Grants from the U.S. Government
Free Money for College Compliments of Uncle Sam
Make sure your college grant search begins with the federal government. If you are able to demonstrate financial need you could earn a few thousand dollars, free and clear. The grant programs available include:
- Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Academic Competitiveness Grant
- SMART Grant
These are not loans, but free money where you are not required to repay.
How You Can Get a Federal Student Grant
How it works: Every student that completes a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is automatically considered for all of the above grant programs. We cannot stress enough the importance of the FAFSA. There remains an alarming number of students that just don’t complete the application process—don’t be one of them. Fail to complete and file a FAFSA and you eliminate yourself from federal loan, scholarship, and grant programs.
What determines Federal grant funding?
Federal grant programs, in general, are innately tied to government budgets, which are reviewed annually by the House and Senate. For example, Pell Grant maximum award amounts this year may be quite different next year. Much of it depends on current Administration as well as the political push and pull.
Popular Federal Pell Grants
The Federal Pell Grant program is one of the most fundamental federal aid programs. The Pell provides critical tuition funds for millions of low-income students. Pell recipients are enrolled in all types of colleges and universities, from community colleges to elite universities.
Award amounts change when federal budgets are debated. Bookmark our blog: it’s the easiest way to stay up to date with the latest news on Pell Grant funding.
Criteria that determines your Pell Grant awards includes:
- Expected Family Contribution
- Full-time or part-time status
- Cost of attendance
- Length of study
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a campus-based aid program that supplements the most financially impaired among the Pell Grant recipients. Students with the lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC) score earn FSEOGs.
Factors that determine your FSEOG allowance include:
- Current Pell Grant award.
- Auxiliary scholarships and grants.
- Tuition cost.
- University financial aid policies.
Apply as early as possible for the FSEOG. Because this is a campus-based program, funds are limited and awards fall between $100 and $4,000.
Academic Competitiveness Grant
The Academic Competitiveness Grants were established in 2006 as a means to encourage and reward low-income first and second year college students whose academics are defined as “rigorous.” Most grant programs mete out awards based solely on financial need, but the AC Grants are a hybrid of need- and merit-based programs: Applicants must be Pell Grant recipients, enrolled fulltime in two- or four-year programs, and able to maintain 3.0 GPAs.
AC Grant awards: maximum of $750 for first year students and maximum of $1,300 for second year students.
National SMART Grant
The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant essentially picks up where the Academic Competitiveness Grant leaves off—funds awarded to low-income third and fourth year college students. Eligible students must first be Pell Grant recipients; second, academically talented; and third, majoring in a SMET field or a high need foreign language. Up to $4,000 may be awarded to SMART Grant winners.
For the every latest changes and updates to any of these grant programs bookmark the Department of Education’s Student Aid on the Web.
