Scholarships for Single Parents in Texas

Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF)

• Residents of Bowie County in Texas are eligible to apply for financial assistance from the Single Parent Scholarship Fund from the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF). Although this is an Arkansas fund, students living on the Texas side of the Arkansas-Texas twin city of Texarkana (located in Bowie County, Texas) can qualify for a maximum of $750 a year in scholarship funds. Fund administrators review applicants each year, so those who've been awarded the scholarship in the past need to maintain scholarship requirements (see below) and reapply to remain eligible. Deadlines are Nov. 15 for the next spring semester and June 1 for the upcoming fall semester.

  The money from this scholarship needn't be spent only on class expenses; the money can go into an account the single-parent student can use to cover living and child care expenses as well.

  Special Requirements:
  The $750 award is only for single parents enrolled as students in more than 12 hours of classes a semester. Those taking less than 12 hours a semester can qualify for $375 a year. Students must not already have a bachelor's degree, must be classified by the federal government as low income and must be Pell Grant-eligible to apply for this scholarship.

  Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Miller & Bowie Counties
  P.O. Box 3474
  Texarkana, TX 75504
  (903)798-3211
  aspsf.org

DCCCD Single Mothers Scholarship Fund

• This fund provides $750 annually in financial assistance to single mothers attending any of the Dallas County Community Colleges. A list of the eligible colleges is available on the DCCCD Website. The application deadline for this scholarship is the first week of July each year.

  Special Requirements:
  The single mother applying for this scholarship needs to submit a letter of recommendation and a one-page typed essay detailing present and future goals. She also must provide proof of child custody, her age (she must be 25 or younger), low income status and credit hours (at least six per semester).

  Scholarship Coordinator
  Dallas County Community Colleges Foundation, Inc.
  1601 South Lamar
  Dallas, TX 75215-1816
  214-378-1533 or 214-378-1531
  DCCCD.edu

Brazoria County Single Mother Scholarship

• The University of Houston's Women in Leadership Society awards one $5,000 scholarship each academic year to a single mother enrolling as a student at this institution. This scholarship requires the student to live in Brazoria County, Texas. The deadline for this scholarship is April 1 each year for the coming year's enrollment.

  Special Requirements:
  To qualify, the single-parent applicant must have made less than $30,000 the prior year and prove low-income status. She must be enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours each semester and must have a high school diploma, her GED or currently be enrolled in college classes.

  University of Houston - Clear Lake
  Office of Student Financial Aid
  SSCB 1.105
  2700 Bay Area Blvd.
  Houston, TX 77058-1098
  (281) 283-2480
  prtl.uhcl.edu

Department-Specific Scholarships

• Some college alumni or specific departments provide scholarship money to single parents. One such example is the University of Houston Law Center's Caroline Hirsch (Vanik) Beers Award. This scholarship, set up by its namesake, is awarded to a second- or third-year single-parent law student who demonstrates a love for the study of law. To find these special scholarship opportunities, contact the financial aid office at the college of your choice.