How to Find Grants for College
You’re aware that grants are the best way to pay for college, but how do you find them? Is there some giant book of grants at the library that you have to pore over? Do you have to fill out lots of confusing forms or write essays about why you should be the honored recipient of an organization’s coveted award? Finding grants is easy if you just do your homework.
Federal Grants
You can probably guess the first step—fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible. There are several types of federal grants, and one form is your path to all of them. Perhaps you think you or your family earns too much money to be eligible for a federal grant, which may be true. However, there have been instances where students have been pleasantly surprised to find out that they were more financially in need than they thought. You have nothing to lose by filling out the FAFSA, and most colleges’ financial aid offices require you to complete it before they will even discuss your financial options.
State Grants
If you don’t qualify for a federal grant based on financial need, state grants usually take into account a student’s academic merits as well as financial need. You will still have to fill out the FAFSA, but contact your state’s grant agency to determine what other forms you must submit to be considered for state grant money.
Private Grants
Private grants are like scholarships in that they are usually merit-based. Most of these come from companies, organizations, employers, or associations and do have grade point average requirements. You should start with businesses, religious organizations, or civic clubs in your community. Next, you can check with your parents’ employers or your own employer. Last, contact companies that provide a service that is similar to the degree you will be seeking. For example, if you are pursuing a chemical engineering degree, check with corporations that try to hire chemical engineering graduates from your university. These grants won’t be as easy to find, meaning you’ll have to put some effort into your search, but remember that the end result could mean the difference between graduating from college burdened with loans to repay and graduating debt free.
