Government Grants

• The U.S. government offers need-based grant programs that aren't limited to students of a certain age. These include the Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and the National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant. In addition, states offer specific need-based grants to state residents pursuing a degree. In order to access both federal and state grant programs, you must demonstrate financial need by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be obtained by visiting the U.S. Department of Education website (fafsa.ed.gov). Because federal and state grants are plentiful, you should apply for these first.
  
  

Re-Entry Grants and Scholarships

• Re-entry grants and scholarships are reserved specifically for students who wish to return to school after experiencing an interruption in their education. Different types of organizations offer such aid, usually at the local level. For example, the St. Louis Community Foundation offers two Janice Mosby scholarships each year to adult learners in the amount of $2,500. State and local branches of the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) offer re-entry scholarships to adult learners; the ALA of California, for instance, offers re-entry scholarships valued at $500 and $1,000.
  
  

Non-Traditional Grants and Scholarships

• Non-traditional students enter school later than traditional students, who begin college right after high school. Non-traditional students can seek out local organizations for possible financial aid. For example, the Hamilton Community Foundation in Ohio offers several scholarships for adult students who are residents of the city. The Olympia Tumwater Foundation provides aid to non-traditional students residing in Thurston County, Wash. Visit the financial aid office of the school you wish to attend to find out about organizations in that area that offer aid to non-traditional students.
  
  

Grants and Scholarships for Women

• If you're a woman 50 years of age or older who plans to return to school, there are national organizations that grant money specifically to older female students. Talbots, for example, offers scholarships of up to $10,000 to women who are returning to school at least 10 years after graduating from high school. Executive Women International offers a $2,500 scholarship to adult women who are at transitional points in their lives. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) offers grants to low-income women 40 years of age or older.