The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is one of the largest sources of private funding for working women returning to college. The AAUW provides need- and merit-based scholarships and grants to all eligible Americans. The awards are usually reserved for working women over the age of 35. The AAUW does allow for exceptions on the basis of need, such as single mothers who want to better their future by getting a degree. Usually AAUW awards range from $250 to $1,000 on an annual basis. Applications to the AAUW grants are made on a rolling basis.
The international counterpart of AAUW is the Altrusa International Foundation. This foundation awards scholarships and grants to international women who return to college to get or complete a degree after working full time in their communities. The foundation grants are available only to applicants returning to college at American universities. For instance a Nigerian U.S. resident can apply for the Altrusa International foundation grant.
The World Bank offers the Margaret McNamara educational grant to working women of developing countries who wish to come to the United States for their undergraduate degree. The McNamara grant application stipulates that the grant-holder must return to his or her community for work after completing the college degree in the United States. McNamara funds are decided at the discretion of the World Bank.
The scholarships and fellowships offer educational scholarships and grants up to $1,000 for all working women returning to pursue a degree in natural sciences. This includes freshmen, seniors, sophomores and juniors. The grants also are open to graduate students. Applications are usually judged on individual merit basis.
The Business and Professional Women Foundation provides educational grants to women seeking to advance their business careers with a college degree. The foundation aim is to equip working women with financial independence allowing them to concentrate on degree perusal. The application deadline is set for April 15 each year.
This foundation offers grants and scholarships to working women returning to college to pursue accounting degrees. The grants range between $1,000 to $16,000 and are awarded to female undergraduate students. The foundation also offers grants to postgraduate students. Application deadlines and eligibility requirements are subject to change every year. The Google Anita Borg educational grant is open to female students returning to undergraduate studies in computer science and computer related studies. The grant is merit based and renewable in nature. This means that a grant holder must meet eligibility requirements of a 3.5 GPA to be awarded the grant for the coming year.
This education fund gives educational grants of $1,500 to non-traditional working women over the age of 35. The grant is given on both merit and need basis. The grant application deadline is March 1. The National Black Nurses Association offers educational grants to African-American working women returning to college to pursue undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees. The awards range from $500 to $2,000 for every academic year.