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Key takeaways
- You can get grants from federal, state or college institutions.
- Look into all grant options and read through eligibility requirements to see if you qualify for multiple grants to cover your educational costs.
- If you’re eligible to do so, fill out the FAFSA form and renew it every year you’re enrolled in school.
Grants are monetary awards for college-related costs, such as tuition, room and board, books, fees and other related expenses. Unlike loans, grants typically don’t have to be paid back; there’s no limit to how much you can get. Certain circumstances, however, such as failing to meet grant requirements, may require you to repay some or all of your funding.
The terms grants and scholarships tend to be used interchangeably since they both award free money, but grants are more likely to be awarded based on financial need, and many require you to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Scholarships, comparatively, are often distributed based on merit.
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Best types of grants for college
Grants are given out at the federal, state and institutional levels. There’s no limit to how many grants you can apply for, as long as you can keep track of them. The amount of student aid you will need depends on your school and degree program. While there are several kinds of grants for college, no one type is better than any other; simply put, any grant you can qualify for is free money for your education.
Keep in mind:
You may require a larger financial aid package to afford a private college over a public one, or a four-year program instead of a two-year course of study.
4 Types of federal grants
There are four major federal grants, all of which will requite you to complete the FAFSA and renew it every year you’re enrolled in school.
1. Federal Pell Grant
Pell Grants are usually awarded to undergraduate students and are based on need. The amount you get is determined by your expected family contribution, the cost of attendance and your enrollment status, but the maximum award is $7,395 for the 2025-2026 award year.
2. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
You might be eligible to receive up to $4,000 from the FSEOG, depending on your level of financial need. The amount available also depends on your school since limited funding is available from the U.S. Department of Education each year. Each school sets its own deadline for this award.
3. Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants
While these were once issued as separate grants, the FAFSA Simplification Act now includes a special rule for the children of fallen military personnel. If you are under a certain age, and a parent or guardian has died from serving in Afghanistan or Iraq after 9/11, you may be eligible for a maximum Pell Grant award, even if you do not meet other Pell Grant requirements.
4. Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Borrowers who commit to teaching for four years in a high-need field with low-income students may be eligible for the TEACH Grant. The maximum amount you can receive is $4,000 if the first disbursement is for the 2025-2026 school year. If you don’t meet the requirements after you graduate, your grant will turn into a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
State grants
Most states have some location-specific grant programs open to qualifying students. Eligibility may be based on academic merit, financial need or a combination of both. As a result, some state-specific government grants also require the FAFSA.
You can use the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators’ search tool to find college grants for where you live. There might be several government-run grant programs in your area, so explore each one to see if they fit your needs.
State funding for high-demand fields
States commonly fund workforce-specific grant programs for qualified workers in high-demand fields, such as nursing, clean energy and data science. If your degree program lands in any of these fields, you should ask for contacts or letters of support from your school’s department faculty as you apply.
Private grants
These grants come from organizations, businesses, and private individuals and can cover everything from vocational training and continuing education to graduate and professional or doctoral degrees. Students can search for private grants through the Department of Labor’s free scholarship finder. Many larger private grants focus on medical research or civic service and are awarded by research foundations or membership-based civic engagement organizations.
Some examples of private scholarships and grants are the following:
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This program awards $2,500 scholarships to over 7,000 individuals based on their Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test scores. Special scholarships sponsored by corporations or colleges are also given, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. High school students must take these tests in their junior or senior year of study to qualify for awards.
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This program provides 500 students with $20,000 scholarships and personalized life and educational guidance to support each student through their college career. Students must have at least a 2.4 GPA, must complete a college readiness program in high school and be eligible for the federal Pell Grant for their first year of college.
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This scholarship awards up to $7,500 to sophomores and juniors studying natural science, math or engineering who want to be research leaders in their fields. Students can receive the scholarship for up to two years, depending on the year that they apply.
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This program helps students research, undertake graduate studies or teach English internationally in their choice of one of 100 countries. Students stay directly with nationals during their time abroad. Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree and demonstrate sufficient language skills for the country where they will be staying. Those who have served in the Armed Forces without a college degree may also be eligible.
How to get a student grant for college
The more you get in grants, the less you’ll need to borrow in student loans. If you want to look into getting grants for college, here’s how to get started.
- Explore all grants at every level: Look at every type of grant available based on your needs and eligibility. It’s a good idea to read the descriptions to make sure you meet the requirements. For instance, some grants are not only based on financial need but also on your location or family income.
- Keep track of all your grants: Use an app, spreadsheet, or notebook to organize potential funding by the name of the grant, the award amount, the due date for the application and whether you have the option to renew each year. It might be helpful to include a link to application information.
- Renew your FAFSA as needed: With many grants, you’ll need to maintain your eligibility year after year to renew your funding. For federal and state grants, as well as some institutional aid, renew your FAFSA annually as soon as it becomes available.
- Fill in funding gaps: If you’re coming up short on getting enough free money to cover all your educational needs, you might need to start looking elsewhere. Consider working part-time while studying or applying for private student loans to cover the remaining costs of attendance.
Bottom line
Grants are an excellent funding source for your education at any level. Students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for significant funding, and like scholarships, grant money does not need to be repaid.
It is a good idea to check your eligibility for various grants on an annual basis. Your school’s financial aid office may be able to provide you with a list of available grants and their unique requirements and application details.
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