Federal Grants for College Students - Part 2

2006-09-10

Back to Part 1 of Federal Grants for College Students

One of the most common grants that is offered is the Federal Pell Grant. This is offered by the government, and is dependent on your financial status. It does not require you to maintain a specific GPA. However, you must meet the necessary requirements to attend college. These grants will typically be no more than $4050 dollar per year. Students who wish to obtain these grants will need to fill out and submit a FAFSA application. It is always good to do this just after the first of January. The only problem with this grant is that students with parents who make too much will not be eligible to receive it.

Many people who are reading this may be wandering why a young student with wealthy parents would need to apply for a grant. The answer is simple. Strange as it may sound, some parents may choose not to pay for the cost of their child's education, even if they have a large enough income to do so. One reason for this is because the child may choose a career that is does not fall under the wishes of their parents, and they may simply punish them by not paying for their education. While this can be a frustrating situation, there are a number things students in this situation can do to protect themselves.

The best way for them to do this is to apply for grants that are merit based. Merit based grants are those that require students to maintain good grades. An example of a merit based grant is the National SMART Grant. It requires you to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. It is offered to students who are pursuing technical degrees that involve math, engineering, or science. It can offer students up to $4000. In addition to this, there are a number of merit based grant programs that are available, and it is important for these students to look at scholarships as well.

Students who can't qualify for financial aid or some grants because their parents make too much may need to work at a part-time job while they go to school. While this may be difficult, it is important for you to avoid debt as much as possible.

Related Articles:
» College Costs On The Rise
» Sources of Free Money for College

Copyright 2006 Finance News Today. Articles can not be copied, reproduced or redistributed without written permission from Finance News Today. To request reprint permission please email us at info@financenewstoday.com