Adult Scholarships to Apply for in 2024
The Best Adult Scholarships with Upcoming Deadlines
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WayUp Dream Job No-Essay Scholarship
Funded byBold.orgThis scholarship is perfect for any undergrad/grad students or recent graduates who are interested in internships or entry-level job opportunities.Eligibility Criteria:
- Graduation Year: Between 2020 and 2026
Amount:$1,000Deadline is Approaching! 7 days leftOne Click Apply1Filipino-American Scholarship
Funded byLee CortezThis scholarship seeks to support Filipino-American undergraduate students who have a background in community service.Eligibility Criteria:
- Experience: Must have community service experience
- Ethnicity: Must be Filipino
- Education Level: Must be an undergraduate student
Amount:$1,500Deadline:Oct 15, 2024One Click Apply2Charles Cheesman's Student Debt Reduction Scholarship
Funded byCheesman FamilyThis scholarship will provide for college students or adults currently in a career, who have student debt. Students must be African American or Hispanic/Latino and first-generation students in order to apply.Eligibility Criteria:
- Education Level: Undergraduate or graduate student, college graduate
- Race/Ethnicity: African American or Hispanic/Latino
- Debt Status: Has student loan debt
- Background: Was/is a first generation student
Amount:$13,650Deadline:Nov 30, 2024One Click Apply3Jimmy Cardenas Community Leader Scholarship
Funded byCardenas FamilyThis scholarship aims to help undergraduate students in Texas who are interested in pursuing a career that serves their community.Eligibility Criteria:
- Education Level: Must be an undergraduate student or in trade school
- Career of Interest: Must be interested in serving your community via your career
- State: TX
Amount:$501Deadline:Dec 15, 2024One Click Apply4Jose Prado Memorial Scholarship
Funded byMIRTA PradoThis scholarship will support an undergraduate Hispanic/Latinx student as they pursue higher education.Eligibility Criteria:
- Education Level: Undergraduate
- Race/Ethnicity: Hispanic/Latinx
- Background: First generation college student
Amount:$500Deadline:Jun 25, 2025One Click Apply5Chief Lawrence J. Nemec Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Funded byMichael BoschThis scholarship seeks to help five students who are volunteer firefighters or EMTs afford their college education.Eligibility Criteria:
- Experience: Volunteer as a firefighter or EMT
Amount:$16,000Deadline is Approaching! 16 days leftOne Click Apply6Love Island Fan Scholarship
Funded byBold.orgThis scholarship aims to support students who are fans of "Love Island" and are invested in the stories on screen.All students are eligibleAmount:$500Deadline:Aug 31, 2024One Click Apply7NYT Connections Fan Scholarship
Funded byBold.orgThis scholarship seeks to support avid players of The New York Times' "Connections" puzzle who have an idea for their own puzzle!All students are eligibleAmount:$500Deadline:Aug 30, 2024One Click Apply8SmartAsset College SmartStart Personal Finance Scholarship
Funded bySmartAssetThis scholarship seeks to support undergraduate students who are interested in learning more about finances.Eligibility Criteria:
- Education Level: Undergraduate student
- GPA: 3.0 or higher
Amount:$5,000Deadline:Jun 01, 2023One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
1 winner9Joseph Joshua Searor Memorial Scholarship
Funded bySearorThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Joseph Joshua Searor by supporting students who share his passion for nursing and education.Eligibility Criteria:
- Education Level: Undergraduate, trade school, or graduate student
- Field of Study: Nursing
Amount:$5,000Deadline:Feb 18, 2024One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
5 winners10Eduardo Uvaldo Memorial Scholarship
Funded byUvaldoIn memory of Eduardo Uvaldo, this scholarship will support undergraduate and graduate students who have lost a loved one.Eligibility Criteria:
- GPA: 3.0
- Education Level: Undergraduate or Graduate
- Background: Lost a loved one
Amount:$1,000Deadline:Jun 08, 2023One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
2 winners11Peirce College Adult Learners Scholarship
Funded byBold.orgThis scholarship will support one student who is interested in attending Peirce College to maximize their potential in a career of their choosing.All students are eligibleAmount:$1,000Deadline:Jun 01, 2022One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
1 winner12Appily Adult Learners Scholarship
Funded byBold.orgThis scholarship is perfect for anyone over the age of 25 who is considering going back to school to start or complete their Bachelor's degree.All students are eligibleAmount:$1,000Deadline:Apr 01, 2024One Click ApplyScholarship is in review13Scholar Dudes in Computer Science Scholarship
Funded byGolden Diploma LLCThis scholarship seeks to support two undergraduate students pursuing a degree in computer science.Eligibility Criteria:
- Education Level: Undergraduate
- Major: Computer Science
Amount:$1,000Deadline:Feb 20, 2023One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
2 winners14Mary Schonfield PA School Scholarship
Funded bySchonfieldThis scholarship seeks to support adult learners who are studying to become Physician Assistants.Eligibility Criteria:
- Age: 27 years old or older
- Field of Study: Becoming a Physician Assistant
- Gender: Female
Amount:$9,350Deadline:Oct 15, 2023One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
1 winner15OxStem Educational Scholarship
Funded byOxStem FoundationThis scholarship supports underrepresented minorities who are earning an undergraduate or graduate STEM degree at an HBCU.Eligibility Criteria:
- Education Level: Undergraduate or graduate
- Major: STEM
- University Type: HBCU
- GPA: 3.0 or higher
Amount:$10,000Deadline:Apr 04, 2023One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
2 winners16Cosmetology No-Essay Scholarship — Adult Learner Award
Funded byBold.orgThis scholarship will support residents from Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, or Idaho who are interested in pursuing a career in cosmetology, hair styling, hair design, or a related field.Eligibility Criteria:
- State: Arizona, Utah, or Colorado
- Career Interest: Cosmetology, Hair Styling, Hair Design, or a related field
Amount:$500Deadline:Jun 30, 2021One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
1 winner17Mary D. Scholarship
Funded byRyanThis scholarship aims to honor the memory of Mary D. Ryan by supporting female students who are pursuing their educational goals later in life.Eligibility Criteria:
- Education Level: Undergraduate or graduate student
- Age: 25+
- Gender: Female-identifying
- State: Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, or Connecticut
Amount:$1,900Deadline:May 31, 2024One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
1 winner18Emma Jean Ridley Memorial Scholarship
Funded byBeacons of Promise LLCThis scholarship will support African American undergraduate students pursuing careers in the healthcare field.Eligibility Criteria:
- Education Level: Undergraduate
- Race/Ethnicity: African American
- Background: Low-income and first-generation college student
- Major/Field: Medicine/Medical Field
- GPA: 3 or higher
Amount:$1,000Deadline:Jun 16, 2023One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
2 winners19Susan Leslie Wood Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Funded byWestern PA Affiliate of Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses SocietyThis scholarship will support students in Pennsylvania seeking an undergraduate or graduate-level education in wound, ostomy, or continence nursing.Eligibility Criteria:
- Education level: Undergraduate or Graduate students
- State: PA
- Future Career: Nursing
Amount:$2,000Deadline:Apr 15, 2023One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
2 winners20Harvey and Geneva Mabry Second Time Around Scholarship
Funded byApril MabryThis scholarship aims to support adult learners who carry on Geneva Mabry’s legacy of determination when pursuing an education.Eligibility Criteria:
- Race: BIPOC
- Education Level: Undergraduate student
- Age: At least 30 years old
- Status: Returning student
Amount:$500Deadline:Aug 11, 2023One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
2 winners21Steven Penn Bryan Scholarship Fund
Funded byJanai BryanThis scholarship hopes to honor the memory of Steven Penn Bryan by supporting students in their late thirties and above pursuing a degree in counseling or a related field.Eligibility Criteria:
- Age: Late thirties or older
- Education Level: Master's degree
- Field of Study: Counseling or a related field (social work, etc.)
Amount:$10,000Deadline:Dec 19, 2023One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
2 winners22Phoebes in Philanthropy Scholarship
Funded byLove My Phoebe, Inc.This scholarship will support a BIPOC female student over the age of 30 who is pursuing higher education.Eligibility Criteria:
- Education Level: Undergraduate, graduate, or trade school student
- Gender: Woman
- Race/Ethnicity: BIPOC
- Age: 30 years or older
- State: Georgia or New York
Amount:$1,850Deadline:Feb 29, 2024One Click ApplyScholarship is awarded to
1 winner23Tracey Johnson-Webb Adult Learners Scholarship
Funded byAronow.ioThis scholarship seeks to honor the efforts of Tracey Johnson-Webb by supporting adult learners who are handling the responsibilities of work or parenting while pursuing higher education.Eligibility Criteria:
- Education Level: Undergraduate or graduate student
- Age: 40 or older
- Background: Working full time, in or out of the home, while pursuing school
Amount:$2,500Deadline:Jun 28, 2024One Click ApplyScholarship is in review24Debra S. Jackson New Horizons Scholarship
Funded byTamara JacksonThis scholarship seeks to honor the legacy of Debra S. Jackson by supporting students who are making the brave decision to return to school later in life.Eligibility Criteria:
- Age: 40 or older
Amount:$5,000Deadline:Jul 21, 2024One Click ApplyScholarship is in review25
Scholarships for adult students and nontraditional students can help alleviate some of the financial stress of pursuing higher education later in life and give you back time to focus on your studies. One of the most significant barriers for adult learners and nontraditional students is the cost of education, which can be overwhelming for those who are already supporting families or just starting their careers.
Luckily, there are numerous scholarships for adults available that can help relieve some of the financial burden. Scholarships for adult students are intended to help those who didn't have the opportunity to pursue higher education on a traditional timeline go back to school and transition into their dream careers.
Scholarships for adult students are available through federal aid, state-sponsored programs, and individual donors who are passionate about helping nontraditional students and adult learners. Many scholarships for college students do not have age restrictions and accept applications from nontraditional students, so adult learners can often qualify for traditional scholarships for college students. You can browse scholarships for adult students through Bold.org's scholarship search engine.
To learn more about scholarships for college students, check out more blog posts like this one on our Scholarship Blog. And don't forget to create a free Bold.org profile to access hundreds of college scholarships for a chance to win scholarship money.
Federal Student Aid for Adults and Nontraditional Students
Financial aid is a critical tool for adult students and nontraditional students who might be deterred from going back to school by the rising cost of higher education. The process of applying for financial aid as an older student is no different than the process for traditional students or high school seniors.
Adult and nontraditional students should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA, each year to qualify for federal aid. The FAFSA becomes live each year on October 1st for financial aid for the upcoming school year.
Once you complete the FAFSA, you'll receive an expected family contribution that then determines the amount of aid you can receive in financial assistance. Your school will then provide you with a financial aid package usually consisting of a combination of federal student loans, federal work-study, and federal and state grants. You can learn more about applying for financial aid through this blog post.
There are also many private and public scholarships for college students intended for students with demonstrated financial need that don't have an age limit. Older students who qualify for financial aid can apply to need-based scholarships to supplement federal student loans or grants that they receive through their FAFSA application.
Federal Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is one of the most well-known financial aid options for adults and nontraditional students. It is a need-based grant that is available to students pursuing their first undergraduate degree.
One of the benefits of the Pell Grant is that it does not have to be repaid, making it a great option for those who do not want to take on additional debt.
The amount of funding that a student can receive through the Pell Grant varies based on their financial need and the cost of attendance of their chosen institution. However, the maximum award amount for the 2022-2023 academic year is $6,895.
To apply for the Pell Grant, there is no separate application. Rather, potential applicants should complete the FAFSA on time and meet the general federal financial aid eligibility requirements.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is another need-based financial aid program that offers federal financial aid to students with exceptional financial need. Recipients can receive between $100 to $4,000 through the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant each year.
To qualify for this program, applicants need to attend a participating Title IV School and complete the FAFSA on time. The grant is funded in partnership between the federal government and participating schools, with the government providing 75% percent of funds and your school providing 25%.
Imagine America Scholarship
The Imagine America Scholarship from the Imagine America Foundation is another great option for adult students who are pursuing technical or vocational education. This scholarship is awarded to students attending participating career colleges across the United States.
To be eligible for the Imagine America Scholarship, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, have a high school diploma or GED, and demonstrate financial need. The scholarship provides up to $1,000 in funding for tuition and other education related expenses.
Teacher Education Assistance For College and Higher Education Grant
The TEACH Grant from the Department of Education provides up to $4,000 each year in financial aid for students that agree to a four-year service obligation following graduation. Students who receive a TEACH grant agree to teach a high-demand subject in a low income area where teachers are needed for that particular subject in elementary and middle school.
A variety of fields have been designated as high need by the federal or state government and allow those studying them to qualify for a teach grant. Students majoring in sciences, mathematics, special education, a foreign language, and various other subjects can qualify for a TEACH grant.
Are you a first-generation adult learner? Browse these first-generation scholarships to lessen your college costs!
State Specific Grants and Scholarships for Adults
Some states offer grants that are specifically intended for adult and nontraditional students. To qualify for state grants and scholarships, you'll need to be a resident of that particular state and attend college in-state. Here are a few examples of state-specific scholarships for older students:
- The Maine State Grant Program for Adult Learners offers grants for students 24 or older who demonstrate financial need. The program awards $2,500 annually, and a simple application process consisting of just the FAFSA.
- Indiana's "You Can Go Back" Adult Student Grant provides up to $2,000 annually for adult students who are working and starting or finishing a college degree. Both full and part-time adult students can qualify for this award.
- The Idaho Opportunity Scholarship for Adult Learners provides up to $3,500 annually for adult students who are attending college in-state after graduating from an Idaho high school.
- Tennessee's Reconnect Grant provides tuition assistance for adult students who are pursuing an associate degree or a program at a technical school in a Tennessee community college. This award covers the full cost of tuition and fees after other forms of financial aid have been applied.
If you're a single mom, you can find single parent scholarships here on Bold.org!
Scholarships For Paying Off Student Loan Debt
Scholarships from donors on Bold.org can also help adult students reduce their student debt after they have already completed their undergraduate or graduate degree.
These scholarships enable older students to get one step closer to their financial goals of saving, investing, starting a business, or buying a home by assisting them with paying off their student debt. Considering that the average college student graduates with over $30,000 in debt, applying for scholarships that help you reduce your student loan debt can be a game-changer in navigating post-grad finances.
Bold.org Scholarships
Access personalized scholarships tailored for you on Bold.org, where scholarship opportunities are available. Directly apply to these scholarship opportunities with a free Bold.org account. Present your distinctive story to scholarship panels and stand out. Simply apply to any of the above scholarships to get started!
Are you an adult college student with great grades? Check out these academic scholarships now!
It is never too early to start applying for scholarships! There are tons of scholarships for all students. The earlier you start planning for the cost of college, the better prepared you will be. Apply early and often to increase your chances of securing scholarship aid.
To determine if you are eligible for a scholarship, check the scholarship’s eligibility requirements. Here on Bold.org, we list the eligibility criteria, if any, on each scholarship page.
With a Bold.org profile, finding scholarships is easy. Explore and apply for scholarships based on your eligibility. Utilize the scholarship search feature and use the filters to find adult scholarships and other relevant categories. Before applying, carefully review the eligibility requirements and scholarship descriptions to ensure you meet the criteria.