Unlocking Opportunities: Scholarships for Adult Learners Looking to Further Their Education
It’s common for adult learners to think that their only method of financing college consists of student loans. Many believe that things like scholarships and grants are only available for younger, more traditional students. Thankfully, this isn’t the case at all. As it turns out, there are plenty of scholarships out there for adult students, all designed to help you pay for college without having to take out a lot of student loans.
How can you find these scholarships? Here are a few suggestions.
Check With Your School
Most schools either offer need-based scholarships to students based on their FAFSA results or have a number of private scholarships available, usually offered by alumni. The former are easy to apply for because you just have to submit your FAFSA and wait to see the results of the financial aid package offered by your school. The latter can be a little trickier because you may need to seek out the individual options that you qualify for and apply for the scholarships. Thankfully, your school’s financial aid office can help steer you in the right direction, as well as assist you with the application process.
Ask Your Employer
A lot of adult learners balance school and work, making them eligible for things like tuition reimbursement from their employers. However, this isn’t always the case, especially if you plan on studying a subject that doesn’t apply to your current job or the company is too small for tuition reimbursement programs.
With that said, you aren’t completely out of luck here. Some employers run a private scholarship program or can use their connections to set you up with someone who can help provide you with a scholarship for school. There are plenty of options out there. You just need to ask.
Inquire at Community Organizations
There are plenty of community organizations out there, many of which offer scholarships to people who live in the area. Yes, some of them only provide scholarships to traditional students, but not all of them do this. Others make their scholarship money available to anyone who may need it.
Adult learners may be eligible for scholarships offered by local chamber of commerce organizations, non-profits designed to help people in the community, or other similar groups. If you’re unsure of where to start, ask a non-profit organization. They can help get you started.
Find Other Scholarship Options
On top of all of these options, there are other scholarships that you can seek out and apply for. It will take a little legwork, as you’ll have to do some searches on the internet in order to find organizations that offer scholarships for which you may qualify. From there, you can apply and see what financial opportunities come your way.
Adult Learners Should Consider Dean College
Want to attend college via a program designed just for adult learners? Dean College has a number of options, ranging from certificates to associate degree programs and more. Plus, the financial aid office will help you come up with an affordable way to enroll and attend. Request more information, today!