Established in 1978, the Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund, named after the first woman to be elected to Congress in 1916, has helped more than 500 women attend college in the United States. While not specifically for single mothers, the eligibility requirements are such that many single mothers have applied and received help from the fund. An applicant must be a low-income American citizen, age 35 or older, enrolled in or accepted to an accredited school and pursuing a technical or vocational education or a two or four-year bachelor's degree. The fund's website provides income guidelines for all prospective applicants.
Named after the first woman of color in the United States House of Representatives, the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation offers five Education Support Awards of up to $2,000 to help low-income women with children who are pursuing college degrees or training in a field of study. To qualify, an applicant must be a mother at least 17 years of age, enrolled in an accredited skills training, ESL or GED program, or pursuing a technical, vocational, associate's, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree. The applicant must also meet the income qualifications of less than $17,500 for a family of two, $22,200 for a family of three and $26,500 for a family of four.
In 2009, President Obama introduced legislation aimed at helping single mothers with qualifying income levels, pay for their college education. To apply, a single mother must first fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) document to determine if she qualifies and to receive an estimate of benefits. The maximum amount offered is a $5,500 Pell Grant which doesn't have to be paid back, and a separate $10,000 scholarship grant for the school the applicant selected. Interested applicants can access the FAFSA website and apply directly online.
Another financial aid for single mothers going to college is the American Opportunity Tax Credit, formerly the Hope Tax Credit, which will be in force through the 2012 tax year. This credit allows a maximum of $2,500 for qualified tuition and school-related expenses for eligible applicants making less than $90,000 a year. If an applicant is eligible, the credit can be applied to the first four years of college education, provided the student is enrolled at least half time in a program that will lead to a degree, certificate or professional credential. More information is available at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website.