The federal government offers several low-interest loan options for graduate students. Direct subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans are offered based on your income and do not require a credit application. The interest and payments on the loans can be deferred and paid after you graduate. The government will pay your interest for you on subsidized loans while you are still in school. Direct Plus loans are available for applicants with good credit and have a fixed interest rate for the duration of your loan.
Private loans can be obtained for moms who have good credit. Private loans are usually used after you have reached the maximum amount allowed on federal loans. They can be applied for at most banks and credit unions and are offered at a higher rate of interest than federal loans. These loans are usually subject to caps based on the cost of attendance for the college that you are applying to. For example, if you are have $10,000 in federal loans and the cost of attendance is $25,000, the maximum many private loans will allow is the difference ($15,000).
Organizations offer grant and scholarship money to students who apply for them. Scholarships are generally geared toward students in specific fields of interest. For example the SWE Scholarship Program is offered to women who plan on going into engineering fields. Check with your local church or community organizations to see if they offer grants or scholarships for educational purposes.
Assistantships are similar to a work-study program. You teach or do research for the college while you are enrolled in graduate school in exchange for a small salary that goes toward education costs. This is often not the best choice for moms due to their busy lifestyles. But, assistantships can often pay for a large portion of tuition if you are able to find the time.
Check with your employer to see if it offers tuition reimbursement for graduate school. Many employers will pay you to go back to school. You may have to promise to work for the company a specific amount of time after you have gained your degree or you will have to pay back the money to the employer.