Government Grants

Federal grants are aid given by the United States Government to its needy citizens. The federal government awards college grants to students who can either not afford the education, or who have shown remarkable academic excellence. The grant is a gift to these students, because there is no requirement for a refund of the money awarded.

It is, essential to note that, a school grant is different from a school loan. This is because; a grant is offered free of charge, while on the other hand, a loan is given with strings attached. In other words, a loan is supposed to be paid back at some point after the student graduates, while government grants are not supposed to be refunded.

In many cases, students are enthusiastic about getting a college education, but they are not able to do so because of financial constraints. The government therefore comes in to help these students attain what they want by offering them free government grants. A number of government grants are offered by the government, for example, the Pell grant, also known as school grants or sometimes college grants, the SMART grant and the FSEOG grant among others. These grants are awarded either on merit or financial need. Therefore, students who prove that, they are unable to pay for their college fees are awarded a Pell grant. While, students who have proved academic excellence and are also pursuing courses like, engineering and computer science, are awarded a SMART grant. The type of grant awarded will therefore, depend on the different qualifications of the students.

In addition to merit and financial need, for students to qualify for government grants, they must fill out an application form. The form to be filled is called, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. After filling the form, the students are then required to submit it electronically to the United States Department of Education, through the Department’s website.

The FAFSA form is supposed to be submitted to the Department by the 1st day of January and resubmitted every year. The resubmitted form must contain information as to the income and assets of the student. On processing the form, the department then informs the students and their families about what they are expected to contribute towards the college fees. This is referred to as EFC or Expected Family Contribution.

It is therefore noted, that the federal government gives grants to college students who are in need. The grants school grants or college grants are awarded if the student meets certain criteria. The student is expected to have either, proven academic excellence or to be in a difficult financial situation.

 

 

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