SAN DIEGO, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE: BPI), a provider of postsecondary education services focused on providing higher access to higher education, announced today that Ashford University, one of its higher education institutions, has partnered with "Project Working Mom 2010" to award 30 full-tuition college scholarships.

Ashford University is one of eight accredited online schools participating in this fourth Project Working Mom program, the third such campaign for the university. In total, the Project Working Mom 2010 schools are awarding nearly $5 million in financial aid through 285 scholarships. Ashford University has already awarded 20 full-tuition scholarships through its involvement in previous Project Working Mom programs.

"The escalating interest in this campaign illustrates the importance of higher education to working parents across America," Ashford University President Jane McAuliffe said. "Online higher education provides working parents with flexibility in earning their degrees. As a working mom myself, I am proud to know that I will have an impact on the scholarship recipients in a positive way," she said.

Project Working Mom 2010 is an eLearners.com initiative developed to financially assist adult students who want to go back to school, but can't afford to do so. Three previous Project Working Mom programs in 2008 and 2009 generated more than 435,000 applications nationwide and sent about 150 parents back to school through $6 million in scholarships.

"Through the generous support of our partner schools, we have been able to transform many families by helping moms and dads realize their goal of a college degree," said Terrence Thomas, executive vice president of marketing for eLearners.com. "For many parents, they weren't able to get the education they wanted because life just got in the way. This program assists people to get back on track because it helps to eliminate three major hurdles: time, money and confidence."

According to Thomas, Project Working Mom 2010 tackles these barriers in the following ways:

• Time: To help with the dilemma of time, Project Working Mom 2010 offers scholarships for accredited online colleges and universities. The flexible nature of online schooling allows adults to tailor their education to fit their schedule. By studying online, students also don't have to worry about traveling to campus or finding childcare.
• Money: The availability of scholarships and grants for adults returning to school are extremely limited. According to FinancialAidSuperSite.com, 98 percent of all financial aid resources are scholarships and grants for traditional students. However, 84 percent of students are not traditional college students - those defined as 18-22 years old, attending school full-time and living on campus. Project Working Mom 2010 is designed to provide more financial aid relief, with tuition-free scholarships, for deserving adults looking to go back to school.
• Confidence: Project Working Mom 2010 also helps boost confidence by creating a complementary, interactive and in-depth website at www.projectworkingmom.com. The site is rich with resources about going back to school. Additionally, the site is filled with inspirational stories of other adults, particularly moms, who have returned to school to improve their lives and the lives of their families.

Individuals interested in applying for the Project Working Mom 2010 scholarships must complete a short application at www.projectworkingmom.com and write an essay describing, in 1500 words or less, how an online degree program will help the student "make history."

The Project Working Mom 2010 scholarships are for online programs from the associate's to Ph.D. level. Ashford University is offering associate's, bachelor's and master's degree programs.

Scheduled to conclude in September 2010, scholarships will be awarded throughout the eight-month program. The three deadlines to submit an application are March 1, April 27 and September 30.

Linda Guido, Ashford University Project Working Mom 2008 scholarship recipient, said the program has changed her life. "By taking classes to earn my degree, I have set the right example for my teenaged children. This program has allowed me to achieve my aspirations and be a better mother," she said.

About Bridgepoint Education

Bridgepoint Education's postsecondary education services focus on offering associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in such disciplines as business, education, psychology, social sciences and health sciences. Bridgepoint Education's regionally accredited academic institutions - Ashford University and University of the Rockies - deliver their programs online as well as at traditional campuses located in Clinton, Iowa, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more information about Bridgepoint Education, visit www.bridgepointeducation.com or call Shari Rodriguez, director of Public Relations at 858.668.2580.

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahlc.org). The University offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs online and at its Clinton, Iowa, campus. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable online and on-campus programs. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, director of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.

About eLearners.com®

eLearners.com is one of several high visibility websites operated by EducationDynamics. Since 1999, eLearners.com has been successfully connecting learners to online education, including online degree and certificate programs, specialized career training, and a variety of online courses. For prospective students, eLearners.com provides a powerful search engine for users to find thousands of online degree program offerings, as well as educational evaluation tools and financial aid resources. For online colleges and universities, the eLearners.com website offers a low-cost, performance-based method to provide national exposure and increase enrollments in their online learning programs. For more information on eLearners.com, visit http://www.eLearners.com.

About EducationDynamics

EducationDynamics, a portfolio company of Halyard Capital, is higher education's leading marketing services company dedicated to helping institutions find, enroll and retain students. Its content-rich and highly visible education websites, including EarnMyDegree.com, eLearners.com, GradSchools.com, StudyAbroad.com, and its more than 50 special interest microsites, make EducationDynamics the premier provider of qualified prospective students for colleges and universities. In addition, the company offers a full suite of Web-delivered services proven to drive enrollment growth and reduce student attrition. Through its Market Research Services division, the company brings a decade of proprietary research, unparalleled market and student intelligence, and best practice insights to its clients. For more information, visit http://www.educationdynamics.com.

SOURCE: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Web site: http://www.bridgepointeducation.com/
http://www.projectworkingmom.com/