10 Scholarships for Adult Returning Students | brokeGIRLrich
During my senior year of high school, my parents drilled it into me that one of my “jobs” was to apply for college scholarships. They had a certain amount of money saved up to help me pay for college and the goal was to not go over it. I knew the best thing I could do was apply to everything.
So I did. And I picked a state school – even better, a state school that gave out set scholarships based on your GPA and test scores – and my scholarship level knocked the tuition in half.
But I applied for all sorts of other scholarships too – I did a terrifying oratorical contest at the American Legion and came in second place (ka-ching). I wrote essay after essay of non-sense that I didn’t really care about. For the first time ever, I fully embraced having one hand and went after any scholarships I could leverage that for.
I was a lean, mean scholarship applying machine. And it made a big difference. I came in so far under my parent’s college budget that when I graduated with my first Masters degree (the last school they helped pay for), they gave me a car and rolled everything else they’d saved into my brother’s college fund.
After deciding I was headed back to school, I geared up to apply for scholarships only to find there really aren’t as many for returning students. Especially returning students with a Bachelor’s degree already, trying to change career paths.
That doesn’t mean there are none though, so check out this list of 10 scholarships that adult returning students (people who already have a Bachelors degree) can apply for.
$1,000 Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship
You can apply for this scholarship every month. It’s super easy and will take you less than 5 minutes, no essay required. That being said, every student on earth is probably apply for this thing. You’ve got to be in it to win it though.
Scholarship Detective
This is $1,000 scholarship that also feels a lot like a random giveaway. The deadline to enter is December 31, 2018. Scholarship Detective is also a scholarship search engine.
Teletrac Navman Scholarship
If you are enrolled in a 2 or 4 year program, you can apply for this scholarship. You’ll need to write an essay or record a video on a set topic.
Digital Responsibility Scholarship
This scholarship requires you to write a 140 character statement about digital responsibility. If you’re selected as a finalist, you will be asked to write a full essay.
Because College is Expensive Scholarship
This scholarship has a very easy form entry and is awarded four times per year.
WalletHacks $1,000 Financial Freedom Scholarship
Guys, this one is hosted by a personal finance blogger! Jim Wang over at WalletHacks sponsors this biannual scholarship, so prepare to write about your finances. Note, you do have to be a full time student.
Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship
This one is another form entry that requires a 140 character statement on why won’t text and drive.
$2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
This scholarship requires you to sign up for a free Niche account, but is otherwise easy to apply for.
College JumpStart Scholarship
This is an easy form entry with a 250 word or less personal statement about one of four options.
Unigo $10K Scholarship
You just have to be over 13 years old and enrolled (or planning to enroll by 2024) and write a small essay based on whatever the current weird prompt is. At the moment it’s: “Imagine a historical figure is brought back to life. Who is it? What’s their favorite mobile app?”
AFSA Scholarships 2nd Chance Scholarship
This is a $1,000 scholarship for those with a high school diploma. The funds go directly to your school, so you must already be enrolled.
And as a bonus:
SuretyBonds Small Business Scholarship
If you happen to own a small business (you know, like blogging?), you can apply for a $1,500 scholarship with SuretyBonds.
Another money saving recommendation for non-traditional, returning students is to make sure you get a school ID. There are tons of great student discounts – from those giant famous ones at Apple (yeah, $200 off a laptop) to little local discounts. You can sign up for free with UNiDAYS to get all sorts of student discounts online – it works similiarly to eBates.
You can also check out the Student Advantage card – if you use any of those products already, the $22.50 annual fee might be worth it for the discounts you can get. Your school may also have partnered with them on their own, giving you access to the discounts without having to pay for them.
Finally, there are some great lists out there of in person student discounts that you can use your ID card for, like this list over at dealhack.
