subject: Want to Go to School, Moms? There's Money for You [print this page] Many people don't take junior colleges seriously. For women with children, 2-year colleges actually have some tremendous advantages. Both academically and personally junior colleges present a wealth of options. With financial opportunity you could get the education you want and need. A common falsehood is that only people who don't want to earn a "real" degree attend junior college. In reality many community colleges offer stimulating classes and often are right in your back yard. Young mothers who recently graduated high school obviously benefit from this situation, but so also do older mothers. Championed by President Obama in 2009, the Grants for Moms incentive is an effort to help more moms enroll in junior colleges and other schools of their choice. A $5,000 award to return to school is a huge incentive. The most important reason for many who attend a community college is the lower costs. Moms who apply for a $5,000 grant certainly want to be cost conscious when going to school. Usually the tuition and fees at a junior college are more than 50% less expensive than many colleges and universities. Having high SAT scores and GPA could result in a 2-year college paying through scholarships for that bright student to come to that school. This is a significant prize for young moms who still managed to do well in school. Travel expenses and housing are just a couple of the other necessary expenses that could be covered with the $5,000 grant. Increasingly, the curriculums at 2-year colleges are becoming more rigorous and offering more academic opportunities. Honors programs at colleges are often a symbol of success, and a 2002 New York Times report found that many junior colleges offer these programs. Many also have study opportunities that reflect the opportunities at big liberal arts universities. Some schools allow students to study subjects like philosophy and cultural art in places around the world. These quality academic opportunities can help students as they work toward further degrees and as they develop their careers. With scholarships for mothers, junior colleges are even more in reach than before. Even as they benefit from a $5,000 grant, mothers can reap the financial savings benefits of going to a small local college. Community colleges can be great training grounds for attendance at 4-year colleges as well as for entering the work force. A 2-year associate degree is a great start to sound career development.
