Grants For Community College

If you are searching for a way to pay for your education at a community college and don't think you'll be able to support yourself financially, you have plenty of grant options to consider. Government, state, and even local financial aid programs are available. Finding a grant for which you are eligible can be as simple as walking into your local community college and speaking with a financial advisor or performing a search online.

While the requirements vary by state and college to college, many have similarities. The Community College Grant and Loan program there requires that students first enroll in community college for at least six credit hours per semester in curriculum programs. Low-income students must prove financial need to the same degree as required by a Federal Pell Grant application. However, according to North Carolina, even students not eligible for Pell Grants may be considered for a grant based on their estimated family contribution.

Grant values vary based on financial need, the program in which students are enrolled, the number of credit hours taken, the school attended, and the state's regulations on grants and loans. They may also depend on the number of students who qualify for financial assistance during a consideration period.

Paying for school is not easy, but we are here to help. OEDb's student finance section will help you find the money you need to pay your tuition and other college expenses. We cover scholarships, college grants, and student loans. Scholarships and grants are both forms of "free money", meaning they don't need to be paid back. Scholarships are typically awarded by businesses or individuals, with the money being earmarked specifically for tuition. They can be awarded based on a student's location or by religious affiliation, such as Catholicism or Islam. Grants are typically awarded by governments or non-profit organizations and the money often can be applied to several different expenses a student may incur, not solely tuition. They can be awarded based on location or ethnicity, for instance African American or Hispanic. Loans are not considered "free money", because unlike scholarships and grants, they do need to be paid back after graduation. Common federal loans include Perkins and Stafford. Loans are also available by location.