All About Grants For College Students

All About Grants for College Students

Grants are a type of student aid that is awarded by the government. Grants for college students do not have to be repaid.

How to Find the Right Sources

Today, few students are able to simply foot the bill for a college education. Only the wealthiest can manage this and their numbers are few in comparison. The average cost of a private, four-year college is well over $20,000 per academic year.

Divide this figure in half and you have the average tuition for a public university; in half again, the still formidable tuition at a community college. The purpose of college grants is to make educational funds however minimal, available to financially needy students to help defray the cost of a college education. Students seeking grant money may begin by searching for grants by student-type or subject-specific grants.

Grants—Different from Scholarships and Student Loans

Grants are distinctly different from both scholarships and student loans in that they are free gift money—so unlike student loans that must be repaid—and primarily need-based, compared to traditionally merit-based scholarships.

Grants are based upon financial need, as calculated by the federal aid program. The first step in applying for government grants is by completing the FAFSA.

Of course every student and parent would rather receive grants instead of loans, since they do not have to be repaid. So the student hopes to see a grant award when the results are returned from the application.
There are a few things to be aware of, however, when expecting a grant. The funds available for grants are limited, therefore the grant will not usually fully fund educational expenses. If the student is planning on attending a community college where tuition rates are lower, it is possible that grants will cover a greater percentage of the tuition and fees.

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The second thing to be aware of is that when the need analysis is done by the government or school, the expected contribution of the parent is usually higher than in reality what is possible for most families. This expected contribution effects the amount available to the student for grants.

Another significant factor is that if the parent or guardian claims the student as a dependent on income tax returns, this effects the amount of aid available to the student. In general, a student who is 'independent' of the parents as far as the tax law goes, will receive more in financial aid awards.

First year students may find that they receive less grant awards than they do in subsequent college years.

Federal Grants

The federal government is putting more money into the hands of college students than ever before and much of the impetus behind it is the No Child Left Behind Act. The measures help to assure that more primary and secondary schools are held accountable for making sure kids get the attention and education they deserve without prejudices. Which means a much higher percentage of high school students are earning diplomas. More students stand a chance of attending college when the right financial and social resources are available to them along with educators with the know-how and experience to guide them to the right academic and career choices.

The following federal grant programs offer hundreds of thousands of students the necessary assistance that makes college a financial reality:

The Pell Grant, in existence since 1972, remains one of the staples of federal funding for millions of low-income students. This fundamental grant program is somewhat at the mercy of the federal government’s budgetary and political whims, but nevertheless remains a valuable source of funding for impoverished undergraduate students.

The Academic Competitiveness (AC) Grant is available to undergraduate freshman and sophomores with outstanding academic records and with demonstrated aptitudes for leadership and service. Qualifying candidates must also be Pell Grant eligible.

The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART Grant) picks up where the Academic Competitiveness Grant leaves off - with $4,000 awards to undergraduate juniors or seniors studying computer science, engineering, mathematics, or sciences. Applicants must be eligible for and receiving the Pell Grant.

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State Grants

Many states administer grant programs to resident students based on merit, need and even area of study. The best way to discover what is available i n your state is to simply go to your state's website and look into the State University Administration

Popular Minority Grants

Over the last decade the percentage of minorities graduating with a four-year degree has risen sharply. More African Americans are in college now than ever before and the 39 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the country offer top-notch programs and administer scholarships and grants just like other colleges and universities. Find out from us where to find the richest vein of African American student grants.

African American Students

African American women are perhaps one of the most disadvantaged minorities. In fact, this group of students will find countless sources for grants that target women and minorities, especially those grants rewarding involvement in specialized fields of study. Spelman College is the only college in the United States that is devoted to nurturing the needs of African American women students.

Hispanic Students

Hispanics have recently overtaken African Americans in number, but as far as education is concerned most educators sadly label the group as a whole "under-educated." This means that most do not pursue education beyond high school and those that do are satisfied with a vocational or two-year degree. Cultural, social and economic problems have held past generations of students back from four-year college programs. Despite the fact that numbers remain small, more Hispanic students are finding the means both socially and financially to attend college, often via Hispanic grants. In Texas, California, Florida and Arizona, Hispanic serving colleges - or those whose student bodies are at least a quarter Hispanic - offer need-based grant and scholarship opportunities.

Native American Students

Native Americans constitute the smallest minority group of all, call this their native land and yet are plagued with some of the most disadvantaged backgrounds of all. Up until recently, Native Americans have been isolated in typically remote and rural environments and in reservation communities. Like Hispanics most Native Americans have no family history of higher education - most consider a high school diploma the final goal; a primary reason that Native American grants are so critical.

Asian American Students

The fastest growing ethnic population in America is Asian American. Grants for Asian American students are commonly sponsored by ethnic organizations or available as general ethnic minority grants through the government or colleges and universities.

Grants for Women

For generations women were disregarded on most college campuses. Many educators argue that women are in general not as engaged on a coeducational campus as they are on a women's campus. Private women's colleges have continued to thrive thanks to the generosity of corps of alumnae, innovative curricula, and expanded programs such as athletics that round out a more complete educational experience.

Grant programs designed for women promote their participation in underrepresented degree programs such as the sciences, mathematics and business. The American Competitiveness Initiative is designed to introduce and prepare future generations of students at primary and secondary levels to be more assertive in subjects like math and science. But for now big corporations and professional organizations emphasize grants and scholarships that reward those students studying in underrepresented professions. One of the most influential organizations, the American Association of University Women, offers an outstanding array of grants to minority and disadvantaged women looking to return to college, or pursue a degree for the first time.

Non-traditional Students

A growing population of students is outside the traditional college age - between the ages of 18 and 24, posing unique challenges for post-secondary education and driving new demand for non-traditional student grants. Americans are living longer, many are choosing alternative careers, higher degrees, or finishing a degree for the first time in their lives. Community colleges, as well as many traditional campuses, now offer flexible course schedules that include evening and weekend classes specifically tailored to working adults.

Native American tribal colleges and universities serve a wide array of community individuals, many of their students outside the traditional college age. Since tribal colleges are typically the only educational resources remote communities have, they offer all types of degrees, including two-year and certificate programs, and are popular for all members of a community.

Low Income and Disadvantaged Students

There is no reason a student should be denied a college education because of lack of money. Many federal, state, college or private organizations subsidize need-based aid awards for the most financially disadvantaged students.

The federal Pell Grant can ultimately become a generous gift if you are one of the most financially strapped students. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also offers the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students. This award is need-based and disbursed to students studying in an approved health care profession.

Only in the last few decades have accessibility and mobility issues been clarified and institutions of all kinds made accessible to disabled students. Now grants for disabled students such as those from the National Federation of the Blind and the National Association of the Deaf assist students in achieving their goals of participating in and completing a traditional college education.

Graduate and Doctoral Students

Many types of grant programs for graduate students and doctoral candidates are available from colleges and universities and private organizations. Colleges and universities are quite competitive in offering grant awards to the right candidates. In some instances grants support most of a doctoral student's research and living expenses.

Grad students who must travel to participate in studies abroad, take part in research, or professional conferences may discover a slew of small grants administered by professional organizations or college travel grants designed to cover such auxiliary expenses. Undergraduate Grants

Popular undergraduate grants range from general grant programs that provide monetary incentive to low-income and disadvantaged students to specialized grants in science, math, engineering, and technology (SMET subjects). The grant options for undergraduate women or minorities are even more bountiful.

High school students enrolling in college; do not overlook your college’s grant hand-outs. Most smaller, private colleges are quite generous when it comes to kicking in funds to augment financial aid. They are more interested in attracting quality students regardless of financial ability to pay.

Grants for Military Students and Families

Interested in a branch of the military, but still want to attend college? The Army, Air Force and Naval ROTC, among others, offer full tuition to qualified students in the armed forces. For those active in the military, programs such as the Army's Spouse Education Assistance Program or the Navy equivalent—the Spouse Tuition Aid Program—are available to married active duty personnel. Check the military section for each branch’s opportunities.

Considering the fact that scores of professional organizations have active educational funds that help foster their fields of interest, it's no wonder that it is just as easy to shop for grants based on subject or field of interest. Corporations spend millions of dollars offering internships, fellowships, scholarships and grants intended to attract academically driven and talented students to their corporate folds.