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.
$15,000
Award Amount
3
Awards
Mar 1
Deadline
This scholarship is open to re-entry students (i.e., those who have been out of school for two or more years) who plan to major in computer science or software engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
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$4,000
Award Amount
4
Awards
Jun 20
Deadline
This scholarship is open to U.S. women who are 25 years of age or older and plan to attend Santa Fe College. Students must be residents of Alachua or Bradford counties in Florida, and must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
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$1,600
Award Amount
1
Award
Jun 15
Deadline
This scholarship is open to U.S. women who are 25 years of age or older and reside in Alachua or Bradford counties in Florida. Students must plan to attend Santa Fe College, and must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
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$7,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 1
Deadline
This scholarship is open to U.S. students who are residents of the Triangle Area of North Carolina (Durham, Orange, and Wake counties) and attend a North Carolina postsecondary institutions. Students must be pursuing a career in the health professions or be a single working parent.
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$1,800
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 1
Deadline
This scholarship is open to incoming and current undergraduate nursing students from Forsyth County, NC, who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students must demonstrate some financial need, although merit is given greater consideration; preference is given to African-American students.
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$900
Award Amount
4
Awards
Apr 1
Deadline
This scholarship is open to traditional and non-traditional undergraduate students who live in housing owned or managed by the Housing Authority of the City of Winston-Salem. Students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher (college students who have been out of school for two or more years with lower grades may be considered on a case-by-case basis).
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$4,600
Award Amount
2
Awards
Mar 15
Deadline
This scholarship is open to U.S. high school seniors/graduates, undergraduate students, and non-traditional students enrolling as undergraduates who are pursuing a health career field. Students must be residents of Canyon and Owyhee Counties in Idaho or Malheur County in Oregon, and have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
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$4,600
Award Amount
2
Awards
Mar 15
Deadline
This scholarship is open to non-traditional Idaho students who enroll in a degree-seeking or certification program at Boise State University or College of Western Idaho. Applicants must be single mothers who demonstrate financial need.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 15
Deadline
This scholarship is open to female re-entry/non-traditional students who are majoring in engineering or computer science and are members of SWE. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and attend an institution within the SWE Region J boundaries.
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$1,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 15
Deadline
This award is open to re-entry/non-traditional female students who plan to major in engineering and have completed two or more years of full-time credits (does not have to be in an engineering curriculum). Students must reside or attend school in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington, and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 1
Deadline
This scholarship is open to women who are 23 years of age or older and attend or plan to attend select NC institutions. Students must have a grade point average of 2.6 or higher, pursue a liberal arts degree, and demonstrate financial need.
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$2,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
Oct 15
Deadline
This scholarship is open to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who live in households served by Tri-County EMC and have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher; financial need will be considered. Priority will be given to non-traditional students.
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$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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$2,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 1
Deadline
The Bess Whitehead Scott - Scribes Scholarship is available for journalism and communications students in Texas who are 40 years of age or older. Award selection will be based on a combination of academic achievement and financial need.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 30
Deadline
The 2021 Justice For All Scholarship will reward one individual with $1,000 who best explains a situation where they persevered through hardship and served justice in one way or another. Check or their scholarship page to apply!
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 1
Deadline
The Marjorie M. and William H. Griffin Scholarship is available for graduating high school seniors and non-traditional students in Washington State. Applicants must plan to attend an accredited college or university in the State of Washington.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Dec 31
Deadline
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be enrolled in college, graduate school, or be a GED holder who are about to attend college; they also must show good academic standing by holding a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The recipient of this scholarship will have demonstrated their interest in serving the less privileged in our community.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jun 30
Deadline
This award is available for undergraduate students in the U.S. who are a manual or power wheelchair user with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
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$1,250
Award Amount
7
Awards
Sep 1
Deadline
This award is for U.S. residents of Illinois, who are currently attending college and are a mother or father of multiple birth children (twins, triplets, quads, or more).
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$50,000
Award Amount
10
Awards
Sep 1
Deadline
The first Osher endowments supporting scholarships were established in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Maine. This scholarship is available for undergraduate level students pursuing their first baccalaureate degree in the 50 states and Washington, DC. Applicants must be returning to education after a minimum of five years absence.
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$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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$1,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
Oct 10
Deadline
Applicants must be at least 16-years-old student, a resident of the United States, enrolled at a tuition based secondary college or university.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 28
Deadline
The Atlanta Divorce Law Group has worked with countless families through the most challenging times of their lives. Our attorneys have experience working through all aspects of divorce proceedings and see the strain it places on families. Despite the fact that many people view divorce as a negative situation, we believe in life Happily Ever After Divorce™. It is our mission to get rid of the stigma of divorce so people can make a real decision for their family’s future that does not come from a place of guilt and shame. We believe that when guilt and shame run the show, families stay stuck in dysfunctional relationships rather than make a movement towards becoming a healthier and happier family that may be under a different framework than marriage but nonetheless still a family.
Through our experience, our attorneys see first hand how divorce can actually leave families happier and lead to positive lives post-divorce. The Atlanta Divorce Law Group is proud to hold The Divorce Stigma Scholarship, for another year, to hear students share their experience with divorce and how it differed from the negative stigma that surrounds divorce today. Share your story with us and explain how a divorce experience of a close friend or family member had positive effects on those involved.
The winner of the scholarship will be chosen based on the criteria outlined below and will be awarded this $1,000 award to pursue their education.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Sep 30
Deadline
To be considered eligible for the Achieving Your Goals Scholarship, students must be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or law program within the United States. High school seniors who will be enrolled in college before the application deadline of September 30th, 2021 are also encouraged to apply. Candidates for this scholarship must have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
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$10,000
Award Amount
10
Awards
May 31
Deadline
Click to learn more and apply today!
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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?
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
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
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
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.
Our Scholarships
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$1,500 – I Have a Dream
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$10,000 – Unigo $10K Award
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$1,500 – Sweet and Simple
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$2,500 – Superpower
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$3,000 – All About Education
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$1,500 – Fifth Month Scholarship
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$1,500 – Do-Over
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$1,500 – Flavor of the Month
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$1,500 – Make Me Laugh
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$1,500 – Shout It Out
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$2,000 – Zombie Apocalypse
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$5,000 – Education Matters
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$1,500 – Top Ten List
Written by Dave Moniz
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Edited by Unigo Staff