subject: Are Obama Grants Encouraging Moms To Earn A Degree [print this page] Although higher education is important, there are often a number of obstacles that can hinder potential students from enrolling in college. For single mothers especially, family obligations and financial concerns are often at the top of this list. In an attempt to ease some of the 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. The federal Pell grant is an endowment commonly given to low-income students. As 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. Working moms are especially encouraged to apply for the Scholarships for Moms program, which is just a title given to a portion of the standard Pell grant program. The administration believes that by equipping low-income mothers to earn a degree, this will provide a stimulus to the lagging economy, and be a great benefit to families of those mothers as it will in turn increase their earning power in the work force.
$5,000 from a Pell grant may not seem like a lot of money, when you look at the high cost of education these days, but it should help defray the other expenses associated with going to college. As well as books, supplies, and housing, a student has also travelling expenses to pay. For single moms, these miscellaneous expenses may also include childcare. Another great characteristic of the Pell grant award is that the money awarded does not necessarily have to be applied to college tuition. Any expense that can be seen to be necessary to obtaining an education, can be covered by the grant money.
It must be remembered that this program is not specifically catering to traditional students; it provides opportunity for 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. Equal consideration is given 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. All willing students are able to earn a degree that will provide them with significant opportunity in the job market, and this is the most important factor.
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.
