Career Changer Scholarship Programs

Many scholarships and other student resources are aimed at students who are fresh out of high school. However, these may not meet the needs of nontraditional students. Fortunately, there are thousands of scholarships available for people looking to change or renew their careers, if you know where to look. Look in the right places, and yes, there is money to go back to school.

Understanding the Landscape of Scholarships for Career Changers

Nontraditional students often choose to go back to school to earn additional credentials or skills to change careers or progress in their current roles. They also may have family or work responsibilities, which means they have different financial considerations and needs. Adult students are usually considered people over 24 years old who are attending college for the first time or returning to school after a long hiatus. While there is no singular definition of “nontraditional students,” these learners are often individuals who did not enroll in a campus-based college program immediately after graduating from high school. This can include adult students, online students, and students with children.

Dispelling Myths and Misconceptions

Such aid is not for people looking for quick fixes or easy outs from unhappy jobs. Adult students can have the same access to college scholarships as younger students. This can include federal financial aid, state scholarships, university scholarships, and grants from local businesses or organizations. Some scholarships may have age limits, but many do not. You can check with the scholarship provider to learn if a scholarship has an age limit for applicants. Some scholarships have preferences or restrictions on race, gender, state of residence, and program of study.

“The vast majority of awards don’t have any restrictions. Only about 10% of awards have a restriction to first baccalaureate degrees," someone said.

Navigating Scholarship Search and Application

The first thing to be aware of is that scholarships and grants don’t have to be paid back. It’s a gift for you to enjoy if you are awarded the money.

Read also: American Career College Anaheim

Where to Begin Your Search

Know where to look: Most sites that offer information about financial aid cover a wide range of awards. Among the best are StudentScholarshipSearch and a site maintained by UCLA. You can find information on federal student aid for graduate education at a site run by the Department of Education. Don’t overlook smaller programs: Not every scholarship is online, in the big databases or particularly obvious. Local clubs and organizations, such as Rotary and Kiwanis, are good resources.

There are a very large number of scholarships and grants to look into. These are given out at the state and national level, by different universities, companies and organizations. If you have a particular affiliation with a company or organization, that’s a good place to start in terms of identifying opportunities. Local charities can be of great assistance, too. Many offer returning and back-to-school scholarships for women. This could be from the Rotary Club and many others. Check with your local government to see what organizations are in your area and contact them for information about their scholarships. Whether you know it or not, your current employer may offer scholarships to you. These scholarships can be some of the easiest to qualify for because you are already an employee, which is usually one of the qualifications to getting a scholarship. Particularly when you are looking to continue your education, your employer may be one of your biggest supporters. Regardless of what you are studying for, you need to consider the organizations and companies that are involved within that industry. Many offer scholarships and grants to ensure that plenty of students are going into that industry on a regular basis.

Crafting a Compelling Application

The qualifications may require you to be of a certain age, certain gender or even a certain race. You may have to be studying a particular degree, have suffered from a particular disease or even live in a particular state.

When you submit to a scholarship or grant, there are several things you need to identify. The qualifications can be very broad or very specific depending on the scholarship or grant you are pursuing. You must meet all qualifications in order to submit your application.

Don't assume you’ll be a shoo-in: You probably have a resume chock-full of experience, but so does everyone else. Leo Geraci went up against several thousand applicants for about 100 positions. “They definitely asked a lot of questions,” he said. Write and talk about what interests you. Remember, the organization is not there to help you. It’s there to help a cause.

As a returning student, you aren’t relying on your GPA or SAT scores as the high school and college students are. You are using your life experience and your current career and living situation to get you the financial support you need. Using every aspect of your life experience can be an asset to you. Since you will be competing with so many other people for every scholarship and grant you submit to, it’s important to remember that you won’t win them all. This allows you to save money on stamps, too. It is not uncommon for people to submit to 50 or 100 different scholarship programs. The more you qualify for, the better. You may be able to pay for 100% of your education by taking the time to submit to enough places. Almost every scholarship and grant is for a different amount of money. Some offer you hundreds of dollars, others offer you thousands of dollars.

When time allows, try to get your application in two to four weeks before the deadline. The reason for this is because some scholarship competitions close early once they reach a certain number of applications. Filling out the applications are the easy part. Some of them will ask you a few basic questions, too, such as what your hobbies are, the biggest obstacle you’ve overcome or what your career goals are. Essays on scholarship and grant applications can range from 300 words to several thousand words. Plan on typing out your response unless they ask for it to be handwritten. You don’t want a judge to be unable to read your words, which is why you should always type it when given the choice.

Before submitting any application, read through the entire entry requirements. You may be required to send one full packet containing various things including: application, essay, letters of recommendation, test scores, college acceptance letter and other items at request. If you forget any of these items, your application will be disregarded because of your inability to follow instructions.

Leveraging Federal Aid Options

Federal Student Aid for Adults and Nontraditional Students. Financial aid is a critical tool for adult students and nontraditional students who might be deterred from going back to school by the rising cost of higher education. The process of applying for financial aid as an older student is no different than the process for traditional students or high school seniors.

Adult and nontraditional students should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA, each year to qualify for federal aid. The FAFSA becomes live each year on October 1st for financial aid for the upcoming school year. This should be the very first step you take in trying to pay for college. It is one of the easiest steps to take and many colleges and universities will require the outcome of the FAFSA to determine what they will also provide you. You will fill out a form called the FAFSA, which is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. To get financial assistance from the federal government, this is the only form you need to fill out.

Read also: Career Paths Without a Degree

Once you complete the FAFSA, you'll receive an expected family contribution that then determines the amount of aid you can receive in financial assistance. Your school will then provide you with a financial aid package usually consisting of a combination of federal student loans, federal work-study, and federal and state grants. There are also many private and public scholarships for college students intended for students with demonstrated financial need that don't have an age limit. Older students who qualify for financial aid can apply to need-based scholarships to supplement federal student loans or grants that they receive through their FAFSA application.

Pell Grant

The Pell Grant is one of the most well-known financial aid options for adults and nontraditional students. It is a need-based grant that is available to students pursuing their first undergraduate degree. One of the benefits of the Pell Grant is that it does not have to be repaid, making it a great option for those who do not want to take on additional debt. The amount of funding that a student can receive through the Pell Grant varies based on their financial need and the cost of attendance of their chosen institution. However, the maximum award amount for the 2022-2023 academic year is $6,895. To apply for the Pell Grant, there is no separate application. Rather, potential applicants should complete the FAFSA on time and meet the general federal financial aid eligibility requirements.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is another need-based financial aid program that offers federal financial aid to students with exceptional financial need. Recipients can receive between $100 to $4,000 through the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant each year. To qualify for this program, applicants need to attend a participating Title IV School and complete the FAFSA on time. The grant is funded in partnership between the federal government and participating schools, with the government providing 75% percent of funds and your school providing 25%.

TEACH Grant

The TEACH Grant from the Department of Education provides up to $4,000 each year in financial aid for students that agree to a four-year service obligation following graduation. Students who receive a TEACH grant agree to teach a high-demand subject in a low income area where teachers are needed for that particular subject in elementary and middle school. A variety of fields have been designated as high need by the federal or state government and allow those studying them to qualify for a teach grant. Students majoring in sciences, mathematics, special education, a foreign language, and various other subjects can qualify for a TEACH grant.

State-Specific Opportunities

Some states offer grants that are specifically intended for adult and nontraditional students. To qualify for state grants and scholarships, you'll need to be a resident of that particular state and attend college in-state. Here are a few examples of state-specific scholarships for older students:

The Maine State Grant Program for Adult Learners offers grants for students 24 or older who demonstrate financial need. The program awards $2,500 annually, and a simple application process consisting of just the FAFSA.
Indiana's "You Can Go Back" Adult Student Grant provides up to $2,000 annually for adult students who are working and starting or finishing a college degree. Both full and part-time adult students can qualify for this award.
The Idaho Opportunity Scholarship for Adult Learners provides up to $3,500 annually for adult students who are attending college in-state after graduating from an Idaho high school.
Tennessee's Reconnect Grant provides tuition assistance for adult students who are pursuing an associate degree or a program at a technical school in a Tennessee community college. This award covers the full cost of tuition and fees after other forms of financial aid have been applied.

Scholarships for Paying Off Student Loan Debt

Scholarships from donors on Bold.org can also help adult students reduce their student debt after they have already completed their undergraduate or graduate degree. These scholarships enable older students to get one step closer to their financial goals of saving, investing, starting a business, or buying a home by assisting them with paying off their student debt. Considering that the average college student graduates with over $30,000 in debt, applying for scholarships that help you reduce your student loan debt can be a game-changer in navigating post-grad finances.

Examples of Scholarship Programs Tailored for Career Changers

The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation: This fellowship helps recruit recent grads and career changers with science and math backgrounds to become teachers.
Career Pathways Scholarships: These scholarships are $750 awards per semester up to $3,000 total for individuals with a degree and work experience pursuing a new path. The Career Pathways Scholarship application will be open from January 5 through April 3, 2026.
INP RISE Fellowship Program: Designed for early-career professionals passionate about social impact, equity, and community leadership, this program offers hands-on experience, leadership development, and mentorship.
Fuse Corps Leadership Institute: This program enrolls Fellows in an intensive program for civic entrepreneurs, incorporating best practices from leading for-profit, public-sector, and social-sector organizations.
Education Pioneers Summer Fellowship: A 10-week paid opportunity for professionals interested in improving public education outside the classroom, focusing on skills in strategy, data analysis, operations, and project management.
Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellowship: A year-long program for experienced leaders looking to pivot toward social impact work, engaging in interdisciplinary learning, leadership development, and collaboration.
AAUW Career Development Grants: These grants provide up to $8,000 to help women pursue short-term certificate programs, technical training, or other educational experiences that support career entry, advancement, or transition, particularly in STEM, leadership, and skilled professions.
Teach For America Teacher Corps Program: A full-time, paid, two-year leadership opportunity that places recent graduates and career changers in under-resourced K-12 schools across the United States.
Encore Fellowships Program: This program connects experienced professionals (with 20+ years of work experience) to high-impact, capacity-building projects at nonprofit organizations.
TNTP Teaching Fellows program: This program provides career changers, recent graduates, and aspiring educators with an accelerated pathway into teaching through job-embedded training and personalized coaching.
Imagine America Scholarship: This scholarship from the Imagine America Foundation is another great option for adult students who are pursuing technical or vocational education.

Additional Scholarship Programs

Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) Scholarship Program: The ASIST award is available to adult students facing physical, economic, and/or social challenges.
Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarship: Adult students attending a school with an active Alpha Sigma Lambda chapter can apply.
American Legion Auxiliary Nontraditional Student Scholarship: This scholarship is open to members of the American Legion, Auxiliary, or Sons of the American Legion.
‘Be Bold’ No-Essay Scholarship: This scholarship is open to students of all ages, education levels, locations, and GPAs.
College JumpStart Scholarship: This award program is for traditional learners as well as nontraditional and adult students.
Courage to Grow Scholarship: citizen and a college student with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Return 2 College Scholarship Program: This program accepts applications from students currently enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as those who plan on enrolling within the next 12 months.
Royal Neighbors of America Scholarship Program: This scholarship supports beneficial members of Royal Neighbors who are enrolled in two-year or four-year colleges or vocational/skilled trade programs.
SuperCollege Scholarship: This program accepts applications from traditional and adult students.
Unigo $10K Scholarship: citizens who are currently students.
Adult Skills Education Program Grant: Students over 19 who have a high school diploma or equivalent and are attending one of the 400 participating schools.
Osher Reentry Scholarship Program: Eligible applicants must have a cumulative gap in their education of at least five years, be pursuing their first undergraduate degree, and demonstrate financial need and academic promise.
Empower Her Scholarship: Any pregnant or parenting student attending a college or university in Nebraska.
Folded Flag Foundation: military.
Geneva Fund: Applicants must have become a teen mother or be currently pregnant.
AIAS Foundation Scholarship: Eligible applicants must be full-time undergraduate or graduate students, at least 21 years of age, and have a 3.3 minimum GPA.
Fully Bloomed Scholarship: Applicants must be from a household with an annual combined income of less than $45,000, have a high school diploma, and be in pursuit of a degree or certificate from a college, university, or trade school.

Strategic Considerations for Career Changers

Know where the jobs are: Go after scholarships and aid for careers that have a future. Unemployment rates are relatively low for recent graduates in education (5.0%), engineering (7.0%) and health and the sciences (4.8%), according to a recent report from Georgetown University. Those careers are tied to stable or growing industry sectors and occupations. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with looking for a scholarship that leads to the career of your dreams, even if the odds of getting a job in that field are long.

Balancing Finances and Family

Be prepared to work hard: After the pressures of a career or the working world, returning to school might sound easy. That is not typically the case. Expect tradeoffs: After years of upheaval in the highly paid drug research business, a steady job was important to Leo Geraci. As a teacher, he’ll earn only about half what he used to make, a tradeoff he is willing to make. He’s had the full support of his wife, an emergency room RN. Given that few scholarships cover the full cost of tuition and a lost salary, you need the support of your family. “We don’t do these things in a vacuum,” someone says, noting that an important part of the process is gathering information and consulting with those around you about how they will be affected by the change.

Embracing the Journey

Most scholarships and grants also include a date in which decisions are made. Some scholarships and grants will inform you either way and others will only inform you if you’ve won. Finally, scholarships and grants will announce the award amount. Some will keep it generic, saying that it will range from year to year based on various things. Others will give you a specific amount for what you will be able to get. The organization may also tell you how many scholarships are given out on an annual basis.

There are hundreds of degree programs out there ranging from the arts to the sciences. Track all … Scholarships for adult students and nontraditional students can help alleviate some of the financial stress of pursuing higher education later in life and give you back time to focus on your studies. One of the most significant barriers for adult learners and nontraditional students is the cost of education, which can be overwhelming for those who are already supporting families or just starting their careers.

Resources for Further Exploration

StudentScholarshipSearch: A comprehensive database for various scholarships.
UCLA Financial Aid Website: A resource maintained by UCLA with financial aid information.
Department of Education: Provides information on federal student aid for graduate education.
Bold.org: Access personalized scholarships tailored for you on Bold.org, where scholarship opportunities are available.

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