Scholarships and Education Grants for Single Mothers in Delaware

Where to start in Delaware

1. Pick your school year. Use 2026–27 for classes from July 2026 through June 2027, or 2027–28 for July 2027 through June 2028. Ask your school which form covers summer classes.
2. File the FAFSA. Submit it each year. Then check both your FAFSA submission summary and your school’s portal for missing steps.
3. Watch Delaware deadlines. Make an account at the state aid portal. Use an email you will keep after graduation.
4. Ask your school for a full bill. Compare tuition, fees, books, child care, transport, housing, food, internet, and any loan offer.
5. Check other state help. ASMOM’s Delaware help directory covers support that may keep you enrolled while you study.

Quick aid table

Know what type of aid you get

Ask the financial aid office to mark which parts of your package are grants, earned work income, and borrowed money. A tuition-only offer does not mean school will cost nothing.

FAFSA and Federal Pell Grants

The FAFSA helps schools decide federal aid and many state and college awards. For 2026–27, the federal form deadline is June 30, 2027, but schools may need complete information before your final day of enrollment. Delaware’s 2026–27 priority date of May 15, 2026, has passed; that does not close the federal form. Check the official FAFSA deadline information and ask what funds remain.

The 2027–28 FAFSA is available now. Use the Federal Student Aid update for its release and filing help. Delaware scholarship applications for that year begin later. Filing FAFSA does not replace a state scholarship application.

The Federal Pell Grant has a $7,395 maximum for 2026–27. Your award may be smaller based on your FAFSA data, Student Aid Index, school cost, enrollment, and remaining lifetime eligibility. It is mainly for eligible undergraduate students who have not completed certain prior degrees. Do not use the 2026–27 maximum as a promise for 2027–28.

Single-parent status and a lower income

Being a single parent does not, by itself, settle FAFSA dependency status. For some students, a child who lives with them and gets more than half their support from them can affect that status. Check the official dependency questions and ask school aid staff if your case is unusual.

If your wages dropped after the tax year FAFSA uses, complete the form with the requested figures first. Then ask your financial aid office for a special circumstances review. They may ask for pay stubs, termination papers, benefit notices, or other proof. A review is not automatic approval.

Delaware’s Stand By Me NexGen offers free FAFSA help, including online appointments and workshops. For more details, see ASMOM’s Pell and FAFSA guide.

Delaware state scholarships and deadlines

The Delaware Higher Education Office (DHEO) runs nine state-sponsored scholarships. The 2027 DHEO scholarship schedule lists deadlines and rules by program. Most applications open December 1, 2026. Do not assume every scholarship has the same cutoff.

ScIP pays $1,000 per year to eligible students. Its published rules include some qualifying graduate study, and some out-of-state degree programs not offered at Delaware’s public colleges. Full-time study is generally required for ScIP; certificates, diplomas, and nondegree classes do not qualify. Confirm residency, FAFSA submission, major, and college enrollment in the portal.

DHEO also offers career-based, educator, speech-language pathology, and family-service-related awards with their own rules. Some amounts depend on state funding, and a posted “to be determined” amount is not a promise. Do not assume you qualify just because your major sounds similar to the listed field.

If your Delaware scholarship is denied

For eligible DHEO award decisions, the official DHEO appeal rules say to submit a written appeal within two weeks of the awarding decision. Put “APPEAL” in the email subject, attach the appeal form and supporting records, and save the date sent. DHEO says decisions are sent in writing by September 30. Not every issue is an allowable appeal reason; read your award notice.

Academic Common Market

If no Delaware public college offers your chosen degree, the Academic Common Market may allow an in-state tuition rate at an approved public college in another participating state. The program is not a cash grant and does not cover every major. Applications are accepted year-round. Send a complete request about four to six weeks before the school’s deadline and leave time for program approval.

SEED and Inspire tuition help

SEED at Delaware Tech

The Delaware Tech SEED program offers tuition help to eligible Delawareans of all ages in approved associate degrees, diplomas, credit certificates, bachelor’s programs, and workforce training. The college says tuition help can cover five years of courses. Books and course fees are not included. Degree and workforce students have different steps, so check the college’s specific SEED instructions, FAFSA requirements, and renewal rules before registering.

SEED at the University of Delaware

The UD Flex Pathway SEED scholarship serves eligible students in approved associate pathways. Admission to an eligible program and FAFSA are needed; no separate SEED form is required. UD generally requires Delaware residency, a Delaware school or eligible secondary credential, and a qualifying 2.5 GPA. The first semester must be full time; later part-time study can be allowed. Students can use up to ten semesters of eligibility, including some help after moving into a bachelor’s program. Not every transfer or college degree qualifies.

Inspire at Delaware State University

The Inspire Scholarship can pay full tuition for eligible Delaware high school graduates who enroll at Delaware State University full time in the fall right after graduation. New applicants need at least a 2.75 high school GPA and must submit FAFSA. Continued aid requires full-time study, a cumulative 2.75 college GPA, yearly FAFSA, good conduct, and 10 hours of community service each semester. It covers up to eight consecutive fall and spring semesters; summer is excluded. Returning adult students who did not enroll right after high school should ask about DSU returning-student awards instead.

Job training and certificates

A short course may help you qualify for work sooner than a degree. Compare the job outcome, required license, total price, class hours, and likely pay before enrolling. Ask whether the training provider is approved and whether funding must be approved before your course begins.

Elevate Delaware can provide up to $10,000 for eligible approved noncredit certificate training, including some support tied to completion or basic living costs. The published rules require employment by a business with fewer than 51 employees, Delaware income-tax liability, and acceptance into an approved program. You must create a Delaware JobLink account. Awards are first come, first served; do not quit work or pay for a class based on an assumed award.

For another route, ask Delaware’s workforce office about approved job training and whether WIOA-funded services may fit your situation. A workforce scholarship is not the same as FAFSA-funded college aid.

Child care while you study

Delaware’s Purchase of Care program can pay part of approved child care bills for eligible low-income families. Children generally must be younger than 13; a child with documented special needs may qualify beyond that age. The state checks both family income and a need for care, which may depend on the approved school or training schedule. A weekly family copay may apply, and the provider must accept the program.

For the period October 1, 2026–September 30, 2027, the state lists a gross monthly limit of 225% of the federal poverty level at initial application. For a household of three, the posted initial limit is $5,123 per month. Separate, higher limits may apply at yearly redetermination and during an active approval period; they are not the initial-application rule. Check the current table for your household size and case.

Apply through Delaware ASSIST or a State Service Center. Ask which proof of school hours, income, family members, and approved care you need. If child care stops during the term, contact the office before missing a renewal or leaving school. ASMOM’s Delaware child care guide explains more steps.

Private scholarships worth checking

Delaware Scholarship Compendium

The official Delaware scholarship search includes awards sorted by deadline, county, need, major, degree, and other criteria. It now has a 2026–27 compendium. A search result is not an award offer; open the provider’s own rules before applying.

Delaware Community Foundation

The Delaware Community Foundation page says the 2026–27 application cycle is closed. It awarded more than $1 million to 233 students for that school year, according to its June 2026 announcement. Check for the next cycle rather than assuming last year’s March deadline will be reused. Some DCF awards now include trade education.

Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation

The Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation serves eligible women entering a Delaware undergraduate degree program. Basic rules include being age 20 or older, having a diploma or GED, showing financial need, and having a two-year education gap. Applicants must be Delaware residents or have been employed in Delaware for the last 12 months. Citizenship or permanent-resident rules also apply. The website still provides 2026 forms, so check for the new application packet and deadline before sending documents.

Ask your school for more help

School aid may fill a gap that FAFSA and state scholarships leave. Ask both financial aid and student services whether they have emergency grants, small completion grants, a food pantry, book vouchers, campus child care, transit help, laptop lending, or student-parent support. Ask if you can use grants and scholarships with an outside award and how each one changes your total package.

If your income dropped because of job loss, loss of child support, divorce, or major family costs, ask about an aid review and bring proof. Do not assume paying off a bill on a credit card or accepting a private loan is your only choice. Compare course fees and the total cost of attendance before signing a payment plan.

For household support while in school, ASMOM’s Delaware community guide can help with local services. Use the Delaware food assistance guide if grocery costs are making school hard, the Delaware TANF guide if you may qualify for cash aid, and the Delaware transportation guide for travel to class or child care.

Documents and details to gather

Keep copies in a private folder. Use your own account login; never give a scholarship website your FAFSA password. Different awards need different papers.

Phone scripts