Grants, unlike student loans, usually don’t need to be repaid (except for some specific cases, so we recommend that you thoroughly research the grant if you’re interested in it). Essentially, grants are subsidies provided by the government or other institutions.
Federal grants usually ask students to fill out the Free Applicant for Federal Student Aid form, so be sure to complete that task if you’re looking to get a Federal-based grant. The road to obtaining a grant is paved with competition – it’s best that you apply as early as you can.
Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of grants that might interest you, and hopefully help you at the end of your search. Financial help is just at the end of the tunnel!
If you want to maintain a good performance at your institution, try investing and outsourcing your writing obligations by using platforms like Studyfy. This platform provides various writing and editing services, befitting all students’ needs.
Amongst them, for example, is a professional resume writing service https://studyfy.com/resume-writing-service for students. If you want to improve the quality of your papers, it’s worth a shot.
Moving on, here is a list of relevant grants you can apply for to help you out with college:
Federal Pell Grant (more or less $6,495 for 2021-22)
This grant is awarded to undergraduates who:
- Have a great need for financial aid (usually the students who have the GREATEST financial need)
- Have not yet obtained a bachelor’s degree OR have not obtained a professional degree
- Participate in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program
A larger sum of money might possibly be granted for students who have deceased parents as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Moreover, eligible recipients of the Pell grants can still receive funding through other grants (supplementary grants).
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (more or less $4,000 a year)
This grant is awarded to students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s or graduate’s degree. However, not all institutions provide this grant. Thus, you have to do some research beforehand. You can also opt out to apply to colleges that do participate in providing this program! As it is a considerable sum of money.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (more or less $3,772)
The TEACH grant is for students who are in programs preparing them to teach in a “high-need” field at the elementary or high school level. It is for undergraduates, graduates and post-baccalaureate students.
There are some requirements:
- Students who want this grant must agree to work as a teacher (on a full-time basis) in a high-need field in a school or agency that serves low-income students
- Obligated to attend a participating school and meet specific academic achievement requirements
- If the teaching service commitment will not be completed, the grant will have to be repaid
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (more or less $6,124.79)
This is a grant specifically designed to be awarded to students whose parents or guardians died while in military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11. The students must also be ineligible to obtain the Pell grant since they have less financial need than what is required.
Another requirement is that the student must have been younger than 24 years, or enrolled at least part-time at a college/career school when their parent/guardian became deceased.
College-Based grants
College-based grants are there to add to federal and state-based grants. Colleges, whether they are public or private, offer grants for minorities, legacy students, and out-of-state students.
College-based grants are useful, especially when federal grant money isn’t enough to cover all costs. Communicate with campus staff (financial aid) to learn which grants are available to you.
Student-specific grants
These types of grants cater to various students, which is practical and inclusive. We recommend that you list down any skills, interests, and attributes that you might have that you consider are unique. You’ll need to research any major institution/group that provides funding.
The more common type of student-specific grant is a minority grant. These aim to fund underprivileged groups. Another one of these grants is grants that help out students who have “special needs”. An act passed in 1975, helped to heighten the awareness people had of disabled students.
Career-specific grants
High-demand career fields often have career-specific grants that students can be awarded. While we’ve already talked about the TEACH grant, there is also the Nursing Scholarship Program, which covers tuition costs, feeds, and gives a monthly stipend to nursing students.
Students must; however, exchange 2 years of nursing service to any facility that needs it, to obtain the benefits.
Degree-level specific grants
A lot of grants are awarded to bachelor’s degree majors, but this doesn’t mean that there are no grants for graduates.
Graduate grants often help to fund your academic life, and fund any internships you might want to take, or any research positions you might want to fill up. These types of grants can be found being offered by companies (private ones for example).
For example, if you are employed by a certain company and they offer you grant opportunities, you would likely find yourself working for them after you’ve obtained a degree, in a different position with different (and usually better) pay. Communicate with your employer to find out what grants are available for you to benefit from!
Conclusion
Be sure to do extensive research to fill out any gaps you might have considering the type of grant you would want to obtain! Be organized and structured in how you obtain one – the early bird does catch the worm!
Make sure to check out which scholarships you can obtain as well, to add to the grants’ financial aid. Overall, we do recommend that you acquire grant money and minimize your need to obtain a student loan since you don’t want a large amount of debt waiting for you at the end of your degree.