College
grants are primarily awards of free money, that do not require any
repayment on the part of the recipient. Unlike scholarships, which are
typically awarded on the basis of academic achievement or athletic,
artistic or extracurricular performance, grants are awarded according to
financial need. This is not to say that academic merit will not be
considered, only that financial need is given greater weight in the
final decision making process.
As students begin to investigate possible grants for college, they
will likely find a variety of award-for-service grants. These types of
grants are typically allied to a distinct course of study, and are
applied to students with definite career goals. Typically they address
critical shortages in certain professional fields including healthcare,
legal aid, teaching and social work. A grant-for-service requires
recipients to agree to a predetermined term of service, working within
their chosen field, at a critical need facility or in an under-served
community. If the student fails to meet their obligations, the grant
will revert to a standard student loan and the student will be expected to repay all monies received plus interest.
Grants for college-bound students are supported by a variety of different sources, including:
- Federal and State Governments
- Colleges and Universities
- Public and Private Organizations
- Professional Associations
Regardless of the source of the grants, the purpose remains the same :
to make a college education more accessible to all students by
supplying the necessary supplemental funds to help them meet their total
college costs.
Federal Grants
Federal grant programs for college-bound students form the bedrock of
all financial aid in the United States. These programs should be the
first stop for all students looking for financial assistance to help
them pay for college. Federal education grants are funded by the
government, and administered through the U. S. Department of Education.
Federal education grants help thousands of students pay for college
every year. Without these grants, many students would not be able to
realize their higher educational goals.
The following Federal grant programs are currently being offered to U.S. Students.
- The Federal Pell Grant
– Since 1972 the Federal Pell Grant has been helping students in the
United States fund their college educations. More students rely on Pell
grants for financial assistance than any other grant program in America.
- The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
– The FSEOG is designed to give financial aid to undergraduate students
with extreme financial need. The FSEOG program is funded by the Federal
government, and administered through the financial aid offices of
participating colleges and universities. Students must apply through
their college of choice, and grants are awarded on a first come, first
served basis.
- The Federal TEACH Grant
– The TEACH Grant is an example of an award-for-service program. The
grant provides Federal funding to students who agree to take up a
teaching position in a high need field, or critical shortage facility,
following graduation. Recipients must sign a contract agreeing to a
predetermined time of service. Students who fail to fulfill their
teaching obligations will have their grant revert to a student loan, and
will be responsible for the full repayment, plus interest, of that
loan.
State Grants
Every state in the union has a Department of Higher Education that
monitors, and regulates, the colleges and universities within that
state. Most states offer their resident students some degree of college
financial aid, either through their Department of Higher Education or
through a dedicated Student Assistance Commission. Scholarship and grant
programs are common at the state level, and are typically supported by
state and local taxes, and/or state lottery funds.
State-funded college grants typically address financial needs of
low-income students, as well as encouraging and supporting women and
minority students in their college careers. States also often offer
career-specific grants-for-service to those students pursuing degrees
and careers in high demand fields such as teaching and nursing.
Grant programs will vary widely from state to state, and students are encouraged to refer to our section on State Supported Grants and Scholarships
for more information on state-funded financial aid programs, and for
links to information on financial aid programs specific to their state.
Non-Government Grants
Once students have exhausted the available Federal and state
supported grants, they may wish to look to other sources for financial
assistance. Many grants for college-bound students can be found in the
private sector. Corporations and professional associations often offer
grants for deserving students who are pursuing degrees in fields closely
allied to that business or organization. College grants can also be
found through religious organizations, as well as clubs and associations
dedicated to community service. These grant programs may have very
specific eligibility requirements, but they do offer substantial
financial assistance to those students who meet the necessary criteria.
Colleges and universities can also be prime sources for grants.
Often, colleges will be given private endowments from individuals and
businesses for the purpose of providing financial aid to deserving
students. Again, privately endowed grants and scholarships tend to have
highly specific eligibility requirements, and may target certain
portions of the population such as women or minorities. They may also be
dedicated to students pursuing degrees in specific fields or
disciplines.
Students searching for non-government funded college grants should
begin by combining their status as a student (undergraduate or
graduate), their field of interest and their personal background
(minority status, gender, etc). Many grant programs can be found with a
focused search of the internet, or through the financial aid offices of
colleges and universities. This can be time consuming, but the rewards
can be substantial.
Grant Categories
Some college grant programs are open to all students regardless of
background or field of study. These are considered General Grants, and
typically are decided according to financial need and academic
performance. A great number of college grants, however, are designed to
target specific portions of the population or students pursuing
particular degrees or career paths. These can be broken down into the
following categories.
As with all college grants, funding may be provided by a variety of
sources, including state governments, professional associations,
corporations, colleges and universities.
Popular Student-Specific Grants
The width and breadth of the student population in the United States
continues to grow and change as more and more students head to college
to improve their education and professional opportunities. The American
collegiate population is made up of a diverse array of students of all
types and backgrounds. Grants for college-bound students are often
designed to benefit specific types of students, and to address their
particular financial needs. The most common student-specific grant
programs fall into the following categories.
- Non-traditional
- Low-income and culturally disadvantaged
- Military and their dependents
Women and minorities make up a large section of the national student
body, and there are a large number of grant programs that target both
groups. We will discuss grants dedicated to their needs in a later
section.
Non-traditional Students
The traditional model of a college-bound student is beginning to
change. While the majority of college students are still newly minted
high school graduates, more and more adult learners are headed to
colleges and universities across the country. Some may be returning to
school to finish degrees that were interrupted by work and family
commitments, while others may be attending college for the first time
for training courses to help them achieve greater success in the
national workforce. Non-traditional students include single parents,
displaced workers, returning military veterans and adults seeking new
career opportunities.
Grants for non-traditional students
are sponsored by variety of different sources, including state and
local governments, corporations, advocacy groups and professional
associations. These programs provide vital financial assistance to those
non-traditional students who are looking to improve their lives, and
the lives of their families, through higher education.
Low Income and Disadvantaged Students
Most college grants are designed to address the needs of students who
are facing a financial shortfall in their college funding. That being
said, a wide range of grant programs are dedicated to providing
financial aid to students in more extreme circumstances. Grants for low-income students
are specifically designed to address the financial needs of students
from economic or socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Typically, these
programs will be sponsored by state and Federal governments, advocacy
groups and charitable foundations.
In addition to grants dedicated to the economically disadvantaged,
there are a wide range of grant programs designed to target the needs of
students with both physical and mental disabilities. Grants for students with disabilities
help to increase college accessibility to students facing a wide range
of personal challenges, including blindness, hearing impairment, autism,
and decreased mobility due to physical impairment. Disabled students
looking for grants to help them pay for college should begin their
search by focusing on advocacy groups and charitable foundations
dedicated to the needs of people with their particular disability.
Grants for Military Students and Families
One of the most significant sources of grants for college is the United State’s Armed Forces. Education grants from the military
help enlisted service-members, their spouses and their dependent
children, find the resources they need to pay for college. Each branch
of the military, including the army, navy, air force and marines,
provides financial aid programs to benefit their service-members.
Military sponsored grants are also offered to the children and spouses
of service-members who have been killed, or disabled, in the line of
duty.
While military sponsored grant programs offer valuable financial
assistance, it should be noted that they are only available to enlisted
members of the armed services. Serving one’s country in a military
capacity is a noble and honorable choice, but it should not be made
lightly. Students considering military sponsored financial aid for
college should be certain that they fully understand their obligations
as enlisted personnel in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Subject-Specific Grants
Many grant programs are dedicated to the needs of students pursuing
specific degrees, and with specific career goals. Typically, these
programs are designed to encourage and support those students who are
pursuing professional careers in high need fields such as science,
mathematics, healthcare, and education. These subject specific grants are sponsored by a variety of sources, including Federal and state governments, corporations and professional associations.
The STEM Subjects
There is currently a national push to encourage students to pursue
degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The United
States is currently falling behind in the number of students graduating
with professional degrees in the STEM fields. Consequently, grants have
become more abundant for students pursuing studies in these fields.
These grant programs are typically sponsored by Federal agencies, state
governments and professional associations.
Healthcare
Many regions of the country are currently experiencing critical
shortages in licensed healthcare personnel. Nurses, nurse practitioners,
and primary care physicians are all in great demand across the country.
Grant programs, supported by both public and private sources, have been
put into place to encourage students to pursue careers in the
healthcare industry. Many of these grants are award-for-service
programs, and recipients will be required to serve a predetermined time
of service in a high need medical facility, or under-served urban or
rural community.
Teachers
The American school system, like the healthcare system, is also
experiencing a critical shortage of qualified professionals. Teachers
are in great demand, particularly in historically under-served
communities. Grants for educators are available from a variety of
sources, including professional teaching associations, private
endowments, and state governments. Many of these programs, particularly
those supported by state governments, are award-for-service programs.
Recipients will be required to sign a contract agreeing to a term of
service teaching at a high need school, or in an under-served community.
A Note on Grant-For-Service Programs
Many grants dedicated to specific career paths are, in fact,
award-for-service programs. These programs perform two functions; they
give much needed financial aid to talented students pursuing careers in
high need fields, and they help to secure and retain talented
professionals in communities that are experiencing critical manpower
shortages. Students entering into a grant-for-service program should
understand that they are agreeing to a binding contract, and will be
obligated to fulfill all the of the particulars of that contract.
Students who fail to meet their award-for-service obligations will find
that their grants will revert to standard student loans, and they will
be expected to repay all monies received plus interest.
Degree Level Specific Grants
Undergraduate Grants
Grants for undergraduate students
are a large part of the financial aid landscape. These programs may
provide general grant funding for students pursuing any number of
degrees, or they may be specific to undergraduates enrolled in science, mathematics or engineering
courses. Grants for undergraduate students are available from Federal
and state governments, colleges and universities, corporations and
professional associations.
Graduate and Doctoral Students
Grants for doctoral candidates and graduate students
are highly competitive, and focus on the financial needs of students
engaged in research to complete their high level degrees. These grants
are often referred to as fellowships, and are typically sponsored by
colleges and universities as a way of bringing the best and brightest
graduate students to their campuses. Unlike the more traditional
undergraduate grants, these programs place a great amount of weight on
academic achievement. Financial need is a secondary consideration.
Grants for graduate and doctoral students are typically high dollar
awards, and will include funds for research related travel and stipends for living expenses.
Minority Specific Grants
Many grant programs exist to serve the needs of minority groups who
have a history of being under-represented in the American higher
education system. While great strides have been made over the last few
decades, more work needs to be done to expand and diversify the American
collegiate student body. Grants for minorities, and for women, are
sponsored by a variety of sources, including state and Federal
governments, professional associations, corporations, colleges,
universities, charitable foundations and advocacy groups.
Grants for African American Students
African-American students will find a wide range of grants designed
to help them pursue their dreams of a college education. For too long
African-Americans were under-represented in the halls of academia. But
with the help of publicly and privately funded grant programs, they are
beginning to take their rightful place on college campuses across the
country. Over the last decade, the number of African-Americans
graduating with a four-year degree has risen sharply, and dedicated grant programs for African-American students are helping more and more students of color pursue their dreams of a higher education.
Hispanic Students
Hispanics are now the fastest growing minority population in the
United States. Unfortunately, the rise in population numbers is not yet
adequately reflected in the number of college-bound Hispanic students.
This is beginning to change, however, and the availability of dedicated college grants for Hispanic students
is on the rise. Grants for Hispanic students are supported by
charitable foundations and advocacy groups, as well as by corporations
and professional associations dedicated to diversifying the American
workforce. Hispanic students will find a large number of grants designed
to encourage them to pursue specific career paths, with an emphasis on
science, mathematics and technology.
Native American Students
Grants for Native American students
may be less prevalent than those for other minorities, but they are
beginning to become more plentiful. State governments, advocacy groups
and private endowments support a growing number of grants dedicated to
helping Native-Americans pursue a college education. Many of these
programs target members of specific Native-American tribes, and students
will be required to present documentary evidence of their American
Indian heritage. A large number of grants for Native-American students
are career-specific, with an emphasis on healthcare, education, science
and technology.
Asian American Students
Asian-Americans are one of the fastest growing ethnic populations in
the United States. While Asian immigrants have been part of the American
workforce for more than a hundred years, they have been historically
under-represented in mainstream colleges and universities. That is
beginning to change, and more Asian-American students are headed to
college than ever before. For many, they may be the first in their
family to pursue a college education. Grants for Asian-American students
are supported by a variety of charitable foundations, corporations and
private endowments. Like many grants dedicated to the financial needs of
minority students, many grants for Asian-Americans place a particular
emphasis on specific career paths, including science, technology,
education and journalism.
Grants for Women
Women make up 51% of the population of the United States, yet are
still considered a minority. While the numbers may prove that women are a
majority of the American populace, they unfortunately remain
under-represented on most mainstream college campuses across the
country. Private women’s colleges have a long history of providing solid
educations with an emphasis on career self-sufficiency. But the need
for greater diversity at mainstream colleges and universities still
remains, as does the need to diversify the American workforce.
Many organizations, professional associations and advocacy groups
have developed a wide range of grants designed to help women take their
rightful place in America’s halls of higher education. Grant programs for women
are designed to encourage female students to pursue degrees, and
careers, in a wide range of fields in which they have been historically
under-represented. Education grants for women typically focus on
disciplines in need of greater diversity, such as science, mathematics,
technology and business.
Grants provide much needed financial support for students of all
types, and from a variety of diverse backgrounds. For many students,
education grants mean the difference between achieving their college
dreams and having those dreams deferred. Students should make the search
for college grants a priority when preparing for college. Before
considering any high cost college loans, students should investigate the
many and varied grant opportunities that may be available to them.