Last Updated on September 17, 2021 by
Nursing school scholarships for single mothers and other women facing difficulties can be the difference between a quality career or more hardship.
Of course, going to nursing school as a single parent has challenges that students without children may not face. Organizing daycare, completing coursework, and financially supporting your children while in school are just a few of the difficulties student single moms will have when starting a degree.
Advice for Single Moms Going to Nursing School
Single moms face different problems, so we’ve summed up some tips specifically for you:
1. Find and use online opportunities.
There are many scholarship opportunities available online through credible universities, convenient, flexible, easily accessible, and allows you to work from home (which is perfect for a toddler). The majority of scholarship opportunities can also be applied online, making them much more accessible.
2. Follow the application deadlines.
Research scholarships well in advance, and be sure to apply at least a week before the stated deadline.
3. Focus on scholarships designed for single moms.
You’d be surprised to know that there are tons of nursing scholarship opportunities out there designed specifically for you. You don’t have to pay back a cent in most of these sponsorships. However, you may be required to serve in that specific community for a short period.
4. You could get paid for studying.
Yes, you read right! There are scholarship opportunities available specifically for single mums that pay you to study. This is to advance and promote education, and it’s a huge bonus.
5. More than 1 500 universities offer on-campus childcare for students with children.
While you’re pursuing your dream, you won’t need to stress about your kid. Focus on your work, and they will take your little one care of with free or discounted meals provided.
Mentoring & support groups are also available at your disposal to help get you through ANY problems you may be facing.
6. Practice self-care.
This should be number one on your to-do list because if you’re not looking after yourself, how will you be able to look after your kid? Take a deep breath and some time out regularly to recharge. If you overwork yourself, you’re going to suffer from burnout.
7. Take advantage of tax breaks.
The Child And Dependent Tax Credit allows single moms to cut their total childcare expenses by 35%.
8. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Get in touch with student advisors, find out more about career options available.
Now that you have the fundamentals down let’s check out some of the best nursing scholarships for single mothers. Ready to find scholarship opportunities that suit your needs? Read on for our comprehensive list:
Nursing Scholarships Single Mothers
Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Get started by filling this application in (electronically or on paper) at the beginning of the year. It’s a pretty basic application, requiring your details and tax information (don’t stress, you can update this after your tax returns).
FAFSA will send you a receipt of the maximum amount you qualify for – click here to apply.
The Pell Grant
These grants are no repayment, and you can use them for any undergrad degree at any accredited university. It’s a government grant, and you can qualify for up to 12 semesters, depending on your academic results. It’s a super flexible option because you can work part or full time.
Foundation Scholarships
This might be your best bet yet, basic requirements with financial cover. All you need to ensure is that you have your U.S citizenship and enroll in an accredited nursing program, then you’re all set to go! Take a look at The Mary Blake Single Parent Nursing Scholarship & The Foundation for the National Student Nurses Association.
Government Nursing Scholarships
This scholarship is specifically for women who are in desperate financial need. However, you will need to work for two years in a high-need location. Pro-tip: you can qualify for four years of tuition cover with a bonus of receiving a monthly stipend and money for books, medical equipment, etc.
Visit their website to find out more.
University Scholarships
There are hundreds of university nursing degrees out there. Still, it’s up to you to choose one that offers a scholarship well suited to your needs—these range from merit-based, need-based, and service-based scholarships. Please note the deadlines, and ensure you apply way in advance to get the benefits.
Local Community Scholarships
Don’t make the mistake of overlooking sponsorship opportunities in your area. You could be sitting on a gold mine. Visit the websites of your local service, financial and corporate companies for sponsorships that you could pursue. However, don’t just stop here; also look at national and state opportunities.
State Scholarships
Are you looking to study and work in-state? Then, this is for you. The high need for nurses has states and organizations investing in plenty of scholarship opportunities for women like you to provide your nursing services (once qualified) in-state.
Private Corps Sponsorships
Johnson & Johnson should be your first choice. This is because they are ranked #1 and provide financial cover to make your nursing dreams a reality. Check out what they offer here.
A few other top corps for nursing sponsorships you should look at are The American Cancer Society & March of Dimes.
American Legion Sponsorships
Are you a wartime veteran heir? Maybe kin to a US patriarch? If so, you have a variety of sponsorships at your disposal. Please make use of them and also take a look at their website.
Moreover, did you know that non-profit nursing organizations offer scholarships, mainly for women?
Why, may you ask? To attract top-quality nurses (potential ones like you) and empower the nursing profession with the best of the best. The scholarships range from providing the financial cover of $500 up to $40 000 a year (depending on the scholarship).
Other Programs
Project Working Mom helps moms get back to school with full scholarships at accredited universities. This program allows flexibility and the ability to pace your time. You can work part or full time.
For more scholarships for single moms, you can also check our complete list here.
In conclusion, we hope that we’ve helped you realize all the opportunities out there. Despite being a single mom faced with financial difficulties, you can still pursue your dream and become financially independent!
