Many different circumstances can arise that make paying for a college education difficult. This can include having a disabled parent. If one or both of your parents are disabled, you may be able to qualify for scholarships for students with disabled parents.
Scholarships are a form of student aid that is free and does not need to be repaid. This makes them a great starting point when looking for ways to cover college expenses.
6 Scholarships for Students With Disabled Parents
The scholarships below are available to students with disabled parents.
Cappex Scholarship
- Value: $1,000
- Essay: None
- Deadline: June 30
The Cappex scholarship is available to all students enrolled in high school or college or those who plan to enroll in the next 12 months. This is not a disabled parent scholarship, but those with a disabled parent are eligible. There is no essay or a minimum GPA requirement to apply.
- Value: $1,000
- Grade Eligibility: Enrolled in high school or college or planning to enroll in the next 12 months
- GPA Requirements: None
- Essay: None
- Deadline: July 31, 2020
- Other Requirements:
- You’ll need to create a Cappex account to submit your application
Paralyzed Veterans of America Scholarship
- Value: Up to $2,500
- Essay: Yes
- Deadline: June 1
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) is offering funds to PVA members and their immediate family through their Educational Scholarship Program. To become a member, you must be a U.S. citizen, a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, and have a spinal cord injury or disease.
- Value: $2,500 to full-time students and $1,000 to part-time students
- Grade Eligibility: Accepted and enrolled as a full-time or part-time student in an accredited U.S. college or university
- GPA Requirements: None
- Essay: A personal statement up to 750 words
- Deadline: June 1, 2020
- Other Requirements:
- Applicant must be a PVA member, the spouse of a PVA member, or an unmarried child (under 24 years of age) who is dependent on the member for principal support
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Verification of enrollment
- Academic transcript
- Two letters of recommendation
- Value: Up to $2,000
- Essay: Yes
- Deadline: April 17
Blinded Veterans Association Scholarship
The Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) is a national non-profit that has provided service to blinded veterans for over 74 years. To become a member, the veteran must be legally blind. Blindness doesn’t need to be connected to service. The non-profit is awarding seven scholarships to dependent children, grandchildren, or spouses.
- Value: Six scholarships for $2,000 and one scholarship for $1,000
- Grade Eligibility: Accepted for admission, or already enrolled, as a full-time student in an accredited institution of higher education, or a business, secretarial, or vocational training school
- GPA Requirements: None
- Essay: Yes; a 300-word essay on the applicant’s post-education, lifetime career goals
- Deadline: April 17, 2020
- Other Requirements:
- Transcripts of high school and/or college
- Three letters of reference
The PreJax Foundation Scholarship
- Value: $1,000
- Essay: Yes
- Deadline: April 30
The PreJax Foundation is a non-profit providing college tuition assistance in the form of $1,000 scholarships to students who have a parent with multiple sclerosis (MS) or have themselves been diagnosed with MS.
- Value: $1,000
- Grade Eligibility: Current high school senior, high school graduate, or current undergraduate students of any age
- GPA Requirements: None
- Essay: Yes; a 500-word personal statement
- Deadline: April 30, 2021
- Other Requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident living in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, or any other U.S. territory
- Enroll in at least 12 credit hours per semester in coursework leading to a first-time degree, license, or certificate
- High school transcript, college transcript, or GED
- Two letters of reference from non-family members
- A signed letter from a medical doctor
Mesothelioma.com Scholarship
- Value: $4,000
- Essay: Yes
- Deadline: March 31
The Mesothelioma.com scholarship is a $4,000 award to one student whose life has been impacted by cancer. If you’ve battled a form of cancer yourself, or have witnessed a family member receiving treatment for cancer, you are eligible to apply.
- Value: $4,000
- Grade Eligibility: Must be enrolled full-time at an accredited two-year or four-year university, community college or junior college, or a graduate degree program
- GPA Requirements: 3.0 or higher
- Essay: Yes; 500- to 1,500-word essay
- Deadline: March 31, 2021
- Other Requirements:
- Must have battled a form of cancer or have an immediate family member or close friend that has battled or is currently fighting cancer
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- An unofficial academic transcript
- Proof of enrollment
- Two letters of recommendation
- Information about any honors you have received as well as any volunteer work
Millie Brother Scholarship
- Value: $3,000
- Essay: Yes
- Deadline: June 30
The Millie Brother scholarship is awarded to hearing children of deaf parents. You may apply for this scholarship for as many years as you are in school. However, first-time winners receive preference.
- Value: Two scholarships for $3,000 on average
- Grade Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students
- GPA Requirements: None
- Essay: Yes
- Deadline: June 30, 2020
- Other Requirements:
- A transcript from your high school and your college or university if you are currently enrolled
- Two letters of recommendation
Recap of Scholarships for Students With Disabled Parents
| Scholarship | Value | Deadline |
| Cappex | $1,000 | July 31, 2020 |
| PVA | $1,000 – $2,500 | June 1, 2020 |
| BVA | $1,000 – $2,000 | April 17, 2020 |
| PreJax Foundation | $1,000 | April 21, 2021 |
| Mesothelioma.com | $4,000 | March 31, 2021 |
| Millie Brother | $3,000 on average | June 30, 2020 |
Next Steps
If you aren’t eligible for the disabled parent scholarships above or would like to view more options, check out the guides below: