Financial help for older students

Financial Help for Older Students

Scholarships

Many scholarship and fellowship programs do not have age restrictions, and there are no age restrictions on eligibility for federal student financial aid. Older students should conduct a search for aid just like younger students.

The FastWeb scholarship database includes more than 50 awards that have a minimum age requirement of 30 years old. There are more than 230 awards with a minimum age requirement of 25 years or older. There are more than 1,800 awards with no age restrictions whatsoever.

One of the best-known scholarships specifically designed for older students is the Osher Re-entry Scholarship, which gives grants of up to $50,000 to students who dropped out of college more than five years ago and who now want to complete their degree. The scholarship is available for students age 25 to 50. Currently, this program includes 73 institutions in 30 states and the District of Columbia.

Helpful Web sites

Unemployed workers receiving unemployment benefits may qualify for special assistance in paying for education and training. The Web site www.opportunity.gov is designed to help unemployed Americans of all ages who want to return to school. The site covers grants and loans and has useful information about various other educational programs.
To decide what type of education or training best meets your needs, you may want to visit www.careeronestop.org, or visit your local community college or One Stop Career Center for help in identifying potential opportunities. To locate the nearest One Stop Career Center, you can visit www.servicelocator.org, or call the toll-free number: 1.877.872.5627.
Another helpful resource is www.finaid.org. If you’re a “non-traditional” student—generally, over 30 years old—type “older students” into the search box for advice on obtaining financial aid.