Private Grants

• Private organizations, such as the American Association of Retired Persons, or AARP, and the Jeanette Rankin Foundation, offer grants to women regardless of the state in which they reside. The Jeanette Rankin Foundation, for example, offers nationwide funding to low-income women 35 and over who need assistance in "breaking their cycle of poverty." The AARP offers funding to women who are at least 40 and can demonstrate hardship or dire financial need, as the program is designed to aid women in eventually securing their own retirement.
  
  

University Grants

• Certain private and public educational institutions in Texas offer partial or full financial-assistance grants to women who are of a certain age to attend college or university classes. Depending on the school, specific campuses may also award credit for classes attended. For example, University of Houston-Downtown and San Antonio College both offer varying grant programs to older Texas residents on a space-available basis. Age requirements vary from school to school so contact your local college or university to see if it offers financial assistance.
  
  

State Grants

• Texas has a state law that requires certain public colleges and universities to offer discounted or free tuition grants to older men and women. This tuition cannot be used at private in-state universities, and space is limited on a first-come, first-served basis.
  
  

Federal Grants

• There are various federal grants that women in all states, including Texas, can apply for. One is the Pell Grant, which offers federal assistance for college to applicants who demonstrate financial need. The Administration on Aging, which is run under the U.S. Department of Health, also offers a number of grants to older women including educational aid, living assistance and health care grants.