What are grants?
Grants are free money, typically from the government or a college, that are awarded based on financial need. Not everyone will qualify for grants, but they make a huge difference for students who do qualify!
How do you get grants?
Typically, the only way to get grants is to file a FAFSA. If you don't file a FAFSA, you're losing out on the ability to get grants!
What types of grants are available?
There are two main types of grants.
The Federal Pell Grant is the grant most people are familiar with! This grant comes from the federal government. The maximum amount students can be awarded for the 2020-2021 school year is $6,195 per year. As long as you continue to file your FAFSA and your household doesn't have a huge change in income, you can get the Pell Grant for up to six years of college.
There are also college-specific grants. Colleges give these away on a first-come, first-serve basis. These grants are typically based on your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) from your FAFSA. Even if you don't qualify for the Pell Grant, you may still qualify for college-specific grants!
The Federal Pell Grant is the grant most people are familiar with! This grant comes from the federal government. The maximum amount students can be awarded for the 2020-2021 school year is $6,195 per year. As long as you continue to file your FAFSA and your household doesn't have a huge change in income, you can get the Pell Grant for up to six years of college.
There are also college-specific grants. Colleges give these away on a first-come, first-serve basis. These grants are typically based on your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) from your FAFSA. Even if you don't qualify for the Pell Grant, you may still qualify for college-specific grants!