College Scholarships and Grants for Domestic Violence Victims

Going back to college is a great way to rebuild your life after hardships such as intimate partner violence. While there are many college funds geared specifically to women, only a handful of programs offer college scholarships and grants for domestic violence victims. Essays, financial documents, general recommendation letters and letters attesting that you escaped an abusive relationship and are currently living in a safe place are usually required for such scholarship programs.

Some awarded domestic violence scholarship funds can be used toward the personal spending plan needed to finish school, while other funds must be paid directly to the college for tuition. Applying for other scholarships in your field of interest or pursuing government-issued student loans can also help you achieve your educational dreams and leave the memories of past abuse behind.

Whether you live in Arizona, Massachusetts or somewhere in between, you can find several domestic violence scholarships to help you rebuild your life.

The Allstate Foundation

Women who survived domestic violence can apply for the Economics Against Abuse grant program offered through the Allstate Foundation. Organizations that help survivors can also apply for funding. All grants must be used for fostering an abuse survivor's economic independence; many recipients use their funds to go to college or participate in another type of educational program.

The R.O.S.E. Fund

The New England-based organization The R.O.S.E. Fund has awarded more than $1 million in grants to domestic violence survivors since 1992. R.O.S.E. is an acronym for "Regaining One's Self Esteem." Women who hope to attend college or enroll in another type of vocational training may apply. Keep in mind that priority is given to single mothers who recently escaped a relationship.

As of 2011, the general college scholarship program offers a renewable award of $2,000 per semester. Larger grants are available for women attending area colleges such as the University of Massachusetts at Boston and Pine Manor College. Domestic violence survivors who want to attend a continuing education program can apply for a grant ranging from $200 to $1,000.

U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women

If you're elderly and/or disabled and survived domestic violence, you may be able to obtain a grant through the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women. As of 2011, this federal government program offered a dozen grant programs geared toward women and organizations serving them.

School-Specific Domestic Violence Scholarships

Several colleges throughout the country offer admitted students who survived domestic violence scholarship funding. Just a few of the examples are as follows:

Arellano Scholarship for Survivor of Domestic Violence, Arizona State University.

Harry & Anna Lister Memorial Scholarship for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sul Ross State University, Rio Grande, Texas.

SAFE-Survivors Achieving Formal Education Scholarship, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan.

As of 2011, the Harry & Anna Lister Memorial Scholarship for Victims of Domestic Violence also extends funding offers to children whose mothers survived domestic violence.

References

The Allstate Foundation

The R.O.S.E. Fund

U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women

National Resource Center on Violence Against Women: Funding for Individuals

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