Overview

In contrast to loans, grants don’t need to be paid back by a student who uses them making them an ideal way to pay for college. Grants are available from many public and private institutions and organizations, but can be up to you to locate and apply for them. When beginning your search you can ask your teachers and counselors about the grants that are most closely associated with your high school or the college which you plan to attend. Your state’s department of higher education or its equivalent maybe be able to provide you with a list of grants that are open to students who live in your state. You can also search the Internet for options. Start your hunt for grants early, so you can make sure to meet all deadlines, and have a better chance at obtaining them. The federal government can be a great place to begin applying for grants, like the Federal Pell Grant and the Academic Competitiveness Grant. You can begin the process of obtaining grants by using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to demonstrate your financial need to all grant sources.

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid

101 Grants

There are grants available for every type of educational trajectory that you can think of and every kind of potential college student. While most people assume that grants are only need-based, the fact is that grants exist for many different types of students and situations. For example, you can earn a grant based on merit, your intended major and even if you plan to study abroad. You can get a grant based on your ethnicity, sex, medical conditions, and even your hobbies. Some grants can be more specific, and can require two or more of these attributes to qualify for them. Successfully applying and obtaining a grant starts with simply knowing which grants you are eligible for. Use the below information as a guide to obtain some of the more popular college grants.

• Applying for a Grant: The General Approach

Athletic

Athletic grants can be available to you if you are a high-performing athlete, or someone who is interested in pursing a career in an athletics-related field. The criteria for these types to grants can vary. For example, aside from a minimum GPA being met and having references, athletes may be required to place highly in competitions, undergo drug testing, and act as a public face for the organization bestowing the grant. Grants that focus on the clinical side of athletics, such as research, may require that its applicants submit proposals, abstracts and other scientific materials before grant money is awarded. The particular criteria for each type of athletic grant can be different, but many require the submission of basic materials, like transcripts and references.

• Athletics Grants

Housing

Grants can also be applied towards your housing needs, especially if you plan to live on campus. You can obtain these grants through federal, state and other sources, like the very college you attend. Some may even be earmarked as grants that are to be specifically dispensed for housing costs. If you’re interested in a housing grant offered by your college, you may want to consult with financial aid or housing department officers at your school. The extremely high cost of housing may require that you look to other options to pay your housing bills. For example, you may have to work extra hard to find more grants for your housing costs, or you may have to consider getting loans to meet the bill each semester.

• Grants and Scholarships

Minority

If you belong to a specific minority group, such as an ethnic group or another group that is underrepresented, there may be grants that have been tailored specifically for you to use. Students who are of a specific heritage may be able to obtain grants from ethnic foundations. People of every ethnic background, but who also have disabilities, can also fall into the minority category, and can qualify for these types of grants. Women, too, can obtain minority grants, if their chosen field of study is one that has been traditionally dominated by men, which can cause them to be considered underrepresented. Like other grants, grants specifically geared towards minorities can be obtained from federal, state, institutional and private sources. If you identify with one or more groups, research grants that represent your particular minority group and apply for them. You should also not forget to apply for general aid, despite the many college grants open to ethnic minorities. You’ll have a better chance at meeting your college costs, if you apply for as much grant and aid money as you can.

• Grants