Federal grants are available for college.
Federal tuition grants exist to assist students with college tuition based on income, entrance into the teaching field and excellence in a particular field of study. These grants can be awarded in addition to state and institutional grants and do not have to be repaid by the student. To find out if you qualify for any of these grants you must fill out a FAFSA, Federal Application for Federal Student Aid. Once your FAFSA is processed you can work with your financial aid office to apply for the grants for which you have qualified.
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
This federal grant is new and can be applied for after July 1, 2010. The grant is awarded to students whose parent was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces after Sept. 11, 2001, and whose parent died as a result of that service. You must also have been enrolled in college at least part time at the time of your parent's death and you cannot be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.
Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is based on your financial need and the cost of your education. Factors such as your enrollment status and the time you spend in school may also affect your eligibility for a Pell Grant. Pell Grants can be awarded up to $5,550 and are generally disbursed to students in an undergraduate program.
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
The Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federal grant that pays $100 to $4,000 annually. The grant is for low-income students who are in dire financial circumstances and whose families have little-to-no resources to assist with educational funding.
TEACH Grant
The TEACH Grant is the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant. The TEACH Grant is available for college students who enroll in a teacher-education program and strive to teach low-income students in public or private schools. The TEACH grant has a value up to $4,000, but there are specific qualifications that you must meet to be eligible.
In addition to being a U.S. citizen enrolled in a teacher education program at a facility that participates in the TEACH Program, you must enroll in a course of study related to a high-need field. High-need fields include math, special education, reading, science, foreign language and bilingual education. You must also maintain a GPA of 3.25 and sign a TEACH Program contract each year of your enrollment. The contract specifies that you will teach for four years in a low-income school that is recognized by the Department of Education as serving low-income students. If you do not fulfill the obligations of the contract, your grant will be turned into a Federal Stafford loan and you will be required to repay it to the federal government.
ACG
ACG is the Academic Competitiveness Grant. The ACG is available for students who have undergone advanced courses of study that are acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Education and that have resulted in at least a 3.0 GPA. The grants can be awarded in an amount from $750 to $1,300 annually and is for undergraduate students.
National SMART Grant
The National SMART Grant is the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant. The SMART Grant is for students who are attending college in their third or fourth year and can be awarded up to $4,000. You must be enrolled in courses pertaining to the study of math, technology, physical science, computer science, life science, engineering, liberal arts or critical foreign language to qualify. The courses must be connected to a major in one of these fields.
Tags: Pell Grant, Grant Pell, low-income students, Pell Grant Pell, SMART Grant