The federal government offers a number of scholarships meant for historically under-represented groups and those facing hard financial situations. One federal program is the Federal Pell Grants. Minority single mothers can apply for the Pell Grants. However, their grant's amount is based upon what school the student attends, the student's financial situation, the student's status as a full or part time student, and how long the student wishes to attend the college. Similar to Pell Grants, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) acts as a credit toward the school the mother wishes to attend. Both of these examples are not loans.
States have programs for minority single mothers to attend college. One example is the Arkansas Single Parent Fund. The funds are distributed to single parents who desire to attend college. Although the fund is meant for any single parent, the organization says its funds benefit women the most. Over 23 percent of Arkansas families are headed by a single mother, according to the Arkansas Single Parent Fund. The fund aids thousands of single mothers per year across Arkansas. In Idaho, the state offers its citizens the Idaho Minority and "At-Risk" Scholarship. This scholarship is given to any Idaho resident that is a first generation college student and from a historically under-represented group.
There are several non-profit organizations that offer scholarships to minority single mothers. One example is Raise the Nation, an organization that gives college grants to single mothers with a track record of community service. Another example is the Jeanette Rankin Foundation. The Jeanette Rankin Foundation distributes college grants to women in desperate economic need. Not all of the examples specifically focus on minority single mothers, but their programs help women attend college. For example, the Business and Professional Women's Association helps women who are typically not of college age re-enter college and many of their grantees are minority single mothers.