How To Get Free College Grants

Take a look at the figures. The US Department of Education gives
out to millions of students all over the US the unbelievable sum
of $67 billion every year by way of free college grants, loans
and campus-based aid. What exactly are free college grants?
These are grants given to students who cannot afford to pay for
a good education. They have no money to pay for a college
education which would put them in a position to earn a lot of
money. That's the irony of it all! However, this is the basis on
which free college grants are given. They really are for the
students who are serious about doing well and then earning well.

One example of free college grants is Federal Pell Grants. The
only eligibility is financial need. These are not like loans
because they do not need to be paid back. The amounts that are
available to be given out vary from year to year. This is
because these grants depend on Congress. In 2000-2001, it
reached a peak of $3,300.00. How much a student gets will depend
on his part-time or full-time status, the costs to attend that
particular school and whether he is going to do the full
academic year or not.

Another program that falls under the purview of free college
grants is the campus-based aid programs. Here, a student can get
a grant from the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Grant (FSEOG), the Federal Work-Study (FWS) and the Federal
Perkins Loans programs. These can be administered by the
financial aid offices at each school directly. The funds for
these programs are sent to the school and the school uses its
judgment to distribute it among the students who need it.

How do you know if you are eligible for free college grants?
Well, first of all, you have to qualify for financial aid. Then,
you will have to hold a high school diploma or a GED (General
Education Development) certificate. If you do not have either of
these, you will have to pass a test of an equivalent level which
is approved by the US Department of Education. Of course, you
will be working towards your certificate or degree and will have
to show proof that you are enrolled in a program that is
eligible and make sure you maintain good grades while you are
studying. You will have to have a valid Social Security Number
and be either a U.S. citizen or a qualified non-citizen. You
also have to be registered with the Selective Service.

You will not be eligible for free college grants if you have
been involved in the possession or sale of drugs. In that case,
you could still apply for federal student aid because maybe you
will get other nonfederal or private free college grants. You
can use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in order to
apply for free college grants, campus-based student aid programs
and all loans. If you'd like more information, you could visit
their web site (<A
HREF=http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/</A>)
which guides you through your application process online.
Remember if you have the inclination, the government has the
desire and the means to help you get that degree!

About the author:
Gavin Sanderson provides articles on free grants. Visit <a
href="http://freegrants-today.com/federal-college-grants.htm">fed
eral college grants</a> to find more grant resources.