About College & Education for Women
Education resources for women include FAFSA-based federal aid (Pell Grants up to ~$7,000/year), the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Title IX protections against sex discrimination on campus, and dedicated single-mother scholarships through the Jeannette Rankin Foundation, Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards, and Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation. Community colleges offer low-cost two-year degrees and trade certificates, often with CCAMPIS-grant subsidized on-campus childcare. AAUW funds career development grants and fellowships for women. GED and HiSET programs run through state adult education offices, usually free. This directory covers FAFSA offices, community colleges, adult education, and women's scholarships.
18 Resources
ADHE, recently consolidated with the K-12 department under the Arkansas Division of Higher Education, administers state scholarships including the Academic Challenge funded by the Arkansas Lottery, the Workforce Challenge, and the Arkansas Future Grant for concurrent credit. Mothers returning to school can apply for state-funded programs alongside federal aid through one consolidated FAFSA submission.
501-371-2000 · 423 Main St Suite 400, Little Rock, AR 72201 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm
The U of A flagship campus in Fayetteville offers full degree programs plus the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Women's Giving Circle for scholarships, and the Children's Center for student-parents needing on-campus childcare. The campus is large enough that nontraditional and adult learners can find their cohort through programs like the Adult and Veteran Services office.
479-575-2000 · 1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
UA Little Rock on South University Avenue is the metropolitan public university for central Arkansas, with strong adult-learner enrollment in nursing, social work, criminal justice, and business. The Trio Student Support Services program serves first-generation and low-income students; the Children International Center on campus provides childcare for student-parents.
501-569-3000 · 2801 S University Ave, Little Rock, AR 72204 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
NWACC in Bentonville is the largest community college in the region, serving Benton and Madison counties plus surrounding areas. Associate degrees, technical certificates, and concurrent-credit programs are all offered, with the Workforce Training facility focused on industry partnerships with the area's major employers. Tuition runs well below the four-year publics.
479-636-9222 · 1 College Dr, Bentonville, AR 72712 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
UA-Pulaski Technical College on West Scenic Drive in North Little Rock provides career and technical programs along with associate transfer degrees. The Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute is one of the South's larger culinary programs. Single-parent scholars often combine ASPSF awards with Pell to cover tuition with funds left over for living expenses.
501-812-2200 · 3000 W Scenic Dr, North Little Rock, AR 72118 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
StudentAid.gov is where Arkansas students complete the FAFSA, which unlocks federal Pell Grants, federal student loans, work-study, and most state aid programs. Arkansas requires the FAFSA for state aid; the priority deadline of June 1 is earlier than many states. The line at 800-433-3243 has English and Spanish support.
800-433-3243 · Online Service · Online 24/7 · Visit Website
The Academic Challenge Scholarship is the state's largest merit aid program, funded by Arkansas Scholarship Lottery proceeds. Awards run up to $5,000 per year for four-year students. Returning adult students can qualify under the nontraditional path, which uses recent academic performance rather than ACT scores from years past. Apply through the YouUniversity portal.
501-371-2000 · 423 Main St Suite 400, Little Rock, AR 72201 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm
The Arkansas Adult Education program operates through local community colleges, school districts, and nonprofit providers in every region of the state. Free GED preparation, English-language instruction, and digital-literacy courses run year-round. The state has phased in the new High School Equivalency Test option alongside the traditional GED.
501-682-1980 · Statewide Locations · Varies by location
The Federal Student Aid site is where Arkansas students manage federal loan repayment, request income-driven repayment plans, and apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Mothers carrying old federal student debt can use the site to check current balances, consolidate, and apply for the SAVE plan or other repayment programs.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The Pell Grant is the foundation of federal need-based aid for undergraduates. The maximum award updates each year with inflation. Pell does not have to be repaid. Mothers in associate or certificate programs are eligible if otherwise qualified; Pell now covers some short-term workforce programs under recent expansions.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
AAUW awards over $5 million annually in fellowships, grants, and awards to women pursuing graduate study, research, or community projects. The Career Development Grants specifically support women who hold a bachelor's degree and are preparing to advance or change careers. Application cycles open in August each year.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
P.E.O. International runs five distinct educational funding programs including the Program for Continuing Education for women whose education was interrupted, the Star Scholarship for high school seniors, and the Scholar Awards for women pursuing doctoral degrees. Arkansas P.E.O. chapters review and forward local applicants for national award consideration.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The Live Your Dream Awards from Soroptimist provide cash grants of
,000 to
0,000 to women who serve as the primary financial support for their families and are pursuing education to improve their lives. Applications run through local Soroptimist clubs; awards advance from club level to region to international.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund awards ,000 to $5,000 grants to women age 35 and older pursuing technical training or undergraduate degrees. Income guidelines apply and recipients must be US citizens or permanent residents. Particularly useful for Arkansas mothers re-entering education years after starting a family.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The Patsy Mink Education Foundation honors the late Congresswoman by awarding $5,000 grants to low-income mothers pursuing post-secondary education. Applications focus on the mother's story, financial need, and educational goals. One of the few national funders explicitly targeting mothers as a category.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Scholarships.com is a large free scholarship search engine with filters for women, mothers, adult learners, single parents, and many other demographic categories. The site matches your profile to current open scholarships. Use carefully and never pay for scholarship search services; legitimate scholarships do not charge application fees.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
BigFuture from the College Board offers free college planning tools, scholarship search, and career exploration. The Scholarship Search awards over
00 million each year through the BigFuture Scholarships program where students earn entries by completing planning steps. Useful for mothers planning higher education for themselves or for teen children.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Khan Academy partners with the College Board to provide the only free official SAT practice. Practice tests, instructional videos, and personalized study plans are available to anyone with a free account. Particularly useful for first-generation Arkansas students whose families can't afford private test prep tutoring.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Frequently Asked
- How many college & education resources are in Arkansas?
- Women's Corner tracks 18 college & education resources for women in Arkansas.
- Are college & education resources in Arkansas free?
- 14 of the 18 listed college & education resources in Arkansas are explicitly free or low-cost.
- Which cities in Arkansas have college & education resources?
- Listings span cities including Little Rock, Fayetteville, Bentonville, North Little Rock.
- What are some examples of college & education resources in Arkansas?
- Featured entries include Arkansas Department of Higher Education, University of Arkansas — Fayetteville, UA Little Rock, NorthWest Arkansas Community College, Pulaski Technical College.
- Do these listings include phone numbers?
- 8 of 18 Arkansas college & education listings include phone numbers.
- How do I pay for college as a single mom?
- Start with FAFSA at studentaid.gov — single moms typically qualify for the maximum Pell Grant (up to $7,395/year, not repaid). Add state grants, Federal Work-Study, and scholarships specifically for single mothers (Patsy Takemoto Mink Foundation, Soroptimist Live Your Dream, Jeannette Rankin Foundation). Many community colleges have Single Parent Programs with childcare, books, and emergency funds.
- Can I go to college while on welfare?
- Yes — TANF rules now count post-secondary education toward work requirements in most states, especially CTE/vocational programs. The CCAMPIS program funds free on-campus childcare at hundreds of colleges. SNAP students with kids under 12 qualify for SNAP E&T benefits. Tell your TANF caseworker you're enrolling — they often have hidden funds for books, transportation, and uniforms.
- How do I get a GED?
- GED classes are free at adult education centers, community colleges, libraries, and online through GED.com and Khan Academy. The exam costs
44 depending on state, and many states waive fees for low-income test-takers. Call 211 or search 'adult education' + your state. Most centers offer free childcare during classes.
Are there scholarships specifically for women?Yes — AAUW, P.E.O. International, Jeannette Rankin Foundation (women 35+), Society of Women Engineers, Live Your Dream Awards, and hundreds of state-specific awards target women, especially returning students and mothers. Search Fastweb and Scholarships.com filtered for 'women' and your major. Apply to many small scholarships — they're less competitive than big ones.