College Scholarships for Twins and Multiple Birth Siblings

Paying for college is a significant challenge for many families, and the burden is amplified when parents have twins or other multiple-birth siblings entering higher education simultaneously. Fortunately, there are various strategies and specific scholarships designed to alleviate this financial strain. This article explores these opportunities, providing a comprehensive guide to scholarships for twins and multiple-birth siblings.

The Financial Challenge of Multiple College Students

For a large number of families across America, the cost of college is prohibitive. And that’s just for one child. For parents with twins, paying for two children to attend college at the same time can be a challenge. Many parents find paying for one child’s college challenging enough, let alone paying for college for two children simultaneously. This is the challenge facing twins and their parents. Households with twins, triplets, or other multiples often worry about how they’ll handle the cost of college. After all, they’re almost guaranteed to have several students attending at the same time, which can be financially cumbersome. Fortunately, there are plenty of unique scholarships out there that celebrate all sorts of demographics. Among those are scholarships for twins, triplets, and quadruplets.

Understanding Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Student Aid Index (SAI)

It’s important to understand how financial aid calculations work for families with multiple children in college. A household’s expected family contribution (EFC) is divided among the total number of students attending college at once. For example, if an EFC for a single student would be $15,000, the EFC for triplets isn’t $45,000. Instead, the total for the household would stay closer to $15,000, or around $5,000 per triplet. Still, a household with multiple students attending college at the same time may qualify for more financial aid, all because the EFC is divided among several students. Usually, a student’s individually-assigned EFC is used as a basis for evaluating financial need.

It is critical to note that there’s no guarantee that students will secure more financial aid that doesn’t result in debt - such as federal grants or work-study - even if they’re a multiple. If the household is also high-income, the divided EFC could still make students ineligible.

Note: As of the 2023-2024 academic year, EFC will be replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI), a different calculation to determine a student’s eligibility for financial aid.

Types of Scholarships for Multiples

Generally speaking, there are two main types of scholarships for triplets, twins, and other multiples. First, there are general ones. These aren’t school-specific. Second, there are institutional college scholarships for triplets, twins, and other multiples. With this type of award, the funds can only be used at a specific college. As a result, applying for admissions is a common requirement. Additionally, there may be other qualifications aside from attending the school and being a multiple. As with all scholarships, it’s crucial that students review all of the rules and requirements before working on an application.

It is also important to note that many scholarships that focus on twins may also accept applicants who are triplets, quadruplets, or any other kind of multiple. As a result, they can be good options for anyone looking for scholarships for being a triplet, for example.

Specific Scholarship Opportunities

Twins Days Festival Scholarship

What better way to celebrate twins than a Twin Scholarship awarded at Twins Days in Twinsburg, Ohio? Attendees of the largest annual gathering of twins and multiples in the world-the Twins Day Festival, in Twinsburg, Ohio-are on their way to qualifying for this generous scholarship for twins. To be eligible, twins or multiples must have registered and attended at least 3 of the previous 5 Twin Days festivals. They must also be registered for the current year’s festival. In addition, all applicants must also submit a 300-word essay about the positive impact of Twins Days and provide 2 letters of recommendation. Twins Day Andrew R.

Lake Erie College Twin Scholarship

College is expensive for just one student, but when you have two it can get overwhelming. Luckily Lake Erie College comes to the rescue with this generous scholarship. Since 1987, Lake Erie College has reduced the expense of sending twins to school through its Twin Scholarship, which effectively enables both twins to attend Lake Erie College for the price of one. It pays an annual full-tuition, one between the two students. The Twin Scholarship is just one of the ways in which the college awarded more than $14 million last year. Students must attend LEC together and must be enrolled full-time in their chosen undergrad program. This scholarship is awarded in place of any merit award. The Twin Scholarship is given in lieu of a merit award.

Wilson College Scholarships for Twins and Triplets

Every year one set of twins and one set of triplets receives a scholarship at Wilson College. Wilson College, a small liberal arts school in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, makes an appealing offer to twins and triplets-reduced tuition. To qualify, all students must be enrolled full-time each semester at Wilson College. Each twin receives a scholarship worth 45% of tuition costs, with the caveat that they must each be enrolled as a full-time student every semester. Provided the recipients maintain satisfactory academic progress, they may receive this award for up to four years. Recipients may continue benefiting from this award for a maximum of 4 years if they are enrolled in Wilson College full time, and they maintain satisfactory academic progress. There are some restrictions about being able to combine the Twin Scholarship with other school-issued monetary awards, but the idea is to meet college expenses completely.

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Johnson & Wales University (JWU) Family Scholarship

While not twin-specific, the Johnson & Wales University (JWU) Family Scholarship is sure to interest twins and multiple-birth students. The scholarship provides twins and siblings of the same family simultaneously enrolled at JWU up to $2,000 per student.

Greater St. Louis Mothers of Twins Club Scholarships

Greater St. A resident of St. The city of St. The Missouri counties of Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. The Southern Illinois counties of Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, and St. The Greater St Louis Mothers of Twins Club awards four scholarships annually to multiple-birth students planning to pursue post-secondary education after graduating high school. Eligibility: Incoming college freshmen from the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan area and surrounding counties who are multiple-birth students (e.g. The award is paid in two installments of $500-one at the beginning of the first semester and one at the beginning of the second semester of school.

Rider University’s Sibling Grants

Though not exactly a scholarship for twins, Rider University’s Sibling Grants provide financial relief to siblings attending the school concurrently.

Northeast Oklahoma A&M Twin/Triplet Room Waiver

Although the Northeast Oklahoma A&M Twin/Triplet Room Waiver isn’t exactly a scholarship, it’s a great way for multiple-birth students to save some money at this two-year residential college. Room & board is part of the cost of attendance, but twins or triplets at NEO A&M can get it waived. The students must attend NEO together, though they don’t actually have to room with one another. To be eligible, twins/triplets must attend the school together, have a 2.0 minimum GPA, and have no disciplinary record. Only one application is needed per family.

Quinnipiac Multiple-Sibling Award

The Quinnipiac Multiple-Sibling Award isn’t a scholarship and isn’t twin-specific, but it is a great opportunity for twins and multiple-birth students to lower the cost of attending college at Quinnipiac University-the private institution in the New Haven suburb of Hamden, Connecticut.

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Calvin University Twin Scholarship

This scholarship was founded by Edward and Marvin DeVries, twin brothers who-together with their spouses-sent five children to Calvin University. The intent of the scholarship is to lessen the financial strain on families sending twin children to college.

Cal Baptist University (CBU) Sibling Grant

Cal Baptist University (CBU)-a private Christian college located in Riverside, California-is another school that provides financial support to multiple siblings enrolled simultaneously in their undergraduate program.

Paula Nieto Twin Scholarship

The Paula Nieto Twin Scholarship is awarded to twins entering their sophomore year at Carl Albert State College-a community college in Poteau, Oklahoma.

Otterbein University Sibling Grant

Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, is another institution that offers financial support to siblings enrolled in their undergraduate program simultaneously.

Randolph-Macon College Family Grant

There’s a lot to attract twins to Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. Of interest to twins is the college’s Family Grant, which awards $1,500 per year to siblings concurrently enrolled at the college.

Eastern Michigan University Scholarship Essay

Being a twin is life-changing in a way that only children or siblings a few years apart can’t understand. Applicants at Eastern Michigan University must write a 1-2 page essay about what it means to be a twin or multiple. In addition, applicants for this scholarship are required to submit a resume highlighting academic history, employment experience, volunteer activities and special recognition for exceptional accomplishments. Applicants are tasked with writing a one- to two-page essay on what it means to be a twin or multiple.

Sterling College Tuition Discount

Sterling College is an example of a school that offers half price tuition for twins - one of the best scholarships for being a twin out there! Sterling College offers quite a discount for any twins or multiples that attend their school.

Layton Frazier McKinley Scholarship

Kelley School of Business at Indiana University - Bloomington provides the Layton Frazier McKinley Scholarship to twins enrolled there, with preference given to identical twins. Students studying at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business know the value of a dollar.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

Eligibility: Scholarship with a short essay open to high school juniors.
Eligibility: $10,000 quick-apply scholarship for students of all grade levels.
Eligibility: Children who are multiples and are the child of a member of Multiples of Illinois. Must have completed coursework in the past year and obtained a C average or above.
Eligibility: One set of twins and one set of triplets are admitted to Wilson College each year.

Sibling Discounts and Family Programs

Some colleges and universities have sibling discount programs. Many of these work similarly to the institutional scholarships for triplets, twins, or other multiples. Generally, with institutional discounts, if twins, triplets, or other multiples are open to attending the same school, they might see a reduction in their cost of tuition or lower dorm fees if they enroll together. While some of the discounts above are twin, triplet, or multiple-specific, many are sibling discounts that aren’t limited to multiples. As long as at least two siblings are attending at the same time, the age difference doesn’t matter. Additionally, there are family discount programs that aren’t limited to siblings, too. These can be a boon if a parent is returning to college at a time when a child is attending. Many schools beyond those above have family or sibling discount programs.

General Scholarship Strategies

Even if you don’t win a scholarship for twins, having a twin will help increase your need-based financial aid? When you fill out the FAFSA, you’ll find a section that asks you to report any dependent siblings. The application will take the added expenses of raising another child into account.

If your student is a twin, triplet, or other multiple, they can also use a wide array of scholarships that aren’t multiple-specific to help make school affordable. If you and your student want to learn about finding and applying for scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! In that case, start by looking through the internet and scholarship databases. Scholarships are an increasingly popular method for controlling college costs. Understand what makes you unique. Knowing this about yourself can help you seek out scholarships tailored to what makes you unique-such as being a twin, being an accomplished violin player, being a competitive fencer, or even something as simple as hailing from a small town. Know your strengths and what makes you stand out. While having a twin qualifies you for the scholarships above, you should make sure that your scholarship search includes a wide range of opportunities. Our free scholarship matching service gives you custom, vetted scholarship matches, updated daily.

Optimizing Your Scholarship Application

Scholarships for twins are typically awarded by individual colleges, so the best way to win them is by submitting compelling college applications! It’s also important to heed the word limits on scholarship essays; learn how you can make your writing fit into 250 or 500-word limits, and then let us help you write a scholarship resume. Clean up your online profile. Before awarding you a scholarship, most providers are going to look you up online. This makes scrubbing your social media of anything potentially embarrassing or inappropriate a sound strategy. Treat it like a job. Earning scholarships comes with a financial incentive, a lot like a job, so treat it as such. Curious about your chances of acceptance to your dream school? We’ll also let you know how you stack up against other applicants and how you can improve your profile.

Dispelling the "Twin Rule" Myth

The twin rule is an urban legend that has led many to believe that twins applying to the same college will apply with one singular application. So, under this rule, if one gains admission to a school, the other does as well. However, this is only a myth and twins have to apply to colleges individually, just as anyone else.

Additional Resources

Here are some additional scholarship opportunities for twins, triplets, and mothers of twins:

The Illinois Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs awards four scholarships each year, not to actual twins but to the mothers or fathers of twin siblings who want to continue their own education. At the time of application, parents must be currently enrolled in accredited two or four year colleges and provide proof of passing grades. In addition, candidates must provide Illinois residency confirmation, as well as proof of twin birth certificates. Community service or memberships in a twin’s club are additional requirements.
Northwest Association Mother of Twins Clubs awards several scholarships each year, to candidates who qualify based on multiple births. Once known as the Twin Scholarship Fund, one initiative is now called the Shan Pynes Scholarship. These awards are disbursed to twins that are members of the NWAMOTC. Funding varies from year to year.
Massachusetts Mothers of Twins Association distributes scholarships to members of the organization who qualify. Members must be active for two years before applying, current in club dues, and regular participants in association activities. Twins, or mothers of twins, are eligible to compete for the supplemental awards. Funding can be used for tuition, camp, daycare and other schooling expenses.

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