Student grants are funds for education that, in general, never have to be repaid. Grants are typically awarded based on financial need but some are merit-based.
Grant funding is limited. Always apply early.
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Public Student Grants
Most grant money comes from public funds, i.e., taxpayer money. In most cases, submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is sufficient to apply.
Publicly-funded grants tend to be need-based and may be limited to certain demographics, such as former foster youth and other high-risk populations. Other limitations may include education levels; there are grants available to community college students only or graduate students only.
| Grant Program | Max. Award | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Pell Grant | $6,495 | Undergraduate students & qualifying postbaccalaureate students* |
| Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSOEG) | $4,000 | Undergraduate students |
| Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant | $3,772 | Undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, & graduate students |
| Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant | $6,125 | Any qualifying student |
*Must be enrolled in a teacher certification program.
Federal Grants
Federal grants, such as Pell Grants, come from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). In the 2022-2023 school year, students may be eligible for up to $6,495 per year in Pell Grants.
Eligibility for federal grants varies. The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSOEG) is only available with attendance at certain institutions. Students in the 2022-2023 academic year may receive up to $4,000 in FSEOG money.
The Chafee Education and Training Grant is not only restricted to former foster youth; it’s also administered by state governments. Though the FAFSA is required, states determine eligibility and distribute funds according to their own rules (as long as those rules do not violate any federal regulation).
| Apply early | Submit the FAFSA early to compete for limited funds with high-achieving applicants. |
| Emphasize leadership roles | Demonstrate leadership at school, at home, at work, or in the local community. |
| Highlight achievements | Go beyond grades; include advanced courses, awards, and evidence of growth and improvement. |
| Acknowledge setbacks | Explain any obstacles that have limited opportunities or impacted performance in or out of school. |
| Share future plans | Share ambitions that illustrate how grant money will ultimately benefit the greater community. |
Discretionary or Merit-Based Grants
Applications for discretionary grants go through a thorough review. Because awards are merit-based, the process is highly competitive. Evidence of extracurriculars and leadership roles is critical for acceptance. Academic performance and test scores may also be factors. Take an SAT prep course to improve your SAT score and your chance to qualify for more merit-based grants and scholarships.
When searching for discretionary grants, note that many awards are available to organizations or institutions instead of individual students. For example, the Office of Special Education Programs offers a number of discretionary grants to state agencies for the purposes of student support, which may include direct and indirect support such as technology services and personnel training.
Formula Grants
Formula grants are awarded based on need as determined by the FAFSA. In other words, it is not possible to benefit from formula grants without submitting the FAFSA.
An example of a formula grant is the College Access Challenge Grant Program or CACGP, which is designed to increase the number of low-income students who not only enter postsecondary education but succeed there, as well.
TEACH Grant
The TEACH Grant has many special requirements. Applicants must complete the FAFSA, enroll in a TEACH-Grant-eligible program, and score above the 75th percentile on one or more portions of their admissions test.
TEACH Grant awardees must also maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and complete TEACH Grant counseling every year.
The TEACH Grant is one of the few that an awardee may be required to repay if they do not meet certain obligations following graduation; such obligations include, but are not limited to, teaching in a high-need field and a period of working full-time serving low-income students.
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
Students qualify for this grant if they meet multiple special eligibility requirements. For example, students may not be simultaneously awarded a Pell Grant and an Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant.
Another critical requirement is that the student must have had a parent or guardian who died due to military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. Applicants must have been under 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of their parent’s or guardian’s death.
State Student Grants
When states provide student grants, awards generally go to attendees of the state’s public schools. Nationwide, out-of-state students are more likely to receive grants than in-state students. Some grants are only available to state residents, however.
For example, Alabama’s Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) offers the Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP), which is a need-based state grant. To be eligible to receive between $300 and $5,000, students must be Alabama residents attending one of Alabama’s 80 eligible institutions.
ASAP is not the only state-affiliated grant available in Alabama. Likewise, most states have a variety of funding available to their college students; not all states provide student grants, however.
Furthermore, some states only provide grants through institutions. Hawaii, for example, offers state and institutional grants, such as the UH Opportunity Grant and Hawai’i Promise Scholarship, to students who enroll in the University of Hawaii or Hawaii Community College.
Most states accept the FAFSA as the application for their grants. Some states, however, require submission of their own application form, such as the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CAFSA).
Note that the table below is not exhaustive; new education initiatives are constantly introduced to legislation.
| State Authority/Institution | Grant Program(s) |
|---|---|
| Alabama Commission on Higher Education | Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP), Alabama Student Grant Program, Alabama National Guard Education Assistance Program, Police Officer’s and Firefighter’s Survivors Education Assistance Program (POFSEAP) Link |
| Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education | Alaska Education Grant Link |
| Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education | Arizona Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (AzLEAP) Link |
| Arkansas Department of Higher Education | Arkansas Future Grant (ArFuture) Link Arkansas Health Education Grant (ARHEG) Link |
| California Student Aid Commission | Cal Grants (multiple) Link |
| Colorado Department of Higher Education | The College Opportunity Fund Link Fund My Future Grant Link |
| Connecticut Office of Higher Education | Roberta B. Willis Need-Based Grant Program Link |
| Delaware Higher Education Office, Delaware Department of Education | Scholarship Incentive Program (SCIP) Link Educational Benefits for Children of Deceased Veterans and Others Link |
| Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance | Florida Student Assistance Grant Link First Generation Matching Grant Link José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Link |
| Georgia Student Finance Commission | HOPE Grant, Zell Miller Grant Link Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (GTEG) Link |
| Hawaii Community College, University of Hawaii | UH Opoortunity Grant, Hawai’i Promise Scholarship, Hawaii Community College Achievement Grant, Second Century Scholars Link |
| Illinois Student Assistance Commission | Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant Link Illinois National Guard Grant Link Illinois Veteran Grant Link Grant Program for Dependents of Police of Fire Officers Link |
| Indiana Commission for Higher Education | Frank O’Bannon Grant Link Adult Student Grant Link Workforce Ready Grant Link |
| Iowa College Aid | Iowa Tuition Grant Link Iowa Vocational-Technical Tuition Grant Link Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant) Link Future Ready Iowa Grants (Pending) Link |
| Kansas Board of Regents | Kansas Technical Workforce Grant, Kansas Comprehensive Grant Link |
| Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority | Kentucky Tuition Grant Link College Access Program Grant Link |
| Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance | GO Grant Link Completers Grant Link M.J. Foster Promise Link |
| Finance Authority of Maine | Maine State Grant Program Link |
| Maryland Higher Education Commission | Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access Grant Link Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance Grant Link Part-Time Grant Link Near Completer Grant Link Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Link Jack F. Tolbert Memorial Student Grant Link |
| Massachusetts Department of Higher Education | MASSGrants Link Gilbert Matching Student Grant Link Cash Grant Link Part-Time Grant Link Public Service Grant Link Foster Child Grant Link Paraprofessional teacher Preparation Grant Link |
| Michigan Student Aid | Michigan Tuition Grant Link Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Link Police Officer’s and Fire Fighter’s Survivor Tuition Grant Link |
| Minnesota Office of Higher Education | Minnesota State Grant Link Public Safety Officer’s Survivor Grant Link Minnesota Student Teacher Grants Link Postsecondary Child Care Grant Link Minnesota Future Together Grants Link |
| Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid | Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant Link Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant Link Higher Education Legislative Plan for Needy Students (HELP) Link |
| Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development | Advanced Placement Incentive Grant Link Access Missouri Financial Assistance Link Public Service Officer or Employee’s Child Survivor Grant Link Wartime Veteran’s Survivors Grant Link Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant Link |
| Nebraska’s Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education | Nebraska Opportunity Grant Link Community College Gap Assistance Link |
| Nevada System of Higher Education | Silver State Opportunity Grant Link |
| State of New Jersey, Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, Higher Education Student Assistance Authority | Tuition Aid Grant Link Community College Opportunity Grant Link |
| New Mexico Higher Education Department | Student Incentive Grant Link College Affordability Grant Link |
| New York State Higher Education Services Corporation | NYS Aid to Native Americans Link The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Link Part-time Tuition Assistance Program Link Aid for Part-time Study Link NYS Educational Opportunity Program Link Veterans Tuition Awards Link NYS Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans Link Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Link |
| North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, North Carolina National Guard | NC Community College Grant Link UNC Need Based Grant Link North Carolina National Guard Tuition Assistance Program Link North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Tuition Grant Link Tuition Grant for High School Graduates of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Program Link |
| North Dakota University System, North Dakota National Guard | North Dakota State Grant Link National Guard State Tuition Assistance Link |
| Ohio Department of Higher Education | Ohio College Opportunity Grant Link |
| Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education | Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant Link Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant Link |
| Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion | Oregon Opportunity Grant Link Oregon Promise Grant Link Deceased or Disabled Public Safety Officer Grant Link Oregon Student Child Care Grant Link Oregon Link Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance Link |
| Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Authority | PA State Grant Program Link PA Partnerships for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Link PA Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program (PEGP) Link PA Blind or Deaf Higher Education Beneficiary Grant (BDBG) Link PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) Link PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) Link PA National Guard Educational Assistance Program (EAP) Link PA National Guard Military Family Education Program (MFEP) Link Children of POW/MIA Soldiers Link |
| Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner | RI Promise Scholarship Link Prepare RI Dual Enrollment Fund Link |
| South Carolina Commission on Higher Education | SC Need-Based Grant Link Lottery Tuition Assistance Link South Carolina National Guard College Assistance Link |
| South Dakota Board of Regents | South Dakota Needs Based Grant Link |
| Tennessee Higher Education Commission & Student Assistance Corporation | Tennessee HOPE Access Grant Link Tennessee Reconnect Grant Link Tennessee Student Assistance Award Link Aspire Award Link Helping Heroes Grant Link Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant Link Link |
| Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board | Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Link Toward EXcellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant Link Tuition Equalization Grant Link Texas Public Educational Grant Link |
| Vermont Student Assistance Corporation | Vermont Incentive Grant, Vermont Part-Time Grant, Advancement Grant for Short-term Training Link |
| State Council of Higher Education for Virginia | Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Link Virginia Commonwealth Award Link Two-Year College Transfer Grant Link New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Link G3 Tuition Assistance Link Cypersecurity Public Service Grant Link |
| Washington Student Achievement Council | Washington College Grant Link Washington National Guard Postsecondary Education Grant Link |
| West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission | West Virginia Higher Education Grant Link Higher Education Adult Part-Time Students (HEAPS) Grant Link West Virginia Invests Link |
| State of Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board | Wisconsin Grant – UW, Tech & Tribal Link Wisconsin Grant – Private Nonprofit Link Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant Link Talent Incentive Program Grant Link Indian Student Assistance Grant Link Hearing/Visually Impaired Student Grant Link |
| Wyoming Department of Education | Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Wyoming Link |
Local Student Grants
Some counties and larger cities offer their own financial aid for postsecondary education. Local aid is typically referred to as a “scholarship” and is generally only available to students who attend a local college or community college.
Private Student Grants
Private nonprofit schools may offer need-based grant programs for their students. For the most part, these grant funds come from alumni donations rather than federal or state funds. The ED does make some grants available to institutions, which then use those funds to support their students.
Other private nonprofits offer need-based grants; organizations that do so are usually geared toward community service and education reform. Such grants may be available nationwide, or they may be limited to local schools.
It is rare for for-profit corporations to offer student financial aid opportunities. Among those corporations that offer student aid, the funds are generally part of a scholarship opportunity rather than a need-based grant.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education (ED) Office of Federal Student Aid (OFSA), Federal Grants
- ED OFSA, FSEOG (Grants)
- National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics: List of Current Digest Tables
- Alabama Commission on Higher Education, Student Financial Assistance
- Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Authority, Chafee Education and Training Grant (Chafee ETG) Program
- U.S. News & World Report, Most Merit Aid for Out-of-State Students