One of the best indicators of success in life is the level of education a person has. Some people have suffered from lack of opportunity, and that category too often includes young mothers. Mothers who are in need of education can make a difference in their lives and the lives of their children by seeking education. The federal scholarships for moms are a new and important way of encouraging women to earn a degree. This federal program was initiated in 2009 as a way to help moms of all types go to school. Administrators of the program can award as much as $ 5,000 of the need-based Pell Grant to a worthy mom. There is a significant list of all the school-related costs that can be paid for with the $ 5,000 grant. The goal is to make going to college or university much more accessible. Diversity is an important word as it relates to the list of acceptable majors. Practically any majors and careers are suitable. Science, industry, arts and literature and history are just some of the areas of interest that many people hope can lead to a fulfilling career. Achievement starts by being knowledgeable and prepared. Although scholarships for moms provide a place to start, for many people it is difficult to know where that education will lead them. One way to enhance your preparedness is to do online career research. One important research tool is the Occupational Outlook Handbook, or OOH. This guide by the US Department of Labor analyzes the current trends of employment in a number of sectors. The 10-year job projections can help analyze how specific jobs and an industry as a whole will perform in the upcoming years. To find information about required education or training, salary, job projections and more, CareerOneStop is another valuable publication. Often regular search engines can lead to avenues of trusted information. Doing various searches and visiting many sites can give a ‘big picture’ view of the areas of interest to you. Higher education is probably even more important in troubled economic times. Preparing during slow times is an important way to ensure that needs are met when thing pick up. As long as women bare the brunt of tough financial times it’s important to provide resources to help them cope. The education grants for moms do just that.