Last Updated on January 22, 2024 by Lori Pace
There are some great scholarships to help pregnant students get the education they need and deserve. This article explores their many options.
Whether you’re already an experienced mother with a growing family or expecting for the first time, bringing another child into the world is no small feat. Throw working a full-time job into the mix, and getting a college degree at this stage of your life might seem far out of reach.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Below are several funding options that are available to you. These can help cover the cost of your tuition and may occasionally even help to pay for your everyday expenses, like daycare or other child-minding services.
Scholarships For Pregnant Students
Federal Pell Grants
These grants are open to any individual who wants to further their education but cannot afford to pay tuition costs. Pregnant women and mothers are no exception, and they can also apply for these grants.
Pell Grants usually go to undergraduate students, but postgraduate students may, under certain circumstances, also benefit from this grant.
Successful applicants can receive up to $6,495 for the 2021-22 award year, but the following criteria largely determine the amount of aid:
- Financial need
- Cost of tuition
- The full- or part-time status of the student
To apply for this grant, you will need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. You must continue to submit this form every year you attend school to stay eligible for federal student aid.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial needs are eligible for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. This grant includes pregnant women.
The FSEOG is only available at participating schools. This means that you will not be able to apply for this grant if your school does not participate in the program. You will have to check with your school’s financial aid office to determine whether or not the school offers the FSEOG.
The amount of aid you will receive from the FSEOG ranges from $100 to $4000 a year. This amount depends on the following:
- Your financial need
- When you apply
- The availability of funds at your school
As with the Federal Pell Grant, you will also need to submit the FAFSA form to start the application process for this grant.
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
Recipients of the Pell Grant may also apply for the ACG.
This grant rewards students who are academic achievers in specific degree programs. Grantees are therefore awarded based on both financial need and academic performance.
Students can receive up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study. However, as with all federal aid, the amount that students receive varies depending on the number of eligible individuals.
Applying for the ACG also requires prospective applicants to submit the FAFSA.
Horizons Scholarships For Pregnant Students
The Women in Defense (WID) National Security Organization offers this scholarship to women interested in pursuing a career in national security or defense.
Pregnant women can also apply for this scholarship, provided they are in one of the following areas of study: security studies, military history, government relations, engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, physics, mathematics, international relations, political science, and economics.
Students with a law or business major related to national security or defense are also eligible for this award.
Society of Women Engineers Scholarships
Pregnant women looking to earn a degree in engineering, engineering technology, or computer science should consider applying for a scholarship from the Society of Women Engineers.
This not-for-profit organization offers several different scholarships with different eligibility requirements, several of which aim to support students from under-represented groups.
To make the application process easier, applicants need only to submit one application. They then consider them for all scholarships for which they are eligible.
Talbots Women’s Scholarships Fund For Pregnant Students
The scholarships offered through the Talbots Women’s Scholarship Fund are awarded every year to non-traditional female students. Non-traditional students include expectant mothers and women who had to put their studies on hold to raise a family.
One of the main criteria that applicants must meet is that they must have earned a high school diploma or GED at least ten years before the date of their application.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Grants and Fellowships
AAUW has been one of the largest funders of higher education for women since 1888. It offers some funding opportunities to candidates looking to complete their doctoral and post-doctoral degrees.
It also offers international fellowships for women who are in the process of completing their graduate or postdoctoral studies in the U.S but who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Jeannette Rankin Foundation Women’s Scholarship
The Jeannette Rankin Foundation awards scholarships to low-income women 35 years of age and older. Applicants must also be U.S citizens or permanent residents to apply.
Emerge Scholarships Fund For Pregnant Students
This is another annual scholarship program run by the Jeannette Rankin Foundation.
It aims to provide financial assistance to low-income women who currently reside in the state of Georgia. This is a fantastic option for pregnant women living in this area too.
This scholarship is also awarded based on the student’s current age. Applicants must be 25 years of age or older to apply.
Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund
This scholarship program supports single parents living in the state of Arkansas who want to pursue higher education.
One of the benefits of this program is that the fund’s students receive through the scholarship are not limited to covering their tuition costs. This means that students can also use the funds to pay for everyday expenses, like sending their child(ren) to daycare, traveling expenses, etc.
Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation
This foundation awards five scholarships of up to $5000 to help low-income mothers pay for their college tuition. This makes it an ideal option for pregnant women and young mothers who want to pursue higher education.
Scholarships4Moms
A small private company runs Scholarships4Moms in San Francisco, California. This program aims to provide financial support to all mothers, whether they are single, married, or pregnant.
One scholarship of $10,000 goes to the successful applicant. You can use this money to pay off student debt, cover tuition costs or other university expenses, like books.
Scholarships For Working Adults
Several scholarship programs are open to all working adults. These are also another option for pregnant women and mothers who work full- or part-time.
In conclusion, paying for a college education is challenging even without the added expense of a growing family. Fortunately, as you have seen here, numerous funding opportunities can help bring you closer to achieving your dreams. However, if you haven’t found what you’re looking for here, take a look at our page with more scholarships for single moms.
Whatever you decide, remember: you’ve got this, mama!
