How to Find the Grants You Need to Pay for College

Paying For College Is Hard — How To Find Grants That Make It Easy

(UnitedReader.com) – A college education can literally be a key to opening the gateway to career paths that otherwise remain blocked. Yet, attending college may seem financially out of reach for many young adults. Financial aid can come in different forms. Students generally receive grants based on financial needs and other qualifying criteria. Grants are a preferred form of assistance because students typically don’t have to repay them. If students are looking for financial aid to attend college, they should consider researching federal grants for possible help. Knowing how to navigate the system and research the different types of grants is the first step.

Where To Start

Financial need dictates grant awards in many cases. Most students start by determining their qualifications. The government suggests applicants use Studentaid.gov to get started, but they must meet basic application requirements to qualify for conventional government education grants. If prospects meet the requirements, the next step is to use the Federal Student Aid Estimator tool to help the applicants determine their chances of obtaining a grant. After that, participants need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form — even if they don’t think they’ll qualify for aid.

Applicants generally don’t have to repay these grants except under certain circumstances. Completing the FAFSA form could automatically qualify applicants for the following types of financial aid:

Pell Grants

Awarded to undergraduates based on financial need and expected family contribution (EFC), Pell grants are the most common grants awarded to a current annual maximum of $6895. Students may only receive a lifetime total of Pell grants for 12 semesters, so they need to keep track of their educational progress.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

Participating schools award these grants to undergraduate students based on the students with the greatest financial needs, but the availability is strictly limited per participating school each year. Awards are currently up to a maximum of $4000 annually.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants

Schools award these grants to undergraduates, post-graduates, and graduate students based on several qualifications. Unlike other grants, the TEACH grant converts to a loan that recipients must repay with interest if they do not complete the teaching service obligation. The current maximum amount awarded annually is $3772. The grant requires a four-year service obligation teaching low-income students or high-demand subjects.

Other Grants at Grants.gov

In addition to the conventional grants accessed through the FAFSA form, the government maintains another comprehensive and searchable list of grants for various purposes at Grants.gov. While the descriptions encompass research studies, small business start-ups, and foreign aid projects, to describe a few, there are also multiple educational grants listed to help students fund their college educations.

How to Search Grants.gov for College Grants

Go to the Grants.gov homepage.
Click on the tab that’s linked to the Search Grants page.
Type the keyword “education” in the search box in the top right corner of the Search Grants page.
Click Search.
An extensive listing of grants relating to education will appear on the first page and continue to consecutive pages.
Scan the listings to find any applicable grants.

Finding grants might take some time, patience, and additional searches, but the platform allows applicants and novel way to find educational funding.

It’s a good idea to search Grants.gov periodically for new opportunities. Students should also check through the college or university where they will enroll to see if private or state grants are available and investigate obscure scholarships for talent or civic engagement.

Finding funding for college can be a challenge, even with the tool the government has made available. Still, like anything worth doing, steadfast individuals will persevere in unlocking the gates of higher education and making their dreams come true.