What Are The President Obama Scholarships for Single Moms? (And Are There Other Alternatives?)

As a single mother myself, I am always looking for ways to lower my financial burden. I recently heard other single mothers at a local meetup talking about scholarship grants or educational grants specifically for single moms that the Obama administration setup when he was in office. I immediately thought – “wow! That’s such a cool idea, to create financial resources specifically for single moms who want to go to school and receive further education.” So, after I got my son to bed that night, I started to do my own research.

Unfortunately, I quickly realized that there are no specific programs, grants, or scholarships for single moms. I’m not sure who started floating “President Obama grants for single moms” around, but it appears to simply be another piece of internet misinformation lore. BUT… that doesn’t mean there aren’t other programs that the government DOES offer if you are looking for financial support (regardless of whether or not you’re a mom or single mom.)

Here are the top resources that I found that include actual scholarships.

The American Opportunity Credit – This is a tax credit that provides up to $2,500 per year to eligible students towards educational expenses. To qualify, the eligibility requirements are that you must be pursuing a college degree or educational credential, be enrolled at least half time for at least one academic year, not have finished the first four years of higher education at the beginning of the tax year, not already claimed the tax credit for more than four tax years, and have no felony drug convictions.
The Lifetime Learning Credit – This is a tax credit provides up to $2,000 towards tuition or other educational expenses. The eligibility criteria is that this credit is for college students working towards the following college degrees: undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree courses. This credit is awesome because there is NO limit on the number of years you can claim it. (Note: there are some key differences between the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. You can compare the two here.)
Scholarships.com List of Scholarships for Moms – While this list is certainly not all-encompassing and also contains a number of specific scholarships – i.e. for certain schools, locations, etc., it is definitely worth a look to see if any of them fit your particular situation. For example, if you live in Arkansas, you may be eligible for the “Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund.” While there is an application process for the majority of the scholarships listed, there are many that use an online application and are specific to single moms.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) – The federal government offers two programs to help parents in need. TANF offers temporary cash and food assistance and WIC specifically provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for pregnant, breastfeeding, or non-breastfeeding postpartum women. A lot of times, I meet with women who feel bad about taking advantage of programs such as these. I am here to tell you that if you qualify, there is absolutely NO shame in using them! That is literally what they are there for! Getting a little bit of financial assistance could take at least some of the burden off of your shoulders, improving your mental health and putting you in a better position for future success.
Pell Grants — One common misconception about Pell Grants is that they are student loans. Unlike student loans, Pell Grants do not need to be repaid. Pell Grants are a form of federal financial aid that are available to those in exceptional financial need. These educational grants have a number of eligibility requirements. They are usually awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned any college degrees. To get started, you will need to fill out FASFA (the free application for federal student aid.) To learn more about the application process, you can read more here. You can also learn more about other federal grants for education here.
The Obama Foundation — While there is no actual program for single mothers, President Obama does offer a number of educational grants, and other programs to help people in financial need or those pursuing positions in public service, or other college degrees. For example, the Voyager Scholarship is an actual scholarship that the Obama Foundation awards to high school students that have a passion for community service and public service.
The Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund — This is a scholarship program available to low-income women, ages 35 and older, who are pursuing college degrees or vocational education. Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to Congress. This program offers several different scholarship grants:
1. A National Grant
2. Emerge Grant — The eligibility requirements for this grant is you must be in Georgia or Montana, 25 or older, and pursuing a college degree
3. Tribal Scholar Grant — For tribal members pursuing college degrees
Raise the Nation Foundation Scholarship — This scholarship is specifically granted to single mothers who are either going to college for the first time or continuing their education but have been denied other methods of financial need. The scholarship awards $100-$5,000 and is renewable.
Beyond Jobs program — Goodwill Industries partnered with the Walmart Foundation to launch the “Beyond Jobs” program. It is an initiative specifically for single mothers that helps find employment, succeed in the workplace, and most importantly, support their families. Not only will single mothers receive job training and career assistance, but they will also have access to financial education, transportation planning, child care assistance, nutrition programs, and more.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Program (WIOA) — In 2014, the federal government passed the “Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act” which was designed to help job seekers, including single moms, access to employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market. MedCerts partnered with American Job Centers as an approved training vendor in 30+ states. You can receive access to training through third-party partners for absolutely no cost! If you are in financial need and looking for an actual program that will provide training for you to further your career, check out their application process and eligibility requirements here. Even if you are unable to pursue a college degree, working towards a different professional certification or vocational training can be rewarding and improve your resume.

So, while I’m sure you are also bummed like I was that there actually are no “Obama scholarships for single moms” courtesy of President Barack Obama, there are plenty of other tax credits, scholarships and programs to help all of the moms out there trying to do the best for their kiddos and are interested in being a college student! Working hard to improve your financial position will not only lower your stress, but it will ensure your child always is safe and secure. I hope that this list is beneficial to you!