A grant is money from the government that you usually don’t have to pay back.
In this post, you’ll learn about the most popular government grant programs going on right now, so that you can take advantage of any grants that apply to your situation.
Most Popular Federal Education Grant Programs
1. Federal Pell Grants
The Federal Pell Grant program is intended to help low-income students pay for post-secondary education.
For the 2020-2021 school year, students can receive up to $6,345 in grant money. And the best part? Unlike a student loan, Pell grants don’t have to be repaid.
To see if you qualify, the first step is filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
Keep in mind that you will have to fill out your FAFSA form each year that you’re enrolled in school if you want to continue receiving federal aid.
2. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (FSEOG)
The government-backed FSEOG grant program offers free money to low-income college students while they are enrolled in school.
Students can receive from $100 to $4,000 each year, depending on the following things:
- The student’s level of need
- How much FSEOG money the school has access to
- How many qualifying FSEOG student applicants are applying from the same school
To qualify, your school has to sign up for the FSEOG program, so that it can receive money from the government. Then, you have to fill out the FAFSA form and qualify due to your income and financial situation.
If you qualify, your school with either pay you the money directly or apply the FSEOG funds as a credit towards your student account.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants
TEACH Grants offer up to $4,000 each year to undergraduate students who intend to teach high-need subjects in low-income areas.
Here’s what needs to happen to qualify for a TEACH Grant:
- You need to fill out the FAFSA form and qualify for financial aid.
- The school where you are studying at must be enrolled in the TEACH Grant program with the government.
- You must maintain a GPA of 3.25 or above (or meet other achievement requirements, which your school’s academic advisor should be apple to explain to you).
- You must agree to the TEACH Grant service obligation, which requires that you teach for a minimum of four academic years within an eight-year period after graduation.
- The subject you teach must be one of the following: foreign language, math, science, special education, or any other subject as determined by the federal government.
If you’re set on being a teacher and really want to give back to communities in need, TEACH Grants seem like the perfect fit. For more info about areas that are in desperate need of teachers, check this out.
