Scholarships for Adults Going Back to School
52 scholarships · Updated November 2026
These scholarships welcome adult and returning students, including parents, workers changing careers and anyone finishing a degree they started years ago. Several are reserved for women or single parents who support a family.
Federal student aid has no age limit, so file the FAFSA first and ask your employer about tuition assistance. Our take on going back to school as an adult walks through the costs and payoff. Then add scholarships like these, which weigh your work history and goals rather than your high school grades.
Governors' Scholarship for Foster Youth Opening Soon
Offered by College Success Foundation
EAA Aviation Foundation Flight Training Scholarships
Offered by EAA Aviation Foundation (Experimental Aircraft Association)
California-Hawaii Elks Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities Opening Soon
Offered by California-Hawaii Elks Major Project, Inc.
PCCA Scholarship Program Opening Soon
Offered by PCCA Education & Research Foundation (Power & Communication Contractors Association)
Bering Straits Foundation Scholarship
Offered by Bering Straits Foundation (Bering Straits Native Corporation)
The Aleut Foundation (Ulakaia Center) General Scholarship
Offered by The Aleut Foundation / Ulakaia Center
First Tech Federal Credit Union STEM Scholarship Opening Soon
Offered by First Technology Federal Credit Union
Grand Rapids Community Foundation Scholarships Opening Soon
Offered by Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Scholarships Opening Soon
Offered by Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
MTNA Young Artist Performance Competitions (Brass and Voice)
Offered by Music Teachers National Association
Alltricity Scholarship Foundation Scholarships
Offered by Alltricity Scholarship Foundation (Alltricity Network, formerly RMEL)
PMA Educational Foundation Scholarships and Tooling Awards
Offered by Precision Metalforming Association Educational Foundation (PMAEF)
SDMS Foundation Sonography Student Scholarship
Offered by SDMS Foundation (Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography)
Berks County Community Foundation Scholarships Opening Soon
Offered by Berks County Community Foundation
NBAA William M. Fanning Maintenance Scholarship
Offered by NBAA Charities (National Business Aviation Association)
Nephrology Nursing Foundation ELEVATE Education Scholarship
Offered by Nephrology Nursing Foundation (American Nephrology Nurses Association)
ANA Summer Seminar Member Scholarships (Lecce, Browne & Hull) Last Chance
Offered by American Numismatic Association
NBAA Corporate Aircraft Association Scholarship for Future Aviation Leaders
Offered by NBAA Charities and the Corporate Aircraft Association
CCME Scholarships for Military-Affiliated Students
Offered by Council of College and Military Educators (CCME)
GFWC of Massachusetts Woman Returning to School Scholarship
Offered by General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts
AGC of Missouri Trade Apprenticeship and Technical Education Scholarship
Offered by AGC of Missouri Education Foundation
Scholarships for Adults By The Numbers
- The CIRI Foundation Higher Education Scholarships
Based on the 52 listings above. Typical award is the median top amount each sponsor publishes.
Can You Get A Scholarship As An Adult?
Yes. Age rarely disqualifies anyone, and nontraditional students are an established category with their own awards. The American Legion Auxiliary's Non-Traditional Student Scholarship and the Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award both exist specifically for adults, parents and career changers.
Scholarships For Specific Groups Of Adult Learners
Women 35 and older with low incomes can apply to the Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund, and the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation supports low-income mothers. Many colleges offer Osher Reentry Scholarships for students returning after a long break. Veterans should start with our military scholarships page, and adults training for a skilled job can browse trade school scholarships.
Grants Vs. Scholarships For Adults
Pell Grants and state grants are need-based and come through the FAFSA, with no age limit. Scholarships come from private sponsors and require their own applications. Neither has to be repaid. If you're 24 or older, you file the FAFSA as an independent student, so your parents' income doesn't count.
Employer Tuition Assistance And Prior Learning
Employers can pay up to $5,250 a year toward your education tax-free under Section 127 of the tax code, so ask HR before you enroll, since many plans require approval first. Credit for prior learning, through exams like CLEP or a portfolio review, can also cut the number of classes you pay for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There An Age Limit For Scholarships?
Most scholarships have no age limit. Some target students right out of high school, but every award on this page accepts adult learners.
Can I Get A Scholarship To Finish My Degree?
Yes. The P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education funds women whose education was interrupted, and several other awards on this page accept part-time students.
Can A 30-Year-Old Get A Scholarship?
Yes. Most scholarships have no age limit, and every award on this page accepts adult learners. Some, like the Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund, are reserved for older students.
What Are The Easiest Scholarships For Adults To Win?
Local awards usually have the fewest applicants. Check your college's own foundation, your employer, your union or professional association, and community groups near you.
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Why Trust The College Investor
The College Investor has helped millions of readers navigate paying for college and student loans since 2009. Every scholarship in our database is individually reviewed by our team before it goes live, and re-checked regularly so deadlines and links stay current.
Our Scholarship Standards
A listing here means our team checked that the award is real, currently active, and actually pays out. We won't list a scholarship that:
- Charges any kind of fee to apply
- Makes you join a paid membership, or sign up for an app or service, just to be eligible
- Has a privacy policy that would let the sponsor sell or misuse your information
- Collects essays, ideas, or contact details mainly to feed the sponsor's marketing
- Can't show a winner from the past 12 months, or offers no way to reach the sponsor
One nuance: established companies and nonprofits that run applications through their own systems may still be listed, even though creating an account there is part of applying.
Spot a listing that doesn't meet this bar? Email [email protected] and we'll review it. You can also read our editorial guidelines.