Free Student Grants - Free Federal Government Grants for School

If you are looking for free student grants to help attend college, then federal student aid is one of the first places you should start. The U.S. Department of Education administers numerous programs through their Federal Student Aid branch. From science and mathematics to education and many other areas, finding student grants through the federal government is an excellent way to fund college.

Student Grants vs. Student Loans

Free student grants are different from student loans. As the name implies, free grants are free: they do not need to be repaid, so they not only provide funding, but do not put you into debt once your education is completed. This also means that competition for grants tends to be higher, so they can be more difficult to receive than student loans typically are.

Federal Students’ Grant Options

With so many federal student grants available, it can be hard to pick the one that’s right for you. Here are some of the most common student grants through the federal government:

• Federal Pell Grants: Up to $5,550 for the 2010-11 award year, depending on financial need and tuition costs.

• TEACH (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education) Grants: Up to $4,000 a year or students planning to teach in schools serving low-income elementary or secondary students.

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant: Up to $4,000 per year, for students with exceptional financial need.

• Academic Competitiveness Grant: $750 for first-year and $1300 for second-year college students who receive Pell Grants.

• National SMART (Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent) Grant: Up to $4,000 for third and fourth year study in qualifying mathematics, science, technology, engineering, and language programs.

Access to Funding

Most federal student grants have specific qualifying criteria. You can find helpful information at StudentAid.ed.gov. There are also student loans available, but as mentioned earlier, student grants do not need to be paid back.

Grants-Students Sitemap | XML | Grants-Students Alphabetical Sitemap