Application Information

Applicant Criteria

  • Single Mother: Applicants must be a single mother.

  • Age: under 35 years old.

  • Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S., Permanent Resident, and DACA.

  • Primary caregiver: The applicant must be the primary caregiver to at least one school-age child (up to Grade 12) while in the scholarship program. This includes natural born, legally adopted children or children for whom legal guardianship has been granted.

    • The child's primary residence must be the applicant's home.

  • Enrollment: Applicants must be accepted into or enrolled full time or part time, for the current academic year in a not-for-profit, accredited institution within Chester, Bucks, Philadelphia, Delaware and Montgomery counties of Pennsylvania.

    • College Navigator is a great look-up resource to find out if your institution meets that criteria: nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

    • Additionally, the applicant must be pursuing a degree/credential at an institution that does not discriminate on the basis of sex/gender, lgbtq+ status/identity, race/ethnicity, religion, disability, immigration status.

    • Applicants who have already completed a 4 year degree are not eligible.

  • Academic Program: Recipients must have declared a major for a 2 year associates with the intent to complete a 4 year degree, or have declared a major for a 4 year degree program.

  • Academic Performance: Recipients must maintain satisfactory academic performance and remain in good academic standing as defined by the institution's policies.

  • Demonstrate Financial Needs and Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must be low income, as defined by an income limit of 2.5x the poverty level. HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2024

  • Letter of Recommendation: One letter of recommendation is required and must:

    • Be sent directly to admin@piersonrangereducationalfoundation.com by the person providing the recommendation.

    • Speak to the applicant's work ethic, academic capabilities, or character.

    • Be completed by a professor/teacher, school counselor, employer, or other person in a supervisory-based capacity.

    •  Be a maximum of 1 page, single-spaced, in PDF format, and signed.  

Application Tips

We hope that the following tips will assist you in completing your application. Please make sure you have all of the required documentation prior to opening your application, as all documents are submitted at once. We recommend you have a trusted colleague/professor review your application, especially the essay, for omissions or typos.

You will need to have ready:

  • Applicant Information and Household Information: including your address, email, phone, and information about your children (their names, ages, schools).

  • A Professional Resume: We encourage you to include work experience, volunteer experience and other academic or work related experiences. Upload your PDF-formatted resume into the application.

  • College Choice: Provide the name and location of the college you are (or have been accepted to) going to attend in the upcoming academic year along with your major and anticipated graduation date.*The scholarship is currently only available for students attending colleges in the following counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia

  • Transcript Request: You will need to upload your current and past transcripts from high school and any colleges attended. You may submit unofficial transcripts in PDF format.

  • Financial Information: You will need the following: a) a current copy of your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) b) a copy of your Award letter from the Financial Aid office (if applicable) c) your SAR Report and d) A copy of your most recent tax return (Not required if FAFSA summary provided)

    • You will need all of the information about your college’s costs including tuition, books and supplies, and transportation costs. You will calculate your current need based on the difference between your recorded financial aid awarded and your school expenses.

  • Your Personal Essay: The above data only tells us so much, so we want to learn more about you. Please share your academic and personal journey. Please include your goals. What do you hope to achieve by completing your degree, both for yourself and for your family? 700 word limit please.

  • Date of Open Application: Now Open! Applications accepted on a rolling basis.