50 Top Scholarships For Non-Traditional Students

“Traditional” students proceed to college directly after high school, potentially followed by graduate school soon afterwards. In today’s world, degrees are more flexible. With many degree programs actually focused on providing degrees for “non-traditional” students. Many non-traditional students work while they attend school, or have taken a noteworthy amount of time off from school and are returning. Other non-traditional students are parents while attending school. As one may expect there are unique challenges, and opportunities for non-traditional students returning to school. There are also some unique ways to fund your education if this is your demographic. Below we’ve included 50 of the top scholarships for non-traditional students, enjoy!

American Legion Auxiliary Non-traditional Student Scholarship

• 2000
• This scholarship was created for non-traditional students who have been away from classes for an extended period of time.
• To be eligible students must be a member of either the American Legion Auxiliary Sons of the American Legion, or the American Legion. Applicants must also experienced a period of time, usually around a year, without being enrolled in a school.

Association for Non-traditional Students in Higher Education

• Varies
• This scholarship thrives to include non-traditional students who truly want to help their community and push their leadership abilities above and beyond. Although this award is greatly about supplying scholarships it is also to celebrate the successes of the stents.
• Applicants must be not-traditional who have and intend to help the community around them. Students must be active.

Osher Reentry Scholarship Program

• Varies
• In 2008 this scholarship was created with the idea that some students have to balance both work and college therefore they try to cater to each student as an individual.Applicants needed to be out of school for a minimum of five years.
• Candidates need to have a minimum of a five year gap without education along with returning to work toward an undergraduate degree completion.

Adult Students in Scholastic Transition Scholarship

• Varies
• This scholarship is non-discriminating. It is for adult learners who are in a transitioning phase of their life such as being a single parent or are a displaced homemaker.
• Candidates must be over the age of 18, be an undergraduate student, and must attend college on a full-time basis to be considered.

Denny’s Single Parent Student Scholarship

• Varies
• Denny’s Single Parent Student Scholarship is for Hispanics that are a single parent. It aids them financially with enrolling in an undergraduate degree in business, entrepreneurship, or marketing in the United States.
• Applicants must be Hispanic, a single parent, have financial need, be a citizen of the United States, and agree to publicly participate in anything regarding this scholarship. Students must also maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship

• Varies
• The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund was created to help single parents who intend on taking courses that can improve how much they make. This award is used to fill in any cap that has arisen financially.
• Students must be Arkansas residents, a single parent, maintain a minimum of a 2.0 GPA, and have a high school diploma or GED.

Women’s Independence Scholarship Program

• Varies
• Unlike many other scholarships, this one is for victims intimate domestic and sexual abuse.
• Applicants must be separated from their abuser at least one year and no longer than seven years. Students must of been working with a domestic abuse agency for at least six months prior to applying for this scholarship.

Jeanette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund

• 2000
• This scholarship is for women who are at least 35 years old and are low income. This award gives women who may have a difficult time landing financial aid an opportunity to have a college education.
• Women who are a minimum of 35 years old, are low income, studying technical or vocational education, and must be a permanent US resident.

Linda Lael Miller Scholarship for Women

• 1000
• The Linda Lael Miller Scholarships is unique as the award can also be used for for things like child care or paying off student loans. This scholarship wants to help make it possible for women to attend college by breaking down barriers that make it difficult.
• Candidates must be a minimum of 25 years old, have obstacles such as transportation or child care, and be a resident of either Canada or the United States.

Talbots Women’s Scholarship Fund

• 1000
• This scholarship is great for women who have been out of high school for at least 10 years. It’s ideal for women that are at a traditional point in their life and find that their age, or gap of education, makes it hard to get financial aid.
• Qualifications include being out of high school for at least 10 years, attending an accredited university or vocational-technical school, and supply a self written essay along with transcripts. Preference will be given to applicants who have great leadership abilities, community participation, and solid work experience.

Possible Woman Foundation International

• Varies
• Possible Woman Foundation International is for women who are planning on returning to school for a non-traditional roles including stay-at-home mothers.. It also helps line these women up with successful people in their given career path.
• Applicants must be going back to school or first beginning in their older years with plans of studying a non-traditional role.

Boomer Benefits Scholarship

• 1000
• This scholarship is for people who are at least 50 years old who want to prepare for the next phase of their life acceptable health insurance. Once a year a scholarship is given to the baby boomers that want to take advantage to this new Era in their life by bettering themselves.
• Contenders should be a minimum of 50 years old, maintain a 3.0 GPA, aspire to help the community around them. Preference will be based off of community service and academic performance.

ScholarshipPoints $1,000 Scholarship

• 1000
• This scholarship can be utilized by all United States citizens who will be attended college at least part-time.
• All United States citizens who will be going to college at least part-time qualify for this scholarship. Applicants must also not be associated with Edvisors Network, Inc or eligibility will be lost.

Make Me Laugh Scholarship

• 1500
• The Make Me Laugh Scholarship can be utilized by students as young as 13. This award wants the applicant to simply follow directions as closely as possible.
• Students must be at least 13 years old, live in the United State or currently or will be enrolled an accredited two or four-year college or a vocational-tech school.

Niche No Essay Scholarship

• 2000
• The Niche No Essay Scholarship is available for both U.S and International students. It is easily completed through an online application.
• All candidates must apply online. They need to also be international or U.S students. The scholarships are not based off o fage, religion, sex, or race.

The Illinois Organization of Mothers of Twins Club, Inc. Scholarship

• 250
• This scholarship is for both fathers and mothers that are residents of Illinois who have birth children that are in multiples such as twins or triplets.
• To qualify, applicants must be residents of Illinois who are either a mother or a father of birth children who are in multiples such as triplets or twins.

Achieving Your Goals Scholarship

• 1000
• The Achieving Your Goals Scholarship shows more and more sides of situations that we all encounter as we all experience things differently. Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or law program. Students must write a 750-word essay that shows how a certain situation or experience has affected your life.
• Applicants must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or law program. Students need to write a 750-word essay and an official transcript.

Student Pilot Scholarship

• 1000
• This scholarship is for female students that are going to attend a certified flying club, flight school, or CFI to obtain a private pilot certificate.
• Female students who plan on obtaining their private pilot certificate from a certified flight school, flying club, or CFI are eligible. It’s a necessity for students to have completed at least one solo flight along with passing the written test.

Shout It Out Scholarship

• 1500
• This Scholarship can be utilized by students as young as 14. The applicant must be enrolled in a higher education institution or plan on being enrolled by 2026. A panel of judges will review all essays submitted based off of originality,creativity, and the essay in whole.
• Candidates must be a minimum of 14 years of age. Students need to currently be enrolled, or be enrolled by 2026, in a higher education institution. Each application submitted will be judged based off of originality,creativity, and the essay in whole.

$1,000 Refermate 2020 Scholarship

• 1000
• For this scholarship entry involves the posting a youtube video along with a 500-word essay. Students 16 years of age and older and are enrolled in a tuition based program are deemed eligible.
• Eligibility requirements include being a minimum of 16 years old, posting a youtube video, writing a 500-word essay, and being a United States resident.

Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship

• 2000
• The Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship seeks students who can follow directions and are creative. Students as young as 14 years old can apply regardless of financial need or academic level.
• Students must be at minimum 14 years old, are currently enrolled or plan on enrolling in an accredited university. Beyond the previously stated qualifications the most important part involved is writing an essay on answering the prompt about Zombie Apocalypse.

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VMFA Visual Arts Fellowship for Professional Artists

• 8000
• The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts sponsored 12 fellowships last year. However, the number of fellowships given is not set in stone. The VMFA is one of the biggest supporting roles for both art history and visual arts in Virginia. Each qualifying applicant will have their submission viewed and graded without knowing who created it as the judges want to ensure talent is award without the possibility of any other prejudice.
• Qualifying applicants must reside in Virginia for a minimum of 24 months. Students must also be able to show in an exemplary fashion their chosen form of art. Applicants must be professional students and be able to supply work samples
  along with their resume.

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Diane Endres Ballweg Scholarship

• 500
• Women that are 30 years of age or older that have already obtained a flying certificate are the ideal candidates. However, women who simply want to learn how to fly are also applicable. This scholarship is awarded by Women in Aviation, International to women who are seeking to advance in their licensure and status.
• The ideal application must be a woman who is no less than 30 years old, has a desire to learn how to fly or are seeking to advance in their rank from a previously completed flying certificate. Only women who are members Women in Aviation, International can apply.

Wings Over 35 Scholarship

• 500
• This scholarship is for students that plan on obtaining a private pilot license caters to individuals, both international and U.S., who are at minimum 35 years of age.
• Applicants must be at least 35 years old, be members of WAI by November 1, and already hold a third-class medical certificate. The candidates must be able to show financial need.

AAUW Career Development Grant

• 7000
• American Association of University Women Educational Foundation awards this scholarship to women who have already obtained their bachelor’s degree. It was created to help students further their education or change careers.
• Applicants must already have acquired their bachelor’s degree and be U.S. citizens or legal residents. Preference will be given to African American women, women who are seeking a nontraditional specialty or their first advanced degree, along with AAUW members.

2020 Overcoming Adversity Scholarship

• 1000
• Kopfler & Hermann are personal injury attorneys who witness people fight through difficult and often tumultuous situations on a day to day basis. Therefore they created this scholarship to help students who have experienced some degree of hardship in their life. They mustn’t only experienced, but also overcome said adversity.
• All applicants must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and hold an undergraduate, graduate, or GED. Another requirement for the 2020 Overcoming Adversity Scholarship is to write a 500-1000 word essay on a personal adversity that has been overcome.

Education Matters $5K Scholarship

• 5000
• This scholarship can show how the desire to succeed in school can oftentimes overcome individuals who struggle to speak up. Applicants must be a minimum of 14 years of age and successfully write at least a 250-word essay on the pre-chosen topic of choice.
• Candidates must write a minimum of a 250-word essay on the pre-chosen topic, be at least 14 years of age, and be a legal resident of the United States to qualify.

UW-Eau Claire Blugold Promise-Sundstrom Scholarship

• This award is for Non-traditional students who graduated from a Wisconsin high school. Preference will be given to candidates who came from Durand High School.
• Candidates must be non-traditional and first generation along with having graduated from a Wisconsin high school. Students must have no more than 30 college credit hours, exhibit financial need, and show leadership and extracurricular involvement. Durand High School graduation are preferred.

Worthy Women’s Professional Studies Scholarship

• 1667
• Women who are at least 30 years old and plan on furthering their education is what the Worthy Women’s Professional Studies Scholarship was intended to be created for.
• Students must be 30 years of age or older. Another eligibility requirement is that the selected applicants must plan on growing their educational portfolio along with enhancing their general professionalism in regards to higher education.

Top Ten List Scholarship

• 1500
• The Top Ten List Scholarship is relatively limitless in regards to who can apply. The student has to write an essay with the top ten reasons as to why they deserve this award.
• Applicants must be 14 years of age or older. They will also need to be enrolled, or plan on being enrolled, in an accredited university or higher education institution.

FACT “Second Chance” Scholarship

• 6250
• This scholarship helps college freshmen who never excelled academically or athletically but want to attend college. Some finalists may get interviewed by the Federation of American Consumers and Travelers (FACT) Scholarship Committee as they want to chose students who truly want to further their education.
• Appropriate contenders haven’t attended school full–time since 2007. Students must also either be members of the Federation of American Consumers and Travelers ( FACT) or are the child or grandchild of a member.

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Imagine America Adult Skills Education Program (ASEP)

• 1000
• The Imagine America Adult Skills Education Program focuses on helping students who have decided to attend a career college. Although this award is often viewed by high schoolers, students must be a minimum of 21 years of age to actually be able to qualify and use this scholarship.
• Students must be a minimum of 21 years of age, a high school graduate, and will be enrolling in a career college. Previous recipients of any other IAF scholarships or awards do not qualify.

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I Have a Dream Scholarship

• 1500
• This Scholarship can be utilized by students as young as 14. The applicant must be enrolled in a higher education institution or plan on being enrolled by 2026. A panel of judges will review all essays submitted based off of originality,creativity, and the essay in whole.
• Candidates must be a minimum of 14 years of age. Students need to currently be enrolled, or be enrolled by 2026, in a higher education institution. Each application submitted will be judged based off of originality,creativity, and the essay in whole.

Sweet and Simple Scholarship

• 1500
• The Sweet and Simple Scholarship is available for just about everyone 14 years of age and older. This scholarship can be utilized by students with or without financial needs along with students who may not have the best academic standing.
• Students need to currently be enrolled, or be enrolled by 2026, in a higher education institution. All candidates have to be at least 14 years old and submit an essay. Each application submitted will be judged based off of originality,creativity, and the essay in whole. There cannot be more than one person per address apply.

UW-Eau Claire Ken and Mary Smith Veteran Scholarship

• 1000
• The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire gives both current and former military students as long as they/are honorably discharged.
• Applicants must be current or former military as long as they’re honorably discharged and go to the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. Although financial need is considered it is not the main focus. Preference will be given to those who show leadership ability and strong morale.

UW-Eau Claire Donald P. Weber Veterans Memorial Scholarship

• 1000
• This scholarship is for Wisconsin veterans who are enrolled or will enroll into a University of Wisconsin institution.
• U.S. veterans who are residents of Wisconsin are applicable. Students must attend a University of Wisconsin institution. All applicants must maintain a satisfactory GPA. Consideration for financial need will occur.

Superpower Scholarship

• 2500
• The Superpower Scholarship is a relatively open award that can be applied to by anyone that is a minimum of 13 years old.Each application submitted will be judged based off of originality,creativity, and the essay in whole.
• Candidates must be at least 13 years old. Each application submitted will be judged based off of creativity,originality,and the essay in its entirety. Students need to currently be enrolled, or be enrolled by 2026, in a higher education institution.

UW-Eau Claire Charlotte L. Grinsel Scholarship

• 5300
• The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire gives awards to veterans who are majoring in chemistry, biology, or physics. There is just one scholarship available a year.
• Veterans who attend the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire that major in chemistry, physics, or biology are eligible for this scholarship. Applicants need to obtain 2 letters of recommendation along with the application form.

All About Education Scholarship

• 3000
• This scholarship aims to find the most creative of writers by asking applicants to answer the question(s) supplied by the sponsor in a creative, honest, and original way. The ideal candidate would be able to convey their answer both distinctively and in a very well-rounded approach.
• Candidates must be at least 14 years of age and be both a legal resident and citizen in the United States. Students can apply to the scholarship regardless of their financial need or academic standing.

Christian Connector $2,500 Christian College Scholarship

• 2500
• This scholarship is based entirely around Christianity and finding a an appropriate Christian college. Unlike many awards, Christian Connector draws the winner at random. This scholarship also offers a variety of colleges along with providing information so the recipient can make a well informed decision.
• Recipients must be able to enroll full-time into a Christian college within 16 months of getting the award. Both U.S residents and international students who plan on attending a Christian higher education institution qualify.

Fifth Month Scholarship

• 1500
• The Fifth Month Scholarship is available for students who are a minimum of 14 years of age. The applicant must be enrolled in a higher education institution or plan on being enrolled by 2026. An annual $1,500 non-renewable scholarship is available.
• Each application submitted will be judged based off of originality, and creativity. Applicants must be at least 14 years of age. Students need to currently be enrolled, or be enrolled by 2026, in a higher education institution

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

• 2000
• This scholarship is for students that are going to enroll full-time in a Christian college. Recipients are selected at random.
• Both U.S residents and international students who plan on attending a Christian higher education institution qualify. As long as students will enroll full-time into a Christian college within 16 months of being selected applying is encouraged regardless of financial need or acedemic standing.Recipients

Do-Over Scholarship

• 1500
• Education Dynamics sponsored this scholarship of an non-renewable $1,500 award for the recipient. It’s highly encouraged to submit an application regardless of academic standing or academic need.
• Students that are a minimum of 14 years of age are currently enrolled, or will enroll by the fall of 2026 are recommended to apply. Academic standing and financial need are not included in the majority of the judgement process .Each application submitted will be judged based off of originality,creativity, and the essay in whole. There cannot be more than one person per address selected.

Flavor of the Month Scholarship

• 1500
• This Scholarship can be utilized by students as young as 14. The applicant must be enrolled in a higher education institution or plan on being enrolled by 2025. A panel of judges will review all essays submitted based off of originality,creativity, and the essay in whole.
• Candidates must be at least 14 years old. Each application submitted will be judged based off of creativity,originality,and the essay in its entirety. Students need to currently be enrolled, or be enrolled by 2025, in a higher education institution. There cannot be more than one submissions per address.

SPROWT Scholarship for Women

• 2500
• Granite Bay Cosmetic Surgery is who sponsors the SPROWT Scholarship for Women. This scholarship is for female residents who are included as being non-traditional per the The National Center for Education Statistics judgement scale.
• Applicants must be female, residents of California, and be a non-traditional student as decided by the criteria of The National Center for Education Statistics.

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Kathy Johnson Outreach Scholarship

• 600
• The Kathy Johnson Outreach Scholarship is a scholarship for non-traditional who are either undergraduate or post-baccalaureate students that are studying in some type of wildlife science. Additionally, all applicants must attend a higher education institution in Oregon.
• To meet eligibility requirements each student must attend an Oregon college, be considered non-traditional, and must study any field that related to wildlife sciences. Applicants must submit Application form, personal statement, 3 personal references, their resume, and a letter of recommendation.

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Larry McDonald Scholarship

• 500
• This scholarship is for adults who are part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community who are either working on their graduate or undergraduate degrees. It’s for recipients who are going through a purposeful change in their life by taking classes in humanities or the arts. Larry McDonald Scholarship applicants need to live in Clark County, WA or Oregon, OR.
• Candidates need to be adults who are members of the LGBT community who are planning on studying the arts and/or humanities. Students must also live in Clark County, WA or Oregon, OR. Applicants must be prepared to attend an interview and produce proper paperwork along with the ability to show financial need.

Saline County Single Parent Scholarship

• 500
• This scholarship is open to single parents who live in Saline County, Arkansas. It was created to help these parents better their financial situation so they can attend college.
• Eligible students are residents of Saline County, Arkansas, are single parents, and are on the undergraduate level. Students must also participate in an interview and be at or near the poverty level.

Cross County Single Parent Scholarship

• 500
• This award was created mainly for single parents who need supplemental income in Cross County, AR. The Cross County Single Parent Scholarship exists through donations with the intent that applicants will be studying a vocationally oriented undergraduate course.
• All applicants must live in Cross County, Arkansas and be a single parent. Recipients must also plan on studying a vocationally oriented undergraduate course. At each and every semester a reapplication must occur.

Desha County Single Parent Scholarship

• 500
• Single parent households who are trying to further their education in hopes to better support their family can be difficult to keep in a higher education institution. With that being said, the Desha County Single Parent Scholarship directly helps financially in this type of situation. Applicants need to be able to prove their financial need and recertify each semester.
• Students must live in Desha County, Arkansas and be a single parent who can demonstrate financial need through appropriate documents. Applicants must be high school graduates.