If you haven’t researched grants by now, I recommend that you do so, because unlike a loan, a grant never has to be repaid.   It’s something that you should at least research, before you go out, and apply for your loan.

What exactly is a college grant?

A college grant is a type of student financial aid that is rewarded by the government.  These grants are given to you as a gift, and never have to be repaid.  Not everyone can them though, so make sure you meet the qualifications before you apply for one.

Where can I get one?

You can either do all of the searching yourself online, or you can use membership sites that will allow you access to thousands of grant programs.  There are more than just grants for college.  You can get grants for just about anything in life.

What kind of types are out there?

There are literally thousands of grants out there, but I wanted to point out some of the more popular ones that you may want to look into.

• Federal Pell Grant: This grant is one of the nation’s oldest for tuition assistance.  These grants are awarded to those that have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree.  The most you can get from this grant is around $4,000, but many others get a smaller amount.
• FSEOG: The FSEOG or aka Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant is given to those that are the most desperate for money.  These grants are relatively small, and range anywhere from $100 to $500.
• National SMART Grants: This particular grant gives third, and fourth year undergraduate students up to $4,000.  These students must be studing computer, life, or physical science programs.  You must also have a GPA of 3.0.
• Montgomery G.I. Bill: This grant is designed solely for those that have served in the military.  You may qualify if you have served.
• AC Grant: This grant is available to undergraduate freshman and sophomores with outstanding academic records.

As you can see by now, there are literally hundreds of grants out there, and these are just a select few.  Make sure that you check with your local state as well, since that offer grants for students in their state.