Collegescholarships.org Grants Federal.htm
Grants for college students fall across two broad categories, depending on what eligibility requirements are attached to the funds. Need-based grants are issued to students exhibiting the greatest levels of financial hardship in paying for college. On the other hand, merit-based grants are tied to performance-like good grades and other personal achievements.
collegescholarships.org grants federal.htm
Whether you are on track for general need-based grants or specialized merit-based financial aid, make sure your college grant search begins with the Federal Government. These popular grant programs disburse free college cash that can be applied to your tuition, books, housing and other school expenses:
Federal grant programs are driven by the congressional funding that fills the coffers. As a result, maximum grant awards and general availability change every year. Currently, annual Pell Grant award maximums hover around $5000 per student. Some government grants, like FSEOG are distributed on a first-come first-served rotation that continues until funding is exhausted, so time is of the essence. To maximize your access to federal grant dollars, it is essential that you file your FAFSA as early as possible.
The Federal Pell Grant program is the largest provider of student grants. Pell Grants provide tuition assistance to undergraduates demonstrating financial need. A blended federal financial aid package often includes Pell Grants-alongside Federal Direct Loans. Eligibility is determined annually based on FAFSA disclosures, and reflects four areas of consideration.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a campus-based aid program that supplements other forms of aid for the most financially challenged students. Applicants with EFCs of zero are considered first for FSEOG awards. Once the neediest are served, grants trickle down to worthy recipients until funding is exhausted.
Promoting the STEM subjects and general educational excellence, ACGs see to it that students who take harder classes in high-school get priority consideration for science and technology tuition grants during college. Academic Competitive Grant maximums stand at $750 for first year students and $1,300 for second year students.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grants are used to offset tuition costs for teaching students who agree to teach in high-need areas upon graduation. For a four-year teaching commitment, each participating student earns up to $4000 annually toward school expenses.
Returning students and military veterans capture funding that supports college education. And disabled individuals also earn grants for tuition and related school expenses. Even private high school students qualify for financial aid that pays their secondary school tuition.
Tuition taxes student budgets at every level of education, so grants and scholarships are reserved for undergraduate students, as well as PhD candidates. Your particular academic pursuits influence your financial aid picture, so campus financial aid offices are best-equipped to furnish up-to-date information about grants for your program.
Graduate students receive funding from research-heavy universities, government programs, and private corporations dedicated to innovative research. Intensive graduate studies prevent other gainful employment, so qualified researchers rely on stipends and fellowships to cover living expenses. Advanced education grants are competitive, but provide rich resources for doctoral candidates and cash-strapped graduate students.
State grants provide supplemental resources when Pell and other programs leave students under-funded. Programs carry state-specific eligibility requirements, but many state grant portfolios include these types of grants:
Women earn gender-based grants that are often tied to other qualifications like specific professions and schools. Advocacy organizations fund college tuition grants for women from abusive backgrounds, as well as single women with children, and women pursuing degrees in traditionally male-dominated fields..
Property taxes and lottery funds are used by states to finance student aid. Most grants apply to in-state schools, but some opportunities allow you to use financial aid from your home state to pay your out-of-state tuition.
Merit-based grants and scholarships are issued to recognize exemplary performance. Stand-out athletes receive grant money for school, to reward them for their successes on the field. Academic grants go to students whose classroom achievements set them apart from their contemporaries.
Some grants are hybrid types that require you to demonstrate financial hardship, but also to maintain a certain GPA during school. As you search for college funding, keep in mind that it may be a combination of personal attributes that makes you eligible for a particular grant or scholarship.
Low-income and disadvantaged students qualify for general need-based aid in most states that offer it, but specific funding is also set aside for students whose access to education is severely limited by social and financial conditions. Exceptional hardship is calculated differently in each state, but the students whose circumstances present the greatest educational obstacles are the first to be considered for state grants.
In many states, Veterans and National Guard members enjoy generous grants for college. Indiana National Guard members are eligible to have 100% of certain college tuition costs forgiven, provided they are enrolled full time in qualified state degree programs.
Grants are often written with multiple agendas in mind. Funding higher-education for cash-strapped college kids is the primary concern of most grants, but the funds are also used to increase college access for under-represented groups.
Higher education requires representation from students from all walks of life, so the educational pursuits of women and ethnic minorities are aided by grants that draw them into specific professions. Law student grants, business school subsidies, and journalism grants originate from individual colleges and private sector sources.
Fields related to science, engineering, and mathematics are wide open for underrepresented students. African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American students qualify for lucrative STEM grants for minorities. With help from subject-specific grants that embrace educational diversity, these populations fill valuable work roles in technology industries. Valuable resources within this category include:
Nursing and teaching professions are experiencing shortages in some parts of the United States. When fundamental employment roles are not being filled fast enough to keep pace with societal demands, grants are used to lure qualified candidates into high-need vocations.
Government grants, as well as funds from private sources aim to boost enrollment in these professional fields. As a result, education and health care majors currently enjoy privileged access to targeted subject-specific grants.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, an employer-sponsored child-care company, offers educational assistance for students pursuing degrees related to early childhood development. Competitive grants of $2500 each are awarded based on letters of recommendation, transcripts, and student-submitted essays.
As in STEM areas, teaching students from diverse backgrounds qualify for special targeted aid that is designed to uplift unique student groups. If you are culturally distinct, or fit into another unique student population, diversity grants provide another funding resource. NAACP, Hispanic Scholarship Fund and other advocacy organizations originate grants for teaching students.
Critical shortages exist in nursing and other health care professions. Subject-specific nursing grants boost the profession by providing disadvantaged nursing school candidates with flexible college funding solutions. Like teacher grants, nursing awards sometimes require service commitments.
Professional nursing associations attached to each specialty, such as the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the Emergency Nurses Association provide need-based grants for student members.
Art grants include aid for students pursuing degrees in art studio, graphic arts, performing arts, and even art history. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) provides national funding through educational assistance and other direct aid programs. Other good sources for art grants include:
Stanford University administers generous fine arts grants through its SiCa Spark! Program and the Student Arts Grant Board Creativity Fund. Qualifying students receive funding for extracurricular pursuits in architecture, design, creative writing, film, dance and visual arts.
Student financial aid is awarded for many reasons, not the least of which is need. Pair your financial need with other individual characteristics, like your academic major, to unlock grants for college. Subject-specific grants support a wide range of professions, and may be your best path to college funding.
Most college bound students find it necessary to supplement their education fund with some form of loan or grant, be it public or private. The U.S. Department of Education provides a number of student loans and grants that are designed to help offset the rising costs of college tuition in the United States.
Pell Grant recipients may also apply for other federal and private loans to help offset the cost of their college education. While the Pell Grant offers a definite leg up for low income students, it can not cover their total education costs. Most college bound students will find it necessary to rely on a combination of grants, scholarships and federal and/or private loans to fully cover their college tuition.
Texas offers a variety of educational grants for college and technical school; including the TEXAS Grant (Towards EXcellence, Access and Success). Grants like TEXAS provide assurance that every qualified Texas student has a shot at higher education. These, and other state initiatives are included in the Texas Online eGrants database, which also includes private funding opportunities and other merit-based aid for Texas university candidates. 041b061a72