Looking for College Grants?

 by: Michael Carter

Grants are a type of student aid that is awarded by the government. Grants for college students do not have to be repaid.

Grants are based upon financial need, as calculated by the federal aid program. The first step in applying for government grants is by completing the FAFSA.

Of course every student and parent would rather receive grants instead of loans, since they do not have to be repaid. So the student hopes to see a grant award when the results are returned from the application.

There are a few things to be aware of, however, when expecting a grant. The funds available for grants are limited, therefore the grant will not usually fully fund educational expenses. If the student is planning on attending a community college where tuition rates are lower, it is possible that grants will cover a greater percentage of the tuition and fees.

The second thing to be aware of is that when the need analysis is done by the government or school, the expected contribution of the parent is usually higher than in reality what is possible for most families. This expected contribution effects the amount available to the student for grants.
  (continued...)

Looking for College Grants?
  Page 2

About The Author Michael Carter is a contributor at College Financial Aid Guide, an online informational resource for educational funding, scholarships and student loans. Learn more ways to get money for college at: http://www.collegefinancialaidguide.com.

Additional Resources

category - Education Grants

A Guide to Student Grants and Scholarships
Colleges and universities can be expensive... sometimes getting accepted into the school of your choice can be the easy part of the educational journey of the new student. It isn't always easy to find ...

---

Financing Your Education - Federal Perkins Loans
The Federal Perkins Loan Program helps those undergraduate postsecondary students that cannot afford their educational expenses without financial assistance with a low interest loan. The loan is in place to help them meet their educational expenses to the completion of a postsecondary degree.

---

Financing Your Education - Work Study Opportunities
The Federal Work-Study Program assists those undergraduate postsecondary students that cannot afford their educational expenses without financial assistance by providing them with part-time employment. Not only does the Federal Work-Study Program provide part-time employment, it also encourages these students to participate in community service activities.

---

Student Loans Available Directly from the Federal Government
There are different variations of a Federal Direct Student Loan available; these are dependent on whether or not the student is eligible for government assistance. Need based programs include the Stafford Loan and the Direct Subsidized Loan; while non-need based programs are the Direct PLUS program, and the Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

---