What is a Scholarship for Non Traditional Students?

Scholarships for returning students are for people who are pursuing college later in their adult life. It could also be adults returning to school after being in the workforce.

How Do You Qualify for Non Traditional Scholarships?

In general, you may qualify for a scholarship as a non traditional student if you meet one or more of the following six criteria: Non traditional students are over the age of 24, Enroll in college after graduating from high school after 1 year or more, attend college part time, have family duties and limited finances, work full time,

Which Colleges Offer Scholarships for Non Traditional Students?

There are many colleges offering this scholarship. Albright College and Beloit College are some schools that offer this award.

Scholarships for Non Traditional Students

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Written by Dave Moniz

✔️ Edited by Unigo Staff

If you postponed earning your college degree, you may be eligible for scholarships for non-traditional students. Scholarships for returning students are for people who are pursuing college later in their adult life as well as those returning to school after being in the workforce or serving in the military. Learn more about non traditional scholarships below.

List of Scholarships for Non Traditional Students

Questbridge College Prep Scholarship

$8,165 Award Amount

1 Award

Mar 24 Deadline

This scholarship is for high school juniors who have achieved excellent academic results and are from a low-income family.

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Chartway Federal Credit Union Directors’ Memorial Scholarship

$21,000 Award Amount

7 Awards

Mar 31 Deadline

Applicant must be a joint holder or individual account holder of Chartway Federal Credit Union in good standing. Must be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree.

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Women's Another Chance Scholarship

$8,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Apr 1 Deadline

The Women's Another Chance Scholarship is available for mothers who reside in and attend school in the St. Louis area. Applicants must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher and critical unmet financial need. Click here to learn more about eligibility and how you can apply today!

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Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Corporation (HENAAC) Scholars Program

$3,500 Award Amount

109 Awards

Apr 1 Deadline

The Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Corporation Scholarship Program is available for current high school seniors, undergraduates, and returning or non-traditional students who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants must be of Hispanic heritage and plan to pursue a major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

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Gloria and Joseph Mattera National Scholarship Fund for Migrant Children

$500 Award Amount

1 Award

Apr 1 Deadline

Students who show recent history of movement for agricultural employment and are enrolled or accepted at a postsecondary institution OR are high school dropouts or potential dropouts are eligible to apply. Applications are available by contacting the Geneseo Migrant Center.

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GFWC Women's Club of South County Scholarship

$14,600 Award Amount

1 Award

Apr 1 Deadline

This scholarship is available for female Washington County (RI) residents who are 21 years of age or older. Students must be enrolled or registered in an educational or job skills training program and working toward their first degree (associate or bachelor's) or certificate.

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Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship

$10,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Apr 1 Deadline

This scholarship is available for Maine undergraduate and graduate students who have completed at least one year of a community college program or two years at a four-year college or university. Applications will be selected on the basis of academic achievement and unmet financial need.

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Susan Schulman Begley Memorial Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Apr 9 Deadline

This award is open to women who are establishing themselves as a head of household and a single parent, and due to extreme circumstances following the dissolution of an abusive or emotionally traumatic relationship, have no other adequate financial means, and require funds to meet immediate needs for themselves and their children, including rent & food. Students must reside in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and Ventura counties in California.

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Dodell Women's Empowerment Scholarship

$2,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Apr 9 Deadline

U.S. women who are 35 years of age or older and are re-entering or continuing school n order to learn a marketable skill which will lead to economic self-sufficiency are eligible for this award. Students must live and attend school in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, or Ventura counties in California.

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Sylvia and Samuel Schulman Memorial Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Apr 9 Deadline

U.S. single mothers who are entering or continuing school in an accredited institution in order to learn a marketable skill which will lead to economic independence are eligible for this award. Students must reside and attend college/university in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, or Ventura counties in California.

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Linda Todd Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Apr 15 Deadline

This annual award, it goes to an outstanding re-entry Virginia Beach female resident, enrolled in an accredited two or four-year institution. ?The program is supported by Branch member donations and occasional fundraising events. At least one $500 scholarship is available each spring. Learn more and apply today!

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We Give Hope $4,000 Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

3 Awards

Apr 30 Deadline

This is a unique opportunity for anyone who's overcome a major obstacle. If you have survived jail, prison, drug abuse, juvenile hall, the foster care system or any other big challenge, we want you to apply for this scholarship. Only applicants who are california residents are eligible.

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DePaul University Accelerated Adult Degree Completion Program Scholarship

$28,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

May 1 Deadline

U.S. adult students age 24 or older who have an associates degree and plan to attend DePaul University in Illinois to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Services or Applied Behavioral Sciences are eligible for this award.

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Christian Connector “Your RoadMap” $2,000 Christian College Scholarship

$2,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Aug 31 Deadline

Complete the form to receive information from Christian colleges and enter the $5,000 Christian college scholarship drawing. The Christian Connector, as well as those schools that you request information from, will receive your information so they can respond and meet your information request. After completing this form and reviewing your schools of interest, you may also take advantage of the Christian College Scholarship Search. Students must be at least 13 years old to complete our forms.

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Minnesota Child Care Grant

$2,074 Award Amount

2,700 Awards

Aug 31 Deadline

This award is for Minnesota resident students who have a child 12 years old or younger and are attending or planning to attend a Minnesota public or private postsecondary institution. The student must demonstrate financial need and cannot have completed four years of postsecondary education.

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Kathy Johnson Outreach Scholarship

$600 Award Amount

1 Award

Dec 7 Deadline

This award is for a non-traditional undergraduate or post-baccalaureate student. Applicants must attend an Oregon school and pursue a degree in a field of study related to wildlife science.

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Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship - High School Seniors

$5,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Jul 1 Deadline

This award is available for Arkansas high school seniors who are planning to attend a two-year or four-year postsecondary institution in Arkansas. Students must successfully complete the Smart Core curriculum established by the Arkansas Department of Education and have an ACT (or ACT equivalent) score of 19 or higher.

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Higher Education Adult Part-Time Student (HEAPS) Grant Program

$948 Award Amount

3,122 Awards

Jul 1 Deadline

This award is available for West Virginia undergraduate students who are enrolled part-time at an eligible postsecondary institution in West Virginia.

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A. Harry Passow Classroom Teacher Scholarship

$4,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Apr 1 Deadline

This award is available for U.S. college graduate students who are currently teaching K-12 gifted education. Students must have been a member of the National Association for Gifted Children for one year or more and be returning to college to receive advanced training in gifted education.

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Second Chance Endowment Scholarship

$1,500 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 1 Deadline

This award is available for U.S. and international residents of Illinois who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Applicants must be 25 years of age or older.

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Dr. Hans & Clara Zimmerman Foundation Education Scholarship

$2,825 Award Amount

28 Awards

Feb 1 Deadline

This scholarship is available for Hawaii undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring in education with an emphasis on teaching and have a grade point average of 2.8 or higher. Preference is given to non-traditional students with at least two years of teaching experience and to students of Hawaiian ethnicity.

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Bernice Murray Scholarship

$4,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 11 Deadline

This scholarship is available for U.S. undergraduate students. The applicant must demonstrate financial need and be a single parent with primary custody of one or more children under the age of 12. The scholarship was established to honor Bernice Murray’s unselfish contributions to improving the lives of Vermonters.

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Sister Elizabeth Candon Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 11 Deadline

This scholarship is available for female Vermont undergraduate students who are single parents with primary custody of one or more children 12 years of age or younger. Students must demonstrate financial need.

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Northwest Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship

$4,800 Award Amount

4 Awards

Oct 15 Deadline

This award is for U.S. high school graduates who are single parents with near poverty-level income. The applicant must be a resident of Carroll County, AR, Madison County, AR, or Washington County, AR, and must have received or be in the process of applying for a Pell Grant. Click to learn more and apply today!

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Desha County Single Parent Scholarship

$500 Award Amount

10 Awards

Jun 15 Deadline

This award is for single parents who are residents of Desha County, AR. Students must be high school graduates or older at the time of application, and demonstrate financial need.

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Scholarships for non-traditional students often help pay for tuition and fees along with other educational expenses. Unlike a loan, a non-traditional scholarship typically does not need to be paid back. So, if you abide by the terms of the award, it should not add to your college debt.

Who Offers Non Traditional Scholarships?

Diverse group of smiling adult students in a bright corridor.

Providers of non-traditional student scholarships are diverse. You may find them through corporations, professional associations, faith-based organizations, and foundations as well as colleges and universities.

One example is the Founders Scholarship. These awards are for members of Association for Non Traditional Students in Higher Education (ANTSHE), which offers awards of $500 up to full tuition, to students attending four year colleges and universities.

Who Is A Non Traditional Student

Generally, students who did not go from high school right into college are “non-traditional.” Many students start working after earning their diploma or opt to go into military service.However, some may want to pursue college later in their life. This includes students who may have gone to college in the past but did not complete their degree or did and want to earn a new degree

In general, you may qualify for a scholarship as a non-traditional student if you meet one or more of the following six criteria from the NCES:

At least 24 years of age

Did not immediately enroll in college after high school

Work full time

Only attend school part time

Has dependents other than a spouse or partner

Financially independent from parents

Examples of Non Traditional Students

Thoughtful woman studying at laptop in a cozy, plant-filled room.

Non traditional students come from all walks of life. They may be older or younger, starting college after a “gap year” of even over the age of 65! Many non-traditional students are the first in their family to attend college while others may have made substantial progress in completing a degree years ago and have been inspired to return to school to achieve the goal of earning a college degree.

One thing that non-traditional students have in common is they make up the majority of students going to college these days. According to the Hechinger Report, nearly 75% of college students are classified as non-traditional.

Can Non Traditional Students Get Financial Aid?

As a non-traditional student, you may be eligible to participate in federal student financial aid programs. Like any traditional student, you should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Doing so is a key step as it is required to receive any federal student aid including the Pell Grant which can provide eligible non-traditional students with awards of up to $7,395 in 2024-25.

Completing the FAFSA will also be important for qualifying for state financial aid grants and scholarships as well as those awarded by many colleges and universities.

Many scholarships and grants do not distinguish between traditional and non-traditional students, however, since many non-traditional students go to school on a part time basis, the amount of scholarship awards may be less for non-traditional students. There is no age limit for federal student aid programs and most state financial aid programs as well as the vast majority of scholarships awarded by private providers or colleges and universities.

Types of Financial Aid for Non-Traditional Students

Cheerful adult learner smiling while using a laptop in a lively café setting.

Non-traditional students are generally eligible for many of the same types of financial aid traditional students receive. This includes:

Federal Grants: Including Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG). For 2024-25, the maximum award for Pell Grants is $7,395 and $4,000 for the FSEOG program. Both these federal grants are need based.

State Grants and Scholarships: Many states including Indiana, Vermont, Oregon, Virginia, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Tennessee, New York, and Missouri to name a few offer grants and scholarships to non-traditional students who are residents. These programs are often need-based, however, there are programs that are merit-based. Certain states do offer grants and scholarships that focus on non-traditional students and adult learners.

Military & Veterans Benefits: If you or your spouse served in the United States Armed Forces and/or are on active duty, or in the reserves, you may be eligible for benefits that can pay up to your entire tuition, fees, and potentially provide a stipend for living expenses while you are in school. You can learn more about various benefits available to active duty service members, reservists, and veterans here.

College Scholarships and Grants: Many schools offer scholarships and grants to help make the college more affordable. These grants can be merit or need-based. Often, colleges and universities will provide eligible students with scholarships and grants in order to encourage

Private Scholarships: Many foundations, corporations, faith-based organizations, and community groups offer non-traditional students generous scholarships. Private scholarships can play an important role for keeping college costs affordable for non-traditional students. This is because grants and scholarships you may receive from the federal government, your state, or school may not always cover all your tuition, fees, and other educational expenses.

Tuition Assistance From Your Employer: Many public and private sector employers offer their employees valuable benefits that can cover tuition and fees for you to attend college as a non-traditional student.

Student Loans: Non-traditional students are often eligible for student loans to help finance the cost of their education. Unlike grants and scholarships, loans must be repaid so it is important to give careful thought before you take out a student loan. Student loans are available through the federal government as well as private student loan providers. Loans you receive from the federal government will typically have more favorable terms as it relates to repayment and the amount of interest you will pay to borrow.

Can You Get a Scholarship at the Age of 25?

There are scholarships that you may apply to if you are age 25. You may need to show financial need and have at least a GED. One example is the Tennessee Hope Scholarship. It awards up to $2,850 annually. You must also be a resident of Tennessee. Many other states offer similar scholarship and grant opportunities for their residents.

Scholarships for Adult Learners Over the Age of 50

If you are a non-traditional student over the age of 50, there are a number of scholarship opportunities to help you fulfill your dream of earning your college degree. One such opportunity is the Boomer Benefits Scholarship, which provides awards of up to $2,500 to non-traditional students over the age of 50 who are attending a 4 year or graduate degree program. Eligible recipients must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average.

Why Consider Non Traditional Student Scholarships

Smiling man with glasses working on laptop at a bright, modern desk.

Grants and scholarships may help a non-traditional student re enter college and help pay for school. Grants and scholarships can make the cost of getting your degree much more affordable. Some non-traditional students can fully subsidize the cost of their college education through grants and scholarships!

Studies show lifetime earnings are higher with a college degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2023, individuals with a college degree experienced an unemployment rate of just 2.2%. For those individuals with just a high school diploma, the unemployment rate was nearly double this. The difference in weekly earnings was even more pronounced with individuals with a high school diploma receiving average weekly wages of $899 compared to $1,493 for an individual with a college degree.

How Many College Students are Considered Non Traditional?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 6.42 million students over the age of 25, attending colleges and universities in the U.S. as of fall 2021. That’s nearly 34% of all students attending college. Overall, 75% of all college students can be classified as non-traditional.