Who Can Apply:
-
must be a woman, at least 17 years of age.
-
must be a mother, with minor children.
-
must be low-income, total annual family income less than $21,640 for a family of 2; less than $27,320 for a family of 3; less than $33,000 for a family of 4. (see HHS Poverty Guidelines for larger family sizes and for Hawaii and Alaska variations).
-
must be currently enrolled in a program pursuing a progressive degree at a postsecondary level of education that does not duplicate a degree level already completed. A “postsecondary education” is a formal education beyond high school to obtain certification for an occupation or earning an academic credential: vocational, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, etc. “Progressive” means you must be enrolled in a program that is more advanced than any prior level of education you have obtained. Examples of progressive include, but are not limited to: enrollment in an associate degree or vocational program after receiving a high school diploma/GED, a bachelor’s degree program after receiving a high school diploma/GED or associate degree, or an advanced degree such as a master’s or PhD after receiving a bachelor’s degree. “Does not duplicate” means that we cannot consider applications seeking support for a level of degree that that the applicant already holds: a second associate degree, a second bachelor’s, etc, regardless of disciplinary focus.
-
pursuit of degree/certificate must be at an institution that does not discriminate on the basis of sex/gender; race/ethnicity; lgbtq+ status/identity; religion; disability; or immigration status.
-
must be residing in the U.S. and enrolled full time for the 2026-27 academic year in a not-for-profit, accredited institution or program located in the U.S. with a program completion date on or after April 1, 2027. The following resources will help you determine whether you meet this criteria. Not for Profit Status and Accreditation Status: College Navigator is a helpful website to help you determine if your institution is accredited and not-for-profit. Full time enrollment status: is determined by your institution. Contact your institution directly to confirm that you meet the institution’s full-time enrollment criteria.
Deadline: August 1, 2026
Amount: $5,000
Learn More: https://www.patsyminkfoundation.org/education-support-application