When it comes to paying for college, there’s no better source of money than a grant. A scholarship is a type of grant that is normally dependent on academic performance – GPA, for example, or the difficulty of classes taken at the high school level. Loans can have very attractive terms, such as extremely low interest rates or extended payment periods – but no matter how attractive, they must still be paid back. Grants, however, can be given just based on someone’s status or field of study, with a minimum GPA requirement (often 3.0).

Since women are often underrepresented in certain fields and in post-graduate studies, there are many grants specifically for women out there. These can be offered by private institutions, professional organizations, and government entities. Many colleges and universities also offer their own scholarships, grants, or loans to women or minorities, often tied to certain fields of study.

However, even though co-educational higher educational institutions have made progress integrating women into their ranks and diversifying their schools and departments, private women-only colleges continue to be an attractive option for many women. In essence, all financial aid offered by these colleges are in fact “for women.” Because these private colleges are quite expensive, they tend to be supported by private donations and offer financial aid packages which can help nearly anyone manage to enroll.

Some of the financial aid offered by these colleges are need-based, while others are merit-based. This means that not only low-income, but also middle-income students will qualify for this aid, which is important considering that even for middle-income students, these schools would be prohibitively expensive if paid in full. In addition, some grants and scholarships are offered to certain minority groups to encourage even greater diversity. There are also athletic scholarships available at some women’s colleges.
For example, Atlanta’s Spelman College is a women’s college also known for historically and currently serving African American women and their particular interests and needs. Spelman offers financial aid in the form of scholarships and grants based on need, merit, and field of study.

Also in Atlanta, Agnes Scott College offers many merit-based grants. In addition, it features the Goizueta Foundation Scholarship, which provides full tuition for Hispanic women. To qualify, recipients must demonstrate significant need, high academic achievement, and leadership abilities.

One of the best-known women’s colleges in the country, Massachusetts’s Wellesley College, does not offer merit-based scholarships. Instead, it actively works to attract a wide diversity of students through generous financial aid packages. It also offers a special program that works with the needs of non-traditional students studying their bachelor’s degree or even graduate work.