College Grants

"College grants" usually means free money for school — funds you don't have to pay back. The biggest sources for undergraduates are federal, state, and institutional grants, plus private scholarships. Almost all of them open up by filing one form: the FAFSA.

Federal college grants

The four federal grant programs available to undergraduates are covered in detail on our education grants page, but the short version:

• Pell Grant — up to $7,395/year (2025–26 and 2026–27), need-based, for undergraduates without a bachelor's degree
• FSEOG — $100 to $4,000/year, awarded by your school to Pell recipients with the greatest need; first-come, first-served
• TEACH Grant — up to $3,772/year (currently) for future teachers willing to commit to four years in a high-need school
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant — for students whose parent or guardian died in U.S. military service after 9/11

To be considered for any of these, file the FAFSA as early as possible after it opens for your academic year.

State college grants

Every state has its own grant program for residents attending in-state colleges, and many extend to private schools as well. A few examples:

• California: Cal Grant A, B, and C
• New York: Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and Excelsior Scholarship
• Texas: TEXAS Grant
• Florida: Bright Futures Scholarship Program
• Pennsylvania: PHEAA State Grant

Most states use your FAFSA results automatically, but some require an additional state application. Check your state's higher education agency or use the Department of Education state contact list.

Institutional grants from your college

Colleges themselves give out billions of dollars in need-based and merit-based grants every year. Some are awarded automatically based on your FAFSA and admission application; others require separate applications. The financial aid office at the school you're attending (or considering) is the best source — call them and ask what's available.

Private colleges sometimes give larger institutional grants than their sticker price would suggest, so don't rule a school out before seeing your actual aid offer.

Scholarships from outside organizations

Private scholarships come from corporations, foundations, religious groups, ethnic associations, employers, and unions. Free databases to search:

• Fastweb
• Scholarships.com
• Sallie Mae Scholarship Search
• CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder (U.S. Department of Labor)

Never pay a fee to apply for or "guarantee" a scholarship. Legitimate scholarships don't work that way.

Watch out for scams

If a service charges you to file FAFSA, "guarantees" you a grant, or asks for your bank account to deposit your aid, it's a scam. The FAFSA is always free at studentaid.gov. The FTC's guide on these scams is at consumer.ftc.gov/articles/scholarship-and-financial-aid-scams.

Official sources

• StudentAid.gov — federal aid
• Your state's higher education agency
• Your college's financial aid office