College housing does not have to be expensive.
College freshmen at 450 colleges in the United States are required to live on campus during their first year. The average cost of room and board at many colleges and universities is $8,000. That figure represents an 11 percent increase over the last three years. Room and board at some colleges can cost as much as $13,000 a year. There are college scholarships and grants that help defray costs.
Housing Grants
Federal grants are the most commonly used grants for educational purposes. These grants, typically used to pay tuition and other college expenses, can be used for housing costs also. Students who apply for federal Pell Grants, which are grants awarded to families with low incomes, can include the cost of housing. Traditional federal grants like the Academic Competitiveness Grants and the Federal Supplemental Opportunity Educational Grants can be used to pay tuition as well as housing.
Housing Urban Development
The Department of Housing and Urban Development provides funds that students can use to pay for housing; the students must meet annual income requirements. Moreover, students will only be considered if they are over age 24 and unmarried with no dependents. There are more considerations, so students should review them at the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Internet site.
State Housing Grants
There are state housing grants awarded to students who pursue specialized degrees, like in mathematics or science. Then there are grants awarded to students who reside within a particular state. For example, the Emerging Leaders Scholarship awards scholarships for housing expenses to students attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the Room and Board Scholarship offers students attending Jacksonville University scholarships.
Foundation Grants
Two private organizations that award scholarships which students can use to pay for housing are The Goldwater and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundations. The Goldwater Foundation awards scholarships to sophomores and juniors who are math, science or engineering majors; students have to maintain a 3.6 grade point average. High school seniors who graduate with 3.0 grade point averages can apply for the Coca-Cola Scholarships. Information is on the websites of the Goldwater and Coca-Cola Foundations.
Final Considerations
When applying for housing grants and scholarships for college, you should first complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, which is how the government determines eligibility. Then you should speak with the financial aid officers at the colleges that you plan to attend, because they are aware of additional grants and scholarships for housing.
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