Many women forgo a chance to finish their degree so they can get married and raise their kids Once their kids are in school or when they find themselves in need of a career to bring in some extra money to the family, many of these women find that they really wish to go back to school. They may think this is going to be very difficult financially, though, because they may erroneously assume that financial aid for prospective college students is all geared to "traditional" college students, those just out of high school. Fortunately, that's not the case; instead, there are many financial resources available to women who have decided to return to school and get a degree, as long as you know where to find them.

For example, the Jeanette Rankin Foundation offers financial assistance specifically to women who are of modest means and who are 35 years or older when they go back to school. The $2,000 grants are available to women who can show how a degree will help them improve their lives, their families' situations, and their community as a whole.

Financial Aid for Women

The Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting offers money to women who wish to pursue a post-graduate degree in accounting. The award ranges from $1,000 to $5,000.

If you have an undergraduate degree and are looking to improve upon it, consider the Selected Professions Fellowships. Sponsored by the American Association of University Women, these grants are available in substantial amounts, with values of between $5,000 and $20,000; they are available for women who want to return to graduate school for a degree in a specific field like information sciences or computers, statistics or math, engineering, or architecture.

Many of the scholarships are for women who want to pursue a degree in math or science, but there are also scholarships available for those who want to pursue artistic degrees. For instance, the College Art Association offers $5,000 fellowships for applicants coming from communities that are marginalized from artistic professions, and the National Sculpture Society offers $1,000 to students who wish to study culture.

These are just some of the many options out there for women returning to school. Remember that you put off school so that you could take care of your children. Take some time for yourself, now, so that you can have a brighter future -- and your children can, too.