There has been a lot in the news lately about how there are various grants available today, however the process of applying for a grant for college successfully is not as well-known. With the hundreds of different scholarship programs out there, how can you know which ones to apply for, or even which one you are eligible for?
Unfortunately, unless you are eligible for the grant you are applying for and submit it perfectly you will not receive any grant money from the government. So how do you know where to find grants you are eligible for? Read on…
There are literally hundreds of grants out there to apply for from both the federal and state governments, as well as private organisations. For the purposes of this article, I will split them into two categories: Big & Small.
The big grants are the ones everybody knows about and everybody applies for, such as the FAFSA, the Pell Grant etc. These college student grants can be tricky to apply for, as the applications can be long and confusing. Not to mention that you are competing with thousands of other potential grantees for just a few places.
These aside, let’s discuss the small grants. Now, when I say small, I don’t mean that the payout is small, in some cases the lesser-known grants can cover your costs for the entire degree! You also have a better chance to win the grant, because there are less people competing with your application.
With the lesser-known grants, eligibility can play a large role in your success as they will often have quirky restrictions on who can apply as they have been set up for a specific purpose. Make sure that you are eligible! It may seem like a no-brainer, but read the criteria for application carefully. You are pretty much wasting your time by applying for a grant for college that you don’t match the criteria for.
That said, how do you find grants that fit your circumstances? The kinds of education grants to look out for include:
State Grants
Check the grant listings for your state, many states offer financial assistance programs for students much the same way as the FAFSA (Federal Aid) program does.
Private Grants
Many corporations have programs offering a grant for college to those who apply, sort of like getting sponsored through college. Please make sure you read the terms and conditions of these carefully, as some private grants force you to participate in public events held by the corporation so that they can get the most out of the money they spend on you.
School Grants
There are many colleges and schools, both online and offline, that offer the chance to earn your degree through a financial aid program. Depending on the school, some will help you apply for a grant for college to use with for your degree with the school, others will just about do all the paperwork for you!
This last option can be extremely useful, especially if you are finding the whole application process a painful endeavor.
