Attending college is expensive, but federal and state government grants can help take some of the bite out of tuition costs. Eligible undergraduate students demonstrating financial need may receive such grants, which do not require repayment. State grants generally require that residents attend college in the state for eligibility. Some state education grants only permit attendance at public colleges, while others also include private institutions of higher learning.
FAFSA
The first step for any needs-based government college grant is completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly called the FAFSA. Dependent college students must report their parents' income and assets, while independent students report their own income. Independent students must be over age 24 and neither living with parents nor married. The FAFSA determines what the Expected Family Contribution for the cost of a college education should be and what financial aid the student may receive.
Federal Undergraduate Grants
Undergraduates may qualify for a federal Pell Grant, with the amount of the grant determined by the applicant's need and the school's tuition costs For the 2011-2012 academic year, the maximum award is $5,550. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant provides funding for very low-income applicants, with awards ranging from $100 to $4,000 in 2011. Federal grants combining financial need and academic achievement include the Academic Competitiveness Grant, which awards $700 to freshmen and $1,300 to sophomores, based on several requirements including a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program
The TEACH Grant for those seeking a career in education provides up to $4,000 in additional tuition funding for Pell Grant recipients for the 2011-2012 academic year. After graduating and becoming certified as a teacher, recipients must work in a low-income public school district for at least four years, teaching in a field that is considered "high need." Failure to fulfil this obligation turns the TEACH grant into a loan that requires repayment.
Math and Science Grants
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Grant, established by Congress, honors the late U.S. senator from Arizona by awarding scholarships to college sophomores and juniors majoring in science, engineering or technology, and planning to continue in these fields in graduate school. The grant does not require a Pell award. The maximum award amount for the 2011-2012 academic year is $7,500. However, the $4,000 National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent, -- or SMART -- grant for juniors and seniors does require Pell eligibility. The SMART grant is for those with a minimum 3.0 GPA majoring in the sciences, technology, mathematics, engineering or critical foreign languages.
State Government Grants
Check with your state's Department of Higher Education for information on state college education grants. California offers Cal Grants, which for the 2011-2012 academic year pays up to $11,124 annually for eligible students for any participating institution of higher learning. Students must apply within one year of graduating high school or receiving a GED. Florida offers a number of educational grant opportunities, including the First Generation Grant for the first member of a family to attend college; the Florida Student Assistance Grant Program, a needs-based program for public and private college recipients; and the Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant Program for students attending community colleges.
Tags: 2011-2012 academic, 2011-2012 academic year, academic year, Grant Program, Assistance Grant, Assistance Grant Program