Funding futures for non-traditional students

The Mary I. Gourley Scholarship Foundation supports non-traditional students like you, balancing work and life with education.

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Alleviate Financial Stress

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Advance Your Education

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Achieve Your Goals

A financial gap shouldn’t hold you back

Balancing jobs, family, and academic responsibilities can be overwhelming. Many non-traditional students struggle to find the financial support needed to continue their education while managing multiple obligations. 

The Mary I. Gourley Scholarship Foundation aims to ease this burden and make education more accessible, leaving a lasting impact on generations to come.

Financial aid 

designed for your needs

The Mary I. Gourley Scholarship Foundation provides need-based scholarships specifically for non-traditional college students. By addressing the unique financial challenges you face, we facilitate your academic success and help you achieve your educational aspirations.

Our scholarships are available to qualifying students at our partner institutions. Since 1988, the foundation has awarded more than $12.8 million in financial aid.

Our partner institutions

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Devoted to your success, in school and in life

We understand the dedication it takes to pursue higher education as a non-traditional student. The Mary I. Gourley Scholarship Foundation is here to provide the necessary support and resources to help you navigate this path successfully.

Easy steps to your 

bright future

Review the criteria

First, please confirm you're attending one of our 6 partner schools and ensure you meet the scholarship criteria.

Here’s how we can help you get to the graduation stage:

Talk to your financial aid office

Then, request a referral and application from your financial aid office.

Exhale and focus

Finally, once your scholarship is awarded, you can get back to focusing on your studies knowing that your financial needs are met.

Success Stories

  • "Thanks to your kindness, I am able to stay on track with my studies and graduate on time. This opportunity means the world to me and has significantly alleviated the financial burden on my family… Knowing that there are people like you who believe in the potential of others reinforces my commitment to succeed and give back in the future."

    Brenna K.

  • "MIG has been my shining light and my reminder that things will always work out. I have been so grateful for being given the chance to continue my education with the help of you all… One day, I will help someone who is in my shoes as well, give them a chance, a helping hand, and a little message like I get every check. Thank you for the motivation, the kindness, and the gift of growing."

    Mayra G.

  • “[The Foundation] took away financial stress and helped me to stay motivated while taking courses as a single mother. I’m appreciative for the assistance that was provided, as it permitted me to graduate in 2016… I was able to grow my career path and obtain a coordinator position at Texas Wesleyan University.”

    Brenda L.

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We exist to support you.

Many non-traditional college students face the challenging task of balancing work, life, and academic demands. The Mary I. Gourley Scholarship Foundation provides need-based scholarships specifically designed to assist these deserving students. Our support has helped more than 1,100 students successfully continue their education and creates a ripple effect of improvement for future generations.

Our Mission

The Mary I. Gourley Scholarship Foundation eliminates barriers to higher education completion at partner institutions by providing flexible, need-based financial support to students.