Want to apply for a grant to help pay for online college? Great idea! Getting a grant is basically like getting free money.
Grants have long been available for “traditional” college campus study programs. Did you know there are also grants available specifically for online students?
In this brief article, we’ll cover the basics of online college grants including:
- What are grants?
- Types of grants
- Who qualifies for a grant?
- How much money can you get from a grant?
- Where to find grants
- How to apply for grants
What Are Grants?
Grants are a kind of financial aid available to college students. A grant is free money a student can receive to help pay for college. They can be used along with student loans and scholarships.
Grants are usually awarded based on the student’s financial need. Scholarships are more often awarded based on merit.
Types of Grants
Grants can be awarded by the federal government, states, corporations and even the colleges themselves. Many grants are available for minority students and for women. There are also grants that are subject-specific such as nursing, engineering and technology.
The main federal grant programs that are available to online college students include:
- Federal Pell Grant
- National SMART Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Academic Competiveness Grant
- Federal TEACH Grant
Who Qualifies for Grants?
There are lots of different kinds of grants. And each has their own rules for who qualifies. As mentioned earlier, however, grants are usually given to students with financial need. Before you apply for a grant, be sure to check its eligibility requirements.
How Much Money Can an Online Student Get From a Grant?
The answer to this question depends on the person. However, grants typically range from around $1,000 all the way up to $35,000. However, the average grant for online colleges is usually around $5,000.
Where to Find Grants for Online College Students?
The best place to start your search for grants in a search engine. You can start with a broad term like “grants for online college”. Then you can also get more specific depending on your situation. Try terms like “student grants for women”, “grants for minority students”, “grants for nursing students” and “grants for students in {your state}”.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) & How To Apply for Online College Grants
For federal and state grants, you start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For grants offered by universities and corporations, you’ll have to check with the organization to see how to apply.