The growing number of available mature student grants is a strong indicator that experienced individuals are being sought to retrain or improve their knowledge and skills. However, older students often find it difficult to obtain the funding necessary to return to school. Mature students generally have more responsibilities, like careers, businesses, and families that make it difficult to afford to go to school. But because higher education levels and increased numbers of skilled workers benefits everyone, there are many groups and organizations that are dedicated to providing educational opportunities to older students by offering loans, scholarships, and mature student grants.
One challenge encountered by students in their late twenties, thirties and beyond is that scholarships are rarely available to anyone over the age of 24. This is because scholarships are usually aimed at students just leaving high school, first year college students, and in general students under the age of 24 who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. Because of the age limit on most scholarships, funds are more limited for older students, and are usually restricted to loans and grants.
Likely Sources of Mature Student Grants
Under the Federal Direct Student Loan Program, the American government makes educational funding available to all US students regardless of age, sex, or any social affiliations. Mature student grants may come in the form of the federal Pell grant, which awards undergraduate students up to $5550 per academic year. Older students who qualify for this need-based grant may also qualify for the FSEOG or Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant.
Mature students that can demonstrate a history of strong academic achievements may qualify for Academic Competitiveness grants, which encourage students of all ages to excel in their studies and foster well-meaning competition. Additionally, older students that intend to teach in their career may be eligible for the TEACH grant. This yearly grant is awarded in exchange for a commitment from the student to teach in an elementary or secondary school that provides services for low income families.
Professional Associations and businesses can prove invaluable as sources of mature student grants. These business groups are often interested in retraining current employees or attracting new ones- regardless of age, by offering grants to pay for college. This is especially true of nursing associations, law enforcement groups, computer technologies centers, and educators groups. Professional associations and businesses often offer better funding through much larger grant awards than those provided by other donors.
Certain fields of study often entitle older students to grants and other forms of educational funding. This is especially true of the nursing profession and many other health-care related fields. Students that conduct research in promising fields may also be awarded grants to continue their studies. Groups that award field-specific grants are often closely tied to those fields, such as nursing associations, natural resource companies, and groups that are allied with political causes that focus on certain fields.
Foundations and charitable groups and organizations are excellent sources of mature student grants. Because most of these organizations are concerned primarily with need-based or social-based awards, age is of little concern for older students seeking these types of grants. Mature students may research and apply for grants based upon financial need, field of study, volunteer status, religious affiliation, physical disability, familial status, and many other considerations. Foundations in particular provide hefty grants that often dwarf those provided by federal or state governments or colleges and universities. In most cases, grants offered by foundations and charitable organizations have few requirements and can be awarded to a mature student over consecutive years.
Mature students should be diligent in the grant application process. Because competition for grants is often very strong, only those mature student grants that are submitted on accurate and complete applications are likely to succeed. Grants are usually only awarded once per year, so it’s wise to begin the process early and submit all applications and supporting documentation well in advance of the deadline.