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.
North Dakota district courts handle family matters across seven judicial districts. The Child Support Division operates under DHHS. Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot are the largest cities. Legal Services of North Dakota and CAWS North Dakota (the statewide DV coalition) provide civil legal aid and safety services to women.
NDUS at 600 E Boulevard in Bismarck oversees 11 public colleges and universities — UND, NDSU, Minot State, Dickinson State, Mayville State, Valley City State, BSC, LRSC, NDSCS, Williston State, and DCB. Mothers can compare programs and tuition at ndus.edu. The Tribal College Consortium adds five tribally-controlled colleges. Call 701-328-2960 for transfer counseling.
701-328-2960 · 600 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND 58505 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
NDSU in Fargo is ND's land-grant research university with strong programs in agriculture, engineering, nursing, and business. The Women & Gender Studies program supports women students; the Memorial Union Nontraditional Student Lounge serves mothers returning to college. Call 701-231-8011 for admissions; FAFSA opens financial aid statewide.
701-231-8011 · 1340 Administration Ave, Fargo, ND 58102 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
UND in Grand Forks is ND's oldest university (founded 1883) offering medicine, law, aerospace, and arts and sciences. The Women's Center provides peer support, a lactation lounge, and emergency funds. UND Online offers fully remote programs accessible to rural ND mothers. Call 701-777-2011 to schedule a campus visit or virtual tour.
701-777-2011 · 264 Centennial Dr, Grand Forks, ND 58202 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
Bismarck State College at 1500 Edwards Ave offers affordable two-year degrees, technical certificates in energy and healthcare, and 4-year completion partnerships with UND, NDSU, and MSU. BSC's average per-credit cost is among the lowest in the region. Call 701-224-5400 to speak with a financial aid counselor or schedule a campus tour.
701-224-5400 · 1500 Edwards Ave, Bismarck, ND 58506 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
NDSCS in Wahpeton is the state's premier two-year technical college, training women in welding, automotive, electrical, HVAC, dental hygiene, and other in-demand trades. Free apprenticeship-readiness programs partner with ND employers desperate for workers. Call 800-342-4325 to inquire about scholarship-eligible programs designed to recruit women into trades.
800-342-4325 · 800 6th St N, Wahpeton, ND 58076 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
Minot State at 500 University Ave W is a regional public university serving north-central ND with affordable tuition (often the lowest 4-year option in the state) and small class sizes. Strong programs in special education, criminal justice, and nursing. Call 701-858-3000 to ask about the Beaver Promise tuition guarantee and military spouse education benefits.
701-858-3000 · 500 University Ave W, Minot, ND 58707 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
studentaid.gov is the single federal application for Pell Grants, Direct Loans, work-study, and most state-administered aid. ND mothers should file FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1 each year — earlier filers receive larger aid packages because state funds are first-come. Call 800-433-3243 if you need help completing the form.
800-433-3243 · Online Service · Online 24/7 · Visit Website
ND Adult Education funds free GED preparation classes and adult basic education through community colleges and local school districts. Mothers without a high school diploma can earn the GED at no cost; many programs also offer free childcare during class. Call 701-328-2393 Mon-Fri to find your nearest GED testing site and prep program.
701-328-2393 · Statewide Locations · Varies by location · Visit Website
studentaid.gov hosts the FAFSA, federal loan management, Public Service Loan Forgiveness enrollment, and the StudentAid.gov dashboard where ND mothers can manage federal student loans. The simplified post-2024 FAFSA only takes 30-45 minutes for most filers; ND state aid also flows from this single application.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The Pell Grant provides up to $7,395/year (2024-25) in free money to undergraduate students with high financial need — and never has to be repaid. ND mothers with family adjusted gross income roughly under
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
AAUW awards over $5 million annually in fellowships and grants — including the Career Development Grant for women whose education has been interrupted, the American Fellowship for women completing dissertations, and Selected Professions Fellowships for women in STEM and law. ND applicants can apply directly at aauw.org/resources/programs/fellowships-grants.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) operates six women's education programs: the P.E.O. Scholar Awards (doctoral), International Peace Scholarship (international students in US), Continuing Education Grant (women whose education was interrupted), Star Scholarship (high-school senior women), STAR loan fund, and Cottey College. Apply through a sponsoring local P.E.O. chapter.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards range from
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Jeannette Rankin Foundation awards scholarships averaging ,500 (renewable up to four years) specifically to low-income women age 35 or older pursuing technical, vocational, or undergraduate education. Applications open each fall at rankinfoundation.org. US citizenship or permanent residency required; demonstrated need is heavily weighted.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The Patsy Mink Education Foundation honors the late Hawaiian congresswoman who authored Title IX by funding low-income mothers in any post-secondary program. Awards typically ,000-$5,000 cover tuition, books, and the childcare costs that block many mothers from completing degrees. Annual application cycle at patsyminkfoundation.org.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Scholarships.com is a free national scholarship search with over 3.7 million awards searchable by demographic, major, GPA, and circumstance. The 'women-specific' filter alone returns thousands of awards. ND mothers create a free profile to get personalized matches and weekly new-scholarship emails.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
BigFuture from the College Board lets ND mothers search colleges by major, size, region, and net price, then compare financial aid offers using the official Net Price Calculator. The scholarship search filters by women, adult learners, single mothers, and other identifiers. Free; no testing requirement to use the tools.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Khan Academy is the College Board's exclusive free SAT prep partner. The personalized practice tool identifies an ND student's weaknesses and assigns targeted exercises. For mothers returning to college, the platform also covers high-school-level math and reading review needed for placement tests at BSC, NDSCS, and other ND community colleges.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website