Non-traditional scholarships are financial awards or grants designed to support students who do not fit the typical profile of a college student. These scholarships cater to individuals with unique circumstances, such as adult learners returning to education, veterans transitioning to civilian life, individuals pursuing career changes, or those attending school part-time. Non-traditional scholarships aim to promote diversity and inclusivity in higher education and provide opportunities for individuals with varying backgrounds and life experiences.
There are 52 scholarships available for non-traditional students as of August 2025. You can find dozens of non-traditional scholarships available for college, post-graduate, college senior, high school senior, and college juniors. Some prominent non-traditional scholarships for students include the $1,000 Scholarship Detective Launch Scholarship, the Estelle Jones Non-Traditional Students Scholarship, and the Tichi-Groom Fund Scholarship. You can find non-traditional scholarships for pursuing your undergraduate, graduate school, associate's, community college, four-year, two-year, or vocational.
You can find scholarship financial aid for funding your college education as a non-traditional student by using a scholarship search engine like Scholarships That Work, which has 52 non-traditional scholarships with an average award amount of $2,852. You can also find non-traditional scholarships by inquiring with organizations that offer non-traditional scholarships, like the ScholarshipDetective.com, the Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Blue Mountain Community Foundation, or the Grand Island Community Foundation.
To apply for scholarships as a non-traditional student, you will need to fill out the scholarship application form on the scholarship page. For two of these scholarships, you will need to submit an essay. Several non-traditional scholarship require a resume, and one award require letters of recommendation. The GPA requirements for non-traditional scholarship vary between a 2.5 and 3.0 minimum GPA.
Some of the best non-traditional scholarships are the A.M. Hargis Scholarship, the Carl C. and Abbie Rebman Trust Scholarship, the Ryan Wanta Memorial Scholarship, the Mitzi Harris Martin Healthcare Scholarship, and the Lowcountry Scholarship for Nontraditional Students. The best scholarships for non-traditional students will be listed at the top of this page.
All students who are considered "non-traditional students," including adult learners returning to education, military veterans, single mothers and fathers, and part-time students, are eligible to apply for the scholarships on this page. Other eligibility requirements for non-traditional scholarships may vary, so be sure to read the scholarship listing carefully. Three scholarships for adult learners are specifically open to applicants who identify as Black, Asian, or Native American or Alaska Native students. One scholarship scholarships for non-traditional students and adult learners is religious-affiliated awards for Methodist students. Of these scholarships, one require community service participation. Also, there are four scholarships for non-traditional students and adult learners specifically for applicants who identify as women or female. Non-traditional students, such as adult learners, can apply for 25 scholarships for non-traditional students and adult learners specifically open to non-traditional applicants.
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