Education Grants: Can You Earn Free Money To Get a Degree?

It is not exactly a secret that the cost of higher education has far outpaced the rate of inflation. As a result, a lot of people are saddled with a significant amount of debt just as they are trying to start their lives. This can make it incredibly difficult for people to find a job, purchase a house, and start a family. Unfortunately, the student debt problem is getting worse. A lot of people enroll in student forgiveness programs only to realize that they do not qualify. This is one of the biggest reasons why prospective students always need to take a look at education grant programs. An education grant is unique because it is a sum of money that is given to a student that never has to be paid back. Even though it is relatively easy to use the internet to search for education grants, there are a few important points to keep in mind.

Do Your Research Before Selecting a Grant

First, you need to make sure you do your research carefully. There are a lot of criteria when it comes to education grants. Some grants are only given to very specific populations. You do not want to waste your time applying for an education grant for which you do not qualify.

In addition, you also want to pay attention to application deadlines. If you miss the deadline, your application is not going to be considered, no matter how strong of an applicant you may be.

Finally, you also need to take a look at the value of the grant. You want to make sure you understand exactly how much you are getting if you receive that education was. In this manner, you may be able to find grants that you can put towards college. What are a few examples of grant programs for which you may want to apply?

The Pell Grant

The first grant you may want to consider is called the Pell Grant. The federal Pell Grant is designed for students who are looking to pursue post-secondary education. Even though the value of the Pell Grant will change from year to year, the maximum is usually $6,345.

There are a few factors that will influence how much money you may get. These include:

• How much money your family is expected to contribute toward your higher education.
• The cost of attendance of the program at which you are enrolling.
• Whether you are going to school full-time or part-time.
• How long you plan to attend that program.

This grant program is usually reserved for students who display a significant financial need. If you already carry a degree, you may not be eligible. You can use the money from the Pell Grant to reduce the cost of college. You need to fill out the Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA) every year if you would like to be considered for this grant.

The Resiliency Grant

You may also want to take a closer look at the Resiliency Grant. This is a grant that is provided to students who are attending Western Governors University. It is possible for you to earn up to $4,000 toward the cost of your education. The grant has been created for students who are dealing with unforeseen financial struggles. Even though it is limited to this university, it is something you want to consider if you are trying to figure out which school you want to attend.

Academic Competitiveness and National SMART Grants

Another program you may want to consider is called the Academic Competitiveness and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent. This is a grant that was created in 2006. It has been available every year since then. It is designed to help students who are interested in pursuing a career and technology, engineering, science, or mathematics. In order to qualify, applicants also have to qualify for the Pell Grant. There is a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students also have to pursue a rigorous secondary education. Students are able to receive up to $750 in the first year. Then, students can receive up to $1,300 for the second year. This is another potential grant program to which students may want to apply.

Find the Right Grant for You

These are just a few of the many online grant programs you may want to consider it even though it is true that going to school can be expensive, there are ways to save money. A lot of organizations have realized just how expensive it is for students to attend college. The reality is that young adults simply do not have the money to pay for college. They are for, it may be possible to make it easier by applying for these grant programs.