Grants
What are grants?
A grant is a monetary award that does not have to be repaid. Grants for education are given out by various bodies, including the state and federal governments, public and private organizations, and colleges and universities. What is the criteria for awarding grants? Some grants are awarded based on the student's field of study, such as engineering or law, while other grants correspond with certain degrees. Often grants may be earmarked for minorities, women, military personnel and their families, or underrepresented students. But one characteristic shared by nearly all grants is that they are awarded based on financial need. What are Pell Grants and who is eligible for them? Pell Grants are federally funded grants provided by the U.S. Government especially for low-income college students. To be eligible for a Pell Grant you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen working toward your first undergraduate degree, you must attend an approved school, and you cannot be incarcerated in a state or federal penitentiary. How much is a Pell Grant worth? Students can receive anywhere from $400 to $4000 dollars per year depending on individual need. How do Pell Grants work? Once awarded, a Pell Grant is sent directly to the school on a student's behalf and is applied toward tuition and fees. In cases where tuition and fees have been paid through scholarships, waivers, or other forms of financial aid, a Pell Grant may be dispersed directly to the student to cover expenses such as books and housing. How do I get a Pell Grant? To apply for a Pell Grant, students will first need to fill-out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. FAFSAs take about an hour to complete and can be obtained and submitted online.
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