Federal student loans are the most common form of financial aid. These usually carry a low interest rate and offer flexible repayment plans. If you attend college at least half time, you will likely qualify for federal student loans. To determine your eligibility, you need to complete an FAFSA form--a Free Application for Federal Student Aid--that asks for information about household income and investments to determine how much money you are eligible for. If you are a single parent who is financially struggling, you will likely qualify for a significant amount of assistance. Even if you do not plan to take out any student loans, fill out an FAFSA form, as many other sources of financial aid require information from the FAFSA form to determine your eligibility. A college admissions counselor can help you fill out your FAFSA, or you can fill it out online at fafsa.ed.gov/before001.htm.
A grant, unlike a loan, does not need to be paid back. Pell grants are awarded each year to people who demonstrate economic hardship. The eligibility for a Pell grant is determined by the information you report on your FAFSA. Because of this, you do not need to fill out a separate application. You will be notified if you qualify for this program when you receive the results of your FAFSA.
This foundation, named after the late congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink, was established to help women overcome financial hardship and acquire the education necessary to advance their family's economic situation. The foundation awards numerous scholarships yearly to women who are struggling to pay for education while supporting a family. Details about the application process and the application itself are detailed on patsyminkfoundation.org.
If you are a resident of Arkansas, you can take advantage of the single parent scholarship fund, dedicated to defraying the costs of college for single parents so that they do not neglect to go back to school due to financial hardship. For more information regarding this scholarship, or to fill out an application, visit aspsf.org. While Arkansas is the only state to have instituted a statewide program with this aim, there are regional programs with similar objectives in other geographic areas. Your college admissions counselor can direct you to any programs that may be available in your area.
Often, if you are entering a course of study that is relevant to your current job, your employer will reimburse you for all or part of your education expenses, usually with stipulations. Some employers may require that you commit to continuing to work with them for a certain number of years post reimbursement, or they may reimburse only for courses in which you earn a C or higher. Check with your employer before you begin your program to make sure that you are aware of these requirements. While this is not as helpful as programs that provide upfront cash to finance education, it can help you in the long run by ensuring that you will not get stuck with education debt.