seem to not being able to get fianced for a loan due to being unemployed.. Can anyone point me in the right direction or know where I can get help? I have search serveral places.
Darlene Norman On Friday, April 09 2010
I attend Penn Foster and i just started and,i'm liking it so for but i know that somewhere down the line i know i'm going to probably need some kind of help paying for so and i was hoping if can tell me if ,I can qualify for some kind of grant even though they have a payment plan which good.But i still have other bills that i have to pay and try to stay ahead.can you please help?
Katie Whitworth On Tuesday, April 20 2010
I applied on line but was not asked to write an essay anywhere. I wonder how I can do this to complete my application.
Thank you,
Katie Whitworth
irene santana On Wednesday, May 26 2010
i think its fantastic that all these programs are out there my question are there any programs for grants or aids in dental assistance and if so where can i find the help i need so that i can start college.
Danielle M On Saturday, July 24 2010
I would love to help my Mom get back to school! She sacrificed school to raise me at a young age and I would love to help her finish what she started! Is there a contest where I can write an essay or something to win her a scholarship? Thanks :]
Angie On Tuesday, August 31 2010
I am a nurse and have decided to go back to school for my master's degree. I chose Walden University and have applied for financial aid through FAFSA. I am so nervous and excited at the same time. I just want to get going and see how the online world works!
Gwen Huntley On Tuesday, August 31 2010
I am going back after getting sick in 2003 and not even seeing myself wanting anything but my bed because of chronic pain. Now at this time I see things different and I'm ready.I was a CNA, now I am becoming a coder and billing and office duties. I am 51 years old and starting a new career onine.
Neyssa Ortiz On Tuesday, September 28 2010
I'm attending school and this is my second semester. Going for AS in Medical Billing and Coding. Singelparent working full time and going to school full time, Looking for Financal Aid help, Grants scholarships. I have a very high Grade point average. Please advise.
Thank you
De'Andra Epps On Wednesday, November 17 2010
I hate my job and want to go bacl to school but live pay check to pay check cant quit or save. I need help on how I can quite and go to school in the day work at night part time but still need money to pay the bills