Free Money for College – How can you Find it?

” The Best Things in Life are… FREE! ” How many times do we often hear this said and yet, we still can’t believe that we can also get free money for college. It may sound too good to be true, but there are plenty of federal and state grants which can help you pay for a college education. Just because you are not born with an I.Q. way over the Richter Scale doesn’t mean you don’t have a chance. Know that only two percent of free money for college come from academic scholarships. Grants make a huge 40 percent of your free money pie. Unlike loans, you DON’T have to pay this money back.

Are You Ready for the Greatest Gift of Your Lifetime? When having an education is a long-term investment that no one can really take away from you ( unless you lose your brains ), it is time to hunt for your free ticket to success.

What are Your Major Free Money for College Sources?

1. Federal Pell Grant

Being one of the biggest grant program nationwide, Pell grants are given to undergraduates who haven’t gotten their bachelor’s or graduate degree. There are rare cases when this grant is given to those who are in a post-baccalaureate teacher certificate program. Always be on the lookout for changes in grant amount. As of the year 2009, grant can reach up to $4.731.

2. FSEOG

This is also known as your Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, which is given to undergrads who are in dire financial needs. Those who have the lowest EFC ( Expected Family Contribution ) may qualify. Grants can range between $100 to $4,000 a year. Your school will set the amount you will receive.

3. ACG

Known as the Academic Competitiveness Grant, undergrads in their first year can get $750 and those in their second year can get $1,300. You must at least attend school half-time and undergo a rigorous study program.

4. National SMART Grant

SMART, as in Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent, is for full-time undergrads who are in their 3rd or 4th year of study. You may get up to $4,000 in grant, given that you are indeed smart enough ( with 3.0 cumulative GPA ) on non-liberal arts majors like physical science, life science, IT, mathematics, engineering, or a difficult foreign language program.

5. TEACH Grant

Also known as Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education, you can get up to $4,000 in grant a year if you serve as a full-time teacher in low-income, elementary and secondary schools. If you fail to do your part, you will have to pay your grant under an unsubsidized Direct Loan program, plus interest.

6. LEAP

Also known as Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership, this program is managed by the state, giving grants to those who are in need.

7. Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship

This program is funded by the federal and state government, which gives grants to those few exceptional students in high school.

To qualify in any of these, you need to fill out a FAFSA ( Free Application for Federal Student Aid ). There are also other independent organizations giving grants. You can also check your local state department for any grant that you can apply for. Since grants come in a first-come, first-served basis, you need to be an early bird to get that fat, juicy worm. Free money for college doesn’t come around as often as before, specially with these tough times. Keep a Watchful Eye!

READINGS:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/CutCollegeCosts/HowToFindFreeMoneyForCollege.aspx

http://www.usnews.com/education/paying-for-college/articles/2008/04/10/how-can-my-child-get-free-money.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4786450_money-college.html

http://businessmajors.about.com/od/payingforschool/a/GrantsOverview.htm

http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/2009-2010/english/typesofFSA_grants.htm