Single Parents Can Apply for $1,600 College Scholarships

Single parents juggling work, childcare, and dreams of a better future just got a major boost in the Texarkana area.

The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund is now accepting applications for fall 2026 scholarships ranging from $400 to $1,600. The deadline is September 1st, and the program is open to parents pursuing associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, professional certificates, or skilled-trade programs.

LaShana Mitchell of Texarkana, Texas, is already seeing the impact. She's studying education at Texas A&M University with help from the fund.

"I want to go to school to become a teacher so I can learn how to best care for and teach young children," Mitchell said. "My goal is to create a loving, safe classroom where kids feel happy, supported, and excited to learn."

This year alone, the organization awarded 14 scholarships totaling $21,600 in Bowie County, Texas, and seven scholarships totaling $8,400 in Miller County, Arkansas. These aren't just checks in the mail, either.

The program pairs scholarship money with mentorship, career guidance, workshops, and connections to local resources. That matters when you're trying to balance classes with full-time work, raising kids, arranging transportation, and finding reliable childcare.

The Ripple Effect

When single parents earn degrees, entire families benefit for generations. Kids see their parents studying and persevering, learning that education opens doors.

Local employers gain the skilled workers they need to keep Southwest Arkansas growing. Communities become stronger when family financial stability improves.

"All parents deserve the opportunity to build a better future through education," said ASPSF CEO Jenn Morehead. "When we remove barriers to earning a degree or workforce credential, families, employers, and communities all benefit."

To qualify, applicants must be single parents living in eligible Arkansas counties or Bowie County, Texas, with a high school diploma or GED. They need to enroll in at least one three-credit-hour course and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA while meeting income eligibility guidelines.

Since 1990, the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $50 million in scholarships. With volunteer and community partner support, they're creating multi-generational change that transforms lives for both single parents and their children.

Applications and eligibility requirements are available at aspsf.org/scholarships, where dreams of cap-and-gown moments are just one click closer to reality.