Scholarships and Education Grants for Single Mothers in Nevada

Where to start

1. Choose your school and term. Check whether the program is eligible for federal or Nevada aid before paying a deposit.
2. File FAFSA. Select the correct year, list your schools, and review the form for missing items. The FAFSA form guide explains how to begin.
3. Call financial aid. Ask about Pell, Silver State, school grants, scholarships, work-study, and deadlines for your exact term.
4. Plan for life costs. Count child care, bus fare, books, equipment, tests, and time away from work. Check job training aid before taking a loan.

If you want a short certificate or a new career, see the Nevada job training guide before enrolling.

Quick Nevada education aid chart

Know what each type of aid pays

The federal aid overview can help you compare grants, loans, and work-study. An award offer may show all three together; they are not the same.

FAFSA, Pell Grants, and federal school aid

Which FAFSA should I file?

The 2026–27 form covers the current award year. If you plan to attend in fall 2027 or spring 2028, file the 2027–28 form as well. If you will attend in summer, ask the school which form it uses. See the federal FAFSA deadlines, but also check each school’s earlier priority dates. Filing late may still leave some aid options open.

Many mothers count as independent students for FAFSA because they provide more than half of their child’s support. But being a single parent alone does not settle the question. Read the FAFSA questions and enter the facts for the award year. Married students may need spouse data; a contributor may need a separate login. Ask the school for help if your family situation is unusual.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is mainly for students working on their first undergraduate degree or eligible certificate. The maximum for 2026–27 is $7,395. The federal government has not posted a 2027–28 maximum on its Pell page as of this update; do not use the old amount as a promise for next year.

The amount you may receive depends on your Student Aid Index (SAI), school cost, enrollment, and remaining eligibility. Pell can sometimes pay for fewer than 12 credits. Ask before dropping or changing courses, because a refund or balance may result.

FSEOG and work-study

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is for students with exceptional need at participating schools. Each school has limited funds. It is worth asking early, even if you already have Pell.

Federal Work-Study offers a chance to earn wages from approved jobs. It is not a lump-sum grant. A work-study line in your aid offer does not mean you already have a job.

Nevada state scholarships and grants

Silver State Opportunity Grant (SSOG)

The Silver State Opportunity Grant helps some students with low incomes. It serves College of Southern Nevada, Great Basin College, Nevada State University, Truckee Meadows Community College, and Western Nevada College.

You need Nevada resident tuition status and a degree or certificate program. You must take at least 12 qualifying credits. The rules also cover math and English skills, school progress, and past degrees. You cannot have a prior bachelor’s degree. Your FAFSA SAI must be 8,500 or less. If the law prevents you from filing FAFSA, ask your school about an alternate application. These are program rules, not a guarantee of aid.

The program lists a maximum of $5,500 annually for a student taking 15 credits each term. The maximum is $4,400 for 12 credits in each of two terms. Students taking at least 15 credits and those with higher need receive priority. Funding can run out. At Nevada State University, fall 2026 awards were made in September; some additional spring awards may be offered if money becomes available. Other schools have their own award schedules.

Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship

The Millennium Scholarship FAQ explains this award for qualified Nevada high school graduates. For most graduates of Nevada public, private, or charter high schools, their school sends records to the state; there is no standard initial student application. Some home-school and other graduates use a different route.

It pays for up to 15 eligible credits each term. The listed rates are $80 per credit at eligible universities, $60 at state colleges and upper-level community college courses, and $40 at lower-level community college courses. To get paid, you normally need at least 9 credits at a community college. At a state college or university, you need 12. You must also meet grade and school progress rules. Check your award notice and school account: it will not pay every fee or living cost.

Nevada Promise Scholarship: October 31 deadline

The Great Basin College Promise schedule shows that applications for the 2026–27 graduating class open August 1, 2026 and close at 11:59 p.m. on October 31, 2026 for fall 2027. Do not miss the separate steps after applying.

At GBC, you must qualify as a Nevada resident for tuition. You need an eligible school diploma or similar award from 2026–27. You must be under 20 when you first get the award. You cannot already have an associate or bachelor’s degree. You must also finish each step on time. At GBC, training is due March 1, 2027. FAFSA is due April 1, and eight service hours are due May 1. Meet your mentor and send required aid papers by July 1. You must also take at least 12 eligible credits. Ask the college for its current checklist, because school-specific deadlines may differ.

Promise is last-dollar help for registration and certain mandatory fees left after other qualifying grants. It does not cover housing, books, or lab fees, and funds depend on state funding. Most adult returning students do not meet its age and recent-graduate limits.

School grants and local scholarships

UNLV Tuition+

The UNLV Tuition+ program can cover eligible course fees left after other aid, up to 15 credits, and provide $500 for books in each fall and spring term. New applicants generally need Nevada residency and income under $68,000 as measured by adjusted gross income. You must be admitted for fall and take at least 12 credits per term. You must also file FAFSA and UNLV’s own aid form by the November 15 priority date.

For fall 2027, check the November 15, 2026 school deadline now. The 2026–27 priority deadline has passed. If you missed it, still ask about other aid, emergency help, and whether any late award review is possible. Tuition+ is not a guarantee that every student gets free tuition or books.

Nevada State University grants

The Nevada State aid list includes Achieve Nevada, Pell, Silver State, other school grants, work-study, and a Non-Federal Aid Application for some students. Its published 2026–27 Achieve Nevada criteria require Pell eligibility and a FAFSA completed by January 15, 2026. Do not assume that date applies to 2027–28; confirm the next cycle with the school.

Nevada State reports that its fall 2026 Silver State awards were completed September 11, 2026, though canceled awards might allow spring consideration. Its school grants also have separate priority rules and may serve some students who are not Pell recipients. Review your aid offer through Nevada State financial aid and ask what is still available.

Nevada Women’s Fund: applications open

The Nevada Women’s Fund scholarships serve women living in northern or rural Nevada; Clark County residents are not included. Two current paths have different rules.

• Degree Pathway: Applications are open October 1, 2026–January 3, 2027 for eligible college degree students. The posted rules include a 3.0 GPA, full-time study for the coming fall term, Nevada ID, transcripts, and a FAFSA Submission Summary.
• Workforce Ready: The current quarterly window is October 1–31, 2026. It is for eligible trade, certificate, licensing, or continuing-education paths. The fund lists a high school diploma requirement and documents including a tax return with Social Security numbers hidden.

Use the correct application for your program. Neither scholarship is automatic, and the selection process is competitive.

Women United Emerging Leaders Scholarship

United Way of Southern Nevada describes a Women United scholarship of up to $5,000 a year, renewable for up to four years. It is for eligible female high school seniors in Clark County attending a four-year program in Southern Nevada. If that fits you, ask United Way how to apply and when the next selection opens. This is not a general scholarship for all adult students.

Career training and SNAP education help

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

If a short course would help you get a job, ask an EmployNV Career Hub coach about WIOA-funded training before you enroll. The Nevada training provider list shows approved programs, but being listed does not mean your tuition will be paid. Use the Career Hub office finder to locate a coach.

Bring your work goals, program name, school costs, income details, and care or travel needs. Ask whether the plan may cover books, tools, exam fees, transportation, or child care. Written approval matters before you pay.

SNAP Employment and Training (E&T)

The Nevada college SNAP E&T program can help some SNAP recipients with career planning, tuition, books, supplies, transportation, and child care support. Its college partners include CSN, Great Basin, Truckee Meadows, and Western Nevada College. Ask your school’s SNAP E&T team whether it serves your course and how to join.

College students have special SNAP eligibility rules. Being a parent or attending school does not mean approval or denial is automatic. Describe your household, care needs, work, and classes when the state reviews your case. If you receive cash aid, the Nevada TANF guide explains another possible support path.

Child care, travel, and other school costs

Nevada child care subsidy

Nevada’s official child care application page lets families start a subsidy request through Access Nevada or the local intake route. Education or approved training can be a reason for care under program rules, but your income, family size, and case details still matter. A subsidy does not guarantee an open child care spot.

October 1, 2026 update: Nevada changed the child care income chart for applications and renewals on or after that date. The state posts a waitlist for new applicants, with no set wait time, and family copays apply unless an exception covers your case. Check the child care program notices before planning a school schedule. The Nevada child care guide can help you prepare your application and check provider options.

Transportation, health, and technology

Ask the school whether its cost-of-attendance budget can reflect child care, transport, a needed computer, disability costs, or required exams. These costs may change the aid budget after review, but do not guarantee more grant money.

For trips to class or training, check Nevada transportation help. Also ask the school and 211 about food, health coverage, lower-cost internet, laptop loans, and campus basic-needs services. If you or your child needs disability support, speak with the campus accessibility office about accommodations and school-specific supports.

If your goal is to run a small business rather than enroll in school, the Nevada business resources guide covers a different route. Business assistance is not the same as an education grant.

Documents and information to gather

You may not need everything on this list. Ask each school or program what it requires, and keep copies of what you send.

If aid is denied, delayed, or too small

Ask the financial aid office for the exact reason and any written deadline. Some problems can be fixed; others depend on limited funds or program rules. These steps often help:

1. Check your FAFSA Submission Summary and the school’s task list for missing information.
2. Send the missing document by the stated date and save proof of delivery.
3. If income or family support has dropped, ask for a special-circumstances review. The school decides whether an adjustment is allowed.
4. If you lost aid because of grades or completed credits, ask whether a satisfactory academic progress appeal applies and what proof it needs. Read the federal eligibility guidance.
5. If a state scholarship or award was refused, ask who handles its review and what appeal or correction steps exist. A school appeal does not replace a separate scholarship deadline.
6. Ask about emergency aid, a payment plan, a school food pantry, or late available grants while you wait.

If a public benefit such as SNAP or child care assistance was denied, use the deadline on that agency’s notice. It may have a different appeal system from school aid. Legal aid can help with some benefit hearings. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.

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