There are a number of grants available to minorities to pay for higher education, including college tuition. The idea behind these grants is to provide an equal opportunity for education to those who are challenged economically, face language barriers or confront other such situations that make it hard for them to pursue higher education. Minority grants could be ethnic-based or non-ethnic-based.
Instructions
1. Identify the kind of grant that's most appropriate for you. If you belong to a specific minority ethnic background, like African American, American Indian or Hispanic, you could qualify to get an ethnic minority grants. However, if you have physically challenged, have learning disabilities or are in a disadvantageous position to pursue college education because you are a female, explore the non-ethnic minority grants
2. Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at FAFSA (see Resources below). FAFSA is the centralized application for all federal financial assistance programs and is a pre-requisite for most government grant programs. The deadline for FAFSA is June 30, though students are advised to apply as early as possible, starting January 1st.
3. Explore federal and state grants available and shortlist the ones for which you qualify. A good place to start your research on the minority grants you can potentially get is the website of the U.S. Department of Education Home Page (see Resources below). You can use their powerful search features to find information on state and federal grants that are available.
4. Research federal grants that you might qualify for at Grants.gov (see Resource below). On the site, you can search on different criteria and get a list of grants, the name of the agency providing each of one and links to the respective websites for more information.
5. Explore non-governmental foundations that offer grants to minorities. Some of the well-known foundations are the American Indian College Fund, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the United Negro College Fund. You could qualify for their grant programs to pay for your college tuition.
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