Obtaining an education is one of the greatest achievements a person can accomplish. That’s why it’s not unusual for students, after putting their education on hold for whatever reason, decide to return to school to complete their education.
The good news is that scholarship providers recognize this and offer scholarships specifically to such students, because returning to school is an accomplishment in and of itself.
It’s important to note that, in terms of who the scholarships are available to, many of the scholarships refer to college years and do not specify age requirements but are still open to non-traditional, returning or adult students.
Some of the below scholarships, however, have both age and student status requirements.
Additionally, some require certain lengths of time to have lapsed since you’ve been enrolled in school.
For example, if a scholarship is available to a “college senior” or “college junior through graduate student, year 1,” that just means the status you’re currently at or were at when you were last in school.
That means that if you left school after completing your sophomore year of college, for example, you could apply for scholarships available to college juniors because you are going into your junior year of college. "Apply Year" refers to the year you would like a scholarship, so if you've completed your sophomore year, you would want a scholarship for a college junior.
Please note: Many of these scholarships are school-specific, so you may not be eligible for all (or, even, any) of the below scholarships. To find a complete list of scholarships you are eligible for, we recommend that you check your scholarship matches frequently and, of course, fill out your Fastweb profile as thoroughly and completely as possible to maximize your scholarship matches!
Available to: College Students; Ages 55+
Award Amount: $5,000 The Adult Learner Grant is available to students at Calumet College of Saint Joseph. You must be 55 years of age or older to be eligible for this award. Learn more about the Adult Learner Grant.
Available to: Minimum Age 25 Years
Award Amount: 3 Awards of $1,000 The Patrick Atkinson Scholarship is available to non-traditional students at Bismarck State College. You must demonstrate a strong commitment to academic success and volunteering. Also, you must be pursing study in a field that has a direct and positive impact on improving health, education and community and economic development for North Dakota residents. Learn more about the Patrick Atkinson Scholarship.
Available to: Females; Minimum Age 30 Years
Award Amount: 3 Awards of $1,000 The Dr. Agnes Logan Braganza Scholarship is open to non-traditional (age 30 and above) female students at Christopher Newport University. To be considered for this award, you must be at least a sophomore, have earned at least 30 credit hours and have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Additionally, you must be able to demonstrate financial need. Learn more about the Dr. Agnes Logan Braganza Scholarship.
Available to: College Freshmen through College Seniors
Award Amount: Varies The Bernie Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund is available to students from Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. Also eligible for this award are non-traditional students attending the University of Wisconsin - Fond du Lac. Learn more about the Bernie Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Available to: Minimum Age 21 Years
Apply Year: College Junior through Graduate Students, Year 3
Award Amount: $2,000 The P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education is available to female students in the United States and Canada. You must be a citizen of the US or Canada and attend a college or university in the US or Canada. You must be within 24 months of completing your educational goal and have spent at least 24 consecutive months as a non-student during your adult life to be eligible for this award. Students in doctoral and professional degree programs are not eligible. Learn more information about the P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education.
Available to: College Freshman through College Senior; Minimum Age 25 Years
Award Amount: Varies The Non-Traditional Adult Scholarship is open to female adult undergraduate students at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. There must have been a five-year break in your education for you to be considered for this award. Get more information on the Non-Traditional Adult Scholarship.
Available to: College Freshman through College Senior
Award Amount: $5,670 The James E. "Pete" Petersen Scholarship is open to non-traditional female students at Westminster College in Utah enrolled at least half-time. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Preference will be given to single parents. Learn more information about the James E. “Pete” Petersen Scholarship.
Available to: Ages 25 Years and Older
Award Amount: Varies The Fran and David Taylor Non-traditional Student Scholarship is available to non-traditional students attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. You must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 to be eligible for this award. Learn more information about the Fran and David Taylor Non-traditional Student Scholarship.
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: Varies The Janice Marston Fund is available to undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in the Michigan State University, College of Education. You must be an adult student re-entering the University to complete your education and demonstrate academic achievement and financial need to be eligible for this award. Learn more about the Janice Marston Fund.
Available to: Minimum Age 25 Years
Award Amount: $250 The Non-traditional Student Organization Scholarship is available to non-traditional students attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. You must be a member of the Non-traditional Student Organization and demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this award. Learn more information about the Non-traditional Student Organization Scholarship.
Available to: Minimum Age 25 Years
Apply Year: Graduate Students, Years 1 through 5
Award Amount: Varies The Aaron Bram Medical Students Book Fund is available to students at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. You must demonstrate academic excellence and financial need to be eligible for this award. Preference will be given to non-traditional students. Learn more information about the Aaron Bram Medical Students Book Fund.
Available to: Minimum Age 25 Years
Award Amount: Varies The Anna Ropp Scholarship Fund is available to students attending Illinois State University - Mennonite College of Nursing. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. Preference will be given to a non-traditional nursing student in their junior or senior year, or participating in the RN/BSN or equivalent program or graduate students who demonstrate concern for body, mind and spiritual aspects of nursing. Learn more about the Anna Ropp Scholarship.
Available to: College Senior
Award Amount: Varies The Blanche Good Scholarship is available to students at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, College of Education who are non-traditional students interested in multicultural issues who are studying elementary, early childhood or special education. Learn more information about the Blanche Good Scholarship.
Available to: Minimum Age 24 Years
Award Amount: Varies The Bresch Non-Traditional Student Scholarship is available to non-traditional students at Southeastern Community College. You must be at least 24 years of age and be entering a non-traditional career for your gender or be planning an unusual career path to be eligible for this renewable award. Learn more about the Bresch Non-Traditional Student Scholarship.
Available to: College Freshman through Graduate Students, Year 5 Award Amount: $5,550 The Adult Ministry Internship is available to students who are at least 18 years of age, are U.S. citizens and are currently enrolled in college or a GED program to be considered for this internship. Intern duties include assisting in the counseling of homeless individuals and those suffering from substance abuse, ensuring the safety of those inside the mission, assisting with food preparation and service, and assisting with the management and maintenance of the building facilities. Get more information on the Adult Ministry Internship.
Non-Traditional, Adult & Returning Student Scholarships:
Check out the following scholarships for non-traditional, adult and returning students:Adult Learner Grant
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Students; Ages 55+
Award Amount: $5,000 The Adult Learner Grant is available to students at Calumet College of Saint Joseph. You must be 55 years of age or older to be eligible for this award. Learn more about the Adult Learner Grant.
Patrick Atkinson Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: Minimum Age 25 Years
Award Amount: 3 Awards of $1,000 The Patrick Atkinson Scholarship is available to non-traditional students at Bismarck State College. You must demonstrate a strong commitment to academic success and volunteering. Also, you must be pursing study in a field that has a direct and positive impact on improving health, education and community and economic development for North Dakota residents. Learn more about the Patrick Atkinson Scholarship.
Dr. Agnes Logan Braganza Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: Females; Minimum Age 30 Years
Award Amount: 3 Awards of $1,000 The Dr. Agnes Logan Braganza Scholarship is open to non-traditional (age 30 and above) female students at Christopher Newport University. To be considered for this award, you must be at least a sophomore, have earned at least 30 credit hours and have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Additionally, you must be able to demonstrate financial need. Learn more about the Dr. Agnes Logan Braganza Scholarship.
Bernie Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshmen through College Seniors
Award Amount: Varies The Bernie Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund is available to students from Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. Also eligible for this award are non-traditional students attending the University of Wisconsin - Fond du Lac. Learn more about the Bernie Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund.
P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: Minimum Age 21 Years
Apply Year: College Junior through Graduate Students, Year 3
Award Amount: $2,000 The P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education is available to female students in the United States and Canada. You must be a citizen of the US or Canada and attend a college or university in the US or Canada. You must be within 24 months of completing your educational goal and have spent at least 24 consecutive months as a non-student during your adult life to be eligible for this award. Students in doctoral and professional degree programs are not eligible. Learn more information about the P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education.
Non-Traditional Adult Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshman through College Senior; Minimum Age 25 Years
Award Amount: Varies The Non-Traditional Adult Scholarship is open to female adult undergraduate students at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. There must have been a five-year break in your education for you to be considered for this award. Get more information on the Non-Traditional Adult Scholarship.
James E. “Pete” Petersen Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshman through College Senior
Award Amount: $5,670 The James E. "Pete" Petersen Scholarship is open to non-traditional female students at Westminster College in Utah enrolled at least half-time. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Preference will be given to single parents. Learn more information about the James E. “Pete” Petersen Scholarship.
Fran and David Taylor Non-traditional Student Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: Ages 25 Years and Older
Award Amount: Varies The Fran and David Taylor Non-traditional Student Scholarship is available to non-traditional students attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. You must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 to be eligible for this award. Learn more information about the Fran and David Taylor Non-traditional Student Scholarship.
Janice Marston Fund
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: Varies The Janice Marston Fund is available to undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in the Michigan State University, College of Education. You must be an adult student re-entering the University to complete your education and demonstrate academic achievement and financial need to be eligible for this award. Learn more about the Janice Marston Fund.
Non-traditional Student Organization Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: Minimum Age 25 Years
Award Amount: $250 The Non-traditional Student Organization Scholarship is available to non-traditional students attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. You must be a member of the Non-traditional Student Organization and demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this award. Learn more information about the Non-traditional Student Organization Scholarship.
Aaron Bram Medical Students Book Fund
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: Minimum Age 25 Years
Apply Year: Graduate Students, Years 1 through 5
Award Amount: Varies The Aaron Bram Medical Students Book Fund is available to students at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. You must demonstrate academic excellence and financial need to be eligible for this award. Preference will be given to non-traditional students. Learn more information about the Aaron Bram Medical Students Book Fund.
Anna Ropp Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: Minimum Age 25 Years
Award Amount: Varies The Anna Ropp Scholarship Fund is available to students attending Illinois State University - Mennonite College of Nursing. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. Preference will be given to a non-traditional nursing student in their junior or senior year, or participating in the RN/BSN or equivalent program or graduate students who demonstrate concern for body, mind and spiritual aspects of nursing. Learn more about the Anna Ropp Scholarship.
Blanche Good Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Senior
Award Amount: Varies The Blanche Good Scholarship is available to students at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, College of Education who are non-traditional students interested in multicultural issues who are studying elementary, early childhood or special education. Learn more information about the Blanche Good Scholarship.
Bresch Non-Traditional Student Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: Minimum Age 24 Years
Award Amount: Varies The Bresch Non-Traditional Student Scholarship is available to non-traditional students at Southeastern Community College. You must be at least 24 years of age and be entering a non-traditional career for your gender or be planning an unusual career path to be eligible for this renewable award. Learn more about the Bresch Non-Traditional Student Scholarship.
Bonus Internship!
Adult Ministry Internship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshman through Graduate Students, Year 5 Award Amount: $5,550 The Adult Ministry Internship is available to students who are at least 18 years of age, are U.S. citizens and are currently enrolled in college or a GED program to be considered for this internship. Intern duties include assisting in the counseling of homeless individuals and those suffering from substance abuse, ensuring the safety of those inside the mission, assisting with food preparation and service, and assisting with the management and maintenance of the building facilities. Get more information on the Adult Ministry Internship.
