College scholarships aren’t just for teenagers! There are also many scholarships available to adult learners. If you’re an adult who’s returning to school or enrolling in college for the first time, scholarships can be a great way to help cover the cost of your education. Below, we’ve rounded up six scholarships for adult learners. Take a look and apply to any you think are a good match.
Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Support Award
How to Apply: Submit the online application, which includes providing two professional or educational references, answering four questions, each 100 words or less, related to your educational experiences and goals, and completing a short essay about your personal and educational history.
Eligibility: Open to mothers who are 17 years of age or older and enrolled full time for the 2025-26 academic year in a not-for-profit, accredited institution or program in the U.S.; must be considered low-income
Amount: Five winners of up to $5,000 each
Deadline: August 1, 2025
Website: https://www.patsyminkfoundation.org/education-support-application
Boomer Benefits Scholarship
How to Apply: Complete the application, including an official transcript and letter of recommendation, and write an essay describing your current career goals, how this education will help you achieve those goals, and your community service history.
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents age 50 or older currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate program with at least a 3.0 GPA
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: August 27, 2025
Website: https://boomerbenefits.com/scholarship-requirements/
Return 2 College Scholarship
How to Apply: Fill out the online application and include, in three sentences or less, an answer to the question “Why are you getting your degree?”
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident starting a program of higher education within the next 12 months or currently a full- or part-time student
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: September 30, 2025
Website: http://www.return2college.com/awardprogram.cfm
Live Your Dream Award
How to Apply: Submit the online application, including an essay.
Eligibility: Open to women who provide the primary financial support for themselves and their dependents, have financial need, and are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program
Amount: Up to $16,000
Deadline: November 15, 2025
Website: https://www.soroptimist.org/our-work/live-your-dream-awards/apply-for-the-live-your-dream-awards.html
College JumpStart Love of Learning Scholarship
How to Apply: Fill out the online application and include a 250-word or less personal statement answering one of two questions related to an idea or subject you are passionate about.
Eligibility: Open to 10th-12th graders, college students, and non-traditional students attending or planning to enter an accredited U.S. college or university
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: December 31, 2025
Website: https://www.jumpstart-scholarship.net/
Osher Reentry Scholarship
How to Apply: Applications vary at each college, but generally include completing the application and writing a short essay or personal statement addressing your educational gap, your decision to return to school, and your educational goals.
Eligibility: Open to individuals between 25 and 50 who have experienced an interruption in their education of five or more years and who want to resume their education at the undergraduate level
Amount: Up to $50,000 per year, varies per school
Deadline: Varies at each college
Website: https://www.osherfoundation.org/scholars_list.html
As you search for scholarships, take a moment to review our dedicated Paying for College webpage. Here you can learn about the variety of ways, in addition to scholarships, that you can use to pay for college, including financial aid and payment plans, and access calculators to help you navigate the college cost.
Scholarships should be considered a small—yet still important—source of revenue for college. Data shows that most families pay for college using parent and student income, savings, and loans. Most scholarship recipients receive $2,500 or less, and only 0.1% of undergraduate students receive $25,000 or more in scholarship funds. In addition to looking for scholarships to help pay for college, families should apply for financial aid and consider saving in a dedicated college savings account.
