Sources Of College Grant Money Are Varied
Few students have the means to bear the total cost of a college education. Costs can easily reach $10,000 a year, even at a state university. To help more people obtain college degrees, states, the federal government, and many private organizations offer college grant money. Grants are not loans; grants do not have to be repaid.
The Pell Grant is the most popular federal grant and a requirement for most other grants. Pell Grants are intended for students who have the most need. At present, a student or his family must earn no more than $20,000 a year to qualify. If enrolled full time, a student can receive as much as $4,000 in Pell Grant funds each academic year.
There are federal grants available that are based on economic need and merit. The Academic Competitiveness Grant for freshmen and sophomores and the National SMART Grant for juniors and seniors are two such grants. Students have to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, and be enrolled in select majors, mainly engineering, science, and mathematics. Certain foreign language courses and liberal arts degrees may be eligible, as well. A third grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, is based completely on financial need. All three grants require that students also receive Pell Grants.
All states offer a variety of college grants. Most, but not all, are based on financial need. Some are provided to students in select fields, usually teaching and nursing. Other are reserved for minority students or offered in exchange for working in a critical area. One such grant is available for students who will commit to teach on a reservation. Some states have grants for students older than traditional students or for workers who have been displaced and need additional training. Many grants offered by states are for residents only, but some apply to anyone attending college in their state. Some are even earmarked for transfer students who are moving from out of state.
Numerous private sources and states offer grants to students majoring in fields that are deemed areas of shortage. The most common ones are in the areas of teaching, nursing, physical therapy, and technology. In addition, women can find many grants in fields traditionally dominated by men, such as engineering, journalism, and law.
College students who have special qualifications can also find many state grants designated for them. For example, many states offer grants for those leaving foster care and for children of state troopers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Descendants of certain veterans can also find grants through private organizations. An example of this type of grant would be one offered for female descendants of Confederate soldiers.
Other than the grants offered by the private sector, grant application is made by completing the FAFSA, or Free Application for Student Aid. Students can apply online or at college financial aid centers. The deadline for the FAFSA is June 30 for the next fall semester. However, students should apply as soon as possible. Some states have deadlines that are much earlier, while others make grants only until funds are depleted. Students who apply early therefore have a better chance of receiving more grant money.
A lack of funds should not prevent any student from attending college. As technology continues to advance, even more fields will require a degree, making it a necessity for all, not an option for the rich. College grant money can help students reach a goal that should be attainable by all.
We all know that College Grants for Women really does exist and we are living proof of this. College grant money is out there, so you should look into it to higher your education level.
