Grants For College

Grants for college are need-based awards that help students pay for school without taking on debt. Unlike loans, federal grants do not have to be paid back as long as you meet the program's requirements. Eligibility depends mainly on your financial need, your enrollment status, and the cost of your school.

The first step is filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov. The FAFSA opens each year on or around October 1, and earlier filing helps you qualify for awards that are limited and given on a first-come, first-served basis. You can submit the FAFSA before your tax return is finalized; the Department of Education can pull your tax data directly from the IRS in most cases.

Accuracy matters. If anything you enter does not match IRS or other records, your school's financial aid office may have to verify your information, which delays your award. Take time to double-check names, Social Security numbers, household size, and income figures before you submit.

Federal Pell Grants are the largest source of need-based college grant aid. Other federal programs include the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) for students with the highest financial need, the TEACH Grant for students who agree to teach in a high-need field, and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants for eligible children of military service members.

State governments also fund their own grant programs, often through state higher education agencies. Many colleges and universities offer institutional grants funded by the school itself. Your financial aid office can walk you through what you qualify for at that institution.

Where to apply

• Federal student aid (Pell Grant, FSEOG, TEACH Grant, FAFSA): studentaid.gov
• State grant programs: contact your state's higher education agency

Federal student aid applications are always free. Anyone who asks you to pay to file a FAFSA is not legitimate. GovernmentGrants.com is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education.