Adult Learners: Your Complete Guide to US Scholarships and Grants

Think scholarships are only for 18-year-old high school graduates? Think again. There are millions of dollars in financial support waiting for adult students across the US, and most people have no idea they even exist.

The Adult Student Advantage: More Money Than You’d Think

Here’s what catches most returning students off guard: there’s no age limit for federal financial aid. If you’re 35, 55, or even older, you can still access federal grants and student loans—the same programs available to younger students. The key is completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) each year.

Beyond federal aid, private scholarships and grants are increasingly recognizing adult learners. While some awards do target specific age groups, many organizations care only that you’re enrolled in an accredited higher education program. Even better? Numerous scholarships specifically exist for “non-traditional” or returning students.

Many adults also overlook employer-sponsored tuition assistance. Before searching for external funding, check if your employer offers education benefits—it could cover a significant portion of your costs.

Federal Grants: The Free Money Foundation

Let’s start with the no-brainer category—federal grants that apply to any age:

Pell Grant maxes out at $6,895 for the 2022-23 school year and requires FAFSA completion. Need-based, so your financial situation matters.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) adds up to $4,000 annually on top of Pell. Also need-based and FAFSA-dependent.

Both are genuinely free money—no repayment required.

Merit-Based Scholarships for Adult Achievers

If you’ve maintained solid grades or have accomplishments to showcase, these could be your ticket:

College JumpStart Scholarship awards $1,000 annually to adult learners committed to education. The application is refreshingly simple: a short form plus a 250-word statement about your educational goals. They’re genuinely interested in your motivation, not your test scores.

Boomer Benefits Scholarship targets adults 50 and older, offering two $2,500 awards yearly. You’ll need a 3.0 GPA and current enrollment at an accredited institution. Both undergrad and graduate students qualify, and you describe career goals plus community service involvement.

Return2College Award might be the easiest entry point: $1,000, anyone over 17, no maximum age, minimal requirements. You essentially write why you’re pursuing a degree in three sentences. That’s it.

Need-Based Grants for Specific Situations

Some awards are specifically designed for adults facing financial hardship or managing competing responsibilities:

Jeannette Rankin National Scholar Grant is exclusively for women and nonbinary students aged 35+ with low income. Renewable for up to five years, providing unrestricted non-tuition funding whether you attend a four-year university or technical school.

Patsy Mink Education Support Award annually awards five $5,000 scholarships to mothers aged 17+ at any postsecondary education level. You’ll document low-income status; winners are selected based on financial need, personal circumstance, educational path, and service goals.

Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award is for women who are the primary financial support for dependent children, partners, or other relatives. Winners receive $1,000, $5,000, or $16,000 covering undergraduate education costs—including childcare, which is often overlooked in other awards.

Employment & Family-Focused Awards

Juggling work and school? Raising kids while studying? There’s support for that:

Job-Applications.com Working Parent College Scholarship targets employed parents in college, trade school, or accredited programs. Minimum requirements: 3.0 GPA and at least 12 hours of weekly work. You’ll submit a short form and 600-1,000 word essay explaining how you balance parenthood, employment, and education.

Age-Specific Programs Across the US

Ford Opportunity Program targets parents of any age or students 25+ pursuing associate’s or bachelor’s degrees. It covers 90% of attendance costs—substantial support. Catch: limited to Oregon residents and Siskiyou County, California, with 96 renewable awards annually.

Executive Women International’s ASIST (Adult Students in Scholastic Transition) supports those navigating physical, social, or economic life changes. Awards range $2,000-$10,000. Apply through one of their 34 local chapters.

Imagine America’s Adult Skills Education Program requires you to be at least 19 (no upper limit) and enrolled in eligible career or vocational training. Up to $1,000 available.

Your Winning Application Strategy

Don’t stop at national awards. Most adult students overlook local and state funding. Use databases like Scholarships.com and Fastweb, filtering by your specific criteria. You’ll often find opportunities with significantly fewer applicants the more specific you get.

Stay organized obsessively. Create a spreadsheet tracking award name, amount, deadline, and standout eligibility requirements. This prevents missed deadlines and duplicate applications.

Start with FAFSA. Complete it first—it determines federal aid eligibility and many private scholarships request FAFSA information. It’s free and takes about 30 minutes.

Read beyond the title. The distinction between “scholarship” and “grant” isn’t always meaningful. Some nonprofits use terms interchangeably. Don’t dismiss an opportunity based on terminology; verify actual eligibility instead.

Strategic application timing. Apply broadly early in the academic year cycle. Fewer people apply early, improving your odds. Track which applications received responses to refine your approach for subsequent cycles.

The Bottom Line

Adult education funding exists in surprising abundance. The challenge isn’t availability—it’s visibility. Most adults never learn these opportunities exist because they’re not marketed on high school bulletin boards.

Collectively, the programs outlined here represent hundreds of thousands in annual awards. Even if you secure only three or four scholarships, you’ve potentially reduced your loan burden by thousands. That’s worth the application effort.

Begin with FAFSA, map out which awards fit your profile, and approach applications strategically. Education is an investment in yourself—make sure you’re maximizing the free money available to fund it.