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College GrantsCollege Grants to Help You
Types of College GrantsFederal college grants are generally administered on a needs basis, but can also factor in academic excellence and field of study. This money is donated each semester or on a yearly basis and helps underprivileged students pursue academic studies that would otherwise be inaccessible to them.
Pell Grant ProgramThe Pell Grant Program is a federal college grant administered on a needs basis to low-income undergraduate and some post-graduate students enabling them to pursue their studies. Unlike many other forms of federally funded student financial aid, this money does not have to be repaid. Eligibility With such a wide range for variance in financial need, it goes without saying that there will be equal variance in the money given to different eligible candidates. The grant money allotted is determined by an individual assessment and reliant on several factors:
To give students an idea of the money they could potentially receive through this grant, for the 2009-2010 school year, the maximum amount of potential money to be awarded is $5,350. An applicant may receive only one Pell Grant in an award year and may not receive Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time. Students must apply for aid by the end of June to be eligible for aid in the upcoming school year. Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)This is a relatively new student grant that was put into motion by the federal government back in 2006. It is available to students in their first and second years of post-secondary study and is awarded to students who have taken a rigorous course load of studies in their final high school years to better prepare them for their continuing studies. At a minimum requirement students must have completed:
* Keep in mind that for each graduating year the list of rigorous secondary school programs may incur slight changes. Eligibility In order to qualify for this grant each year students must:
How Much Money Can You Receive? An Academic Competitiveness Grant provides $750 for the first year of study and $1,300 for the second year. National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART Grant)This grant is offered to students in their third and fourth years of post-secondary study. They are offered to students pursuing degrees in subjects deemed high demand and vital to national security, by the US government. These college majors include science, mathematics, technology, engineering, and critical foreign languages, to name a few. Eligibility To be eligible for the federal SMART Grant students must:
How Much Money Can You Receive? This Grant will provide up to $4,000 for each of the 3rd and 4th years of undergraduate study. State College Grants and ScholarshipsThere are over 1.5 million scholarships for students looking to further their education. This is a viable alternative to a grant as it offers a lot of the same incentives. Like a grant, scholarships are money donations that do not have to be repaid. The key difference between scholarships and grants is that scholarships tend to have more rigid requirements for selection, and they are specifically geared towards those who are entering college. Many students automatically dismiss scholarships from their financial aid options assuming that their grades make them ineligible. Yet with so many scholarships available today, many in fact are not based on solely your academic achievements, but rather individuals can qualify for this money donation based on: gender, race, sports abilities, artistic talent, field of study, and financial need. In fact, a great idea is to apply simultaneously for grants and scholarships as there is usually no restriction to the number of scholarships one can receive while receiving their student grant funding as well. College Grants for Minorities
There are numerous grants and scholarships for minorities. Listed below are foundations aligned with various racial minorities providing information on a variety of fund sources specific to African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans. To read more about minority grants click here African AmericansUnited Negro College Fund (UNCF) UNCF administers 400 scholarship and internship programs, so that even students from low- and moderate-income families can afford college tuition, books, and accommodation. HispanicsListed below, are several great information resources for educational income for Hispanic students. Hispanic College Fund (HCF) To be eligible for any of the scholarships that they offer, individuals must possess the minimum requirements:
Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) To be eligible for any of the scholarships that they offer, individuals must possess the minimum requirements:
Los Padres Foundation (LPF)
Native AmericansThe American Indian College Fund
College Grants for Women
There are many grants and scholarship programs that provide assistance to women pursuing higher education. The specific grants that each individual woman qualifies for depends on a variety of factors, such as field of study, academic standing and financial need. Perhaps the most plentiful of grant funds being offered to women are funds for females pursuing studies in a traditionally male dominated industry. Career paths such as math, science, engineering, technology and medicine, are just some of these fields of studies that see increased financial aid to women. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship Grant The American Society of Women Accountants Educational Foundation The American Association of University Women (AAUW) 
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