Obama Grants — Now Encourage Moms To Earn A Degree

No doubt higher education is important, but there are often a number of obstacles that can hinder potential students from enrolling in college. At the top of this list, especially for single mothers, are family obligations and financial concerns. In an attempt to alleviate concerns associated with going to college, Obama grants are intended to encourage mothers to return to college to earn a degree. In many cases, the purpose of federal grants is to help disadvantaged groups to attend college. A commonly given endowment for low-income students is the federal Pell grant. Since the Obama administration has stated that it places a high priority on education, the benefits of Pell grants have been augmented in order to be a greater help to potential students. A title given to a portion of the standard Pell grant program is the Scholarships for Moms program. Working moms are especially encouraged to apply for this. The administration believes that equipping low-income mothers to earn a degree will provide a stimulus to the lagging economy and be a great benefit to families of those mothers by increasing their earning power in the work force. With the high cost of education these days, $5,000 from a Pell grant may not seem like a lot of money but consider the other expenses associated with going to college. As well as books and supplies, a student has to pay for housing and travel expenses as well. Childcare costs for a single mom, may also be included in these miscellaneous expenses. A great advantage of the Pell grant award is that the money awarded does not necessarily have to be applied to college tuition. Providing the expense is vital to obtaining an education, it can be covered by the grant money. This program does not cater specifically to traditional students — it provides opportunities to traditional and non-traditional students alike. Mothers wanting to return to college to earn a degree are just as welcome as a student who is fresh out of high school. Consideration is given equally to mothers who would like to stay home and take care of their children while doing online courses, to potential students who would prefer to go to a small community college. The most significant factor is that all willing students are able to earn a degree that will provide them with significant opportunity in the job market. Obama grants are an effort by the current administration to show that education truly is the key to a bright future. By allocating a significant amount of money to pay for education, everyone from young adults to working mothers has a chance to go to college.