(NationRise.com) – Having a college education opens many doors. If you’d like to make a more comfortable living in a profession you enjoy, a college education can help you get there. However, the costs of colleges and universities continue to rise — just like everything else does with the inflation that occurs over time.
If you have limited means, how can you overcome this barrier to success in your future, especially if you don’t want to take out student loans for all of your educational funding? It helps to know how to get financial aid — especially in the form of grants.
You should aim for getting as many grants as possible because this funding source isn’t one that has to be repaid. For every grant you get, that’s less you’ll have to repay in interest on student loans. Fortunately, the Grants.gov website is one consolidated spot to find grants to help you pay for your tuition.
Did you know that there are grants specific to economic situation, age, race, ethnicity, gender, area of study, and more? Most people can find at least one grant they can apply for over at Grants.gov.
Grants.gov: What Is It?
Grants.gov is the site to head to if you want to find grants and figure out which grants are best for your situation. This site serves as a centralized location where students and parents can search for the types of grants that best fit a student’s abilities, situation, and academic and life goals. This is a simple way to discover grant opportunities — and it’s well worth the visit considering you do not have to repay grants.
When on Grants.gov, you can find many opportunities you might otherwise not find. Grants come from all sorts of sources: the government, nonprofits, and companies aiming to train and retain talent just like you or the student in your family. If funding a college education is a concern for you or your family, this is a great place to start.
While Grants.gov also covers other types of grants, it’s incredibly important for students looking for college funding.
How to Use Grants.gov to Find Higher Education Grants Today
While it may take time to find grants on Grants.gov, it’s well worth the effort. Here’s how to make it happen in three easy steps:
- Navigate to Grants.gov. Once you access the home page, click the tab that will take you to Search Grants.
- When you get to the Search Grants page, a search box will pop up in the upper right corner. Type “education.”
- You’ll get an extensive list of grants pertaining to your keyword. Scan these listings to find grants that may apply to your situation. Some of these are available through the educational institutions themselves. These are known as specialized tuition grants, and they are specific to certain programs.
Types of Grants You May Qualify For
Whether you use Grants.gov to find your grant opportunities or not, there are some specific types of grants you should be aware of if you’re hoping to find grants to help you cover college tuition and expenses. Check out the following resource to learn more.
StudentAid.gov: This is also a government site that helps students connect with aid opportunities. There are specific requirements students must meet to use these particular opportunities.
You should also make sure to research Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and Teacher Education for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants.
- Everyone has to fill out certain FAFSA paperwork before beginning college, and when you do, it will automatically determine your eligibility for Pell Grants. These are readily available.
- FSEOG is administered by participating schools, and these grants are need-based. If you are a low-income student, definitely check this out.
- TEACH Grants are based upon academic achievements and being enrolled in specific programs.
If you’re worried about paying for college or accruing too many student loans, don’t despair — check out your grant opportunities first.
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