Education is a fundamental right of every individual. There are no age limitations when it comes to getting educated. However, continuing your education and returning back to school as an adult can be a life-changing decision for many as it may bring some financial problems, too. Fortunately, there are Federal Grants available for such individuals to help finance their education and to make sure there are no hurdles in the path toward continuing education.
Grants are financial aid provided to willing students or individuals who return to school after some time or want to pursue higher studies. They are an excellent option for financial aid as unlike loans, they don’t come with repayment so there are fewer chances of you being in debt. To explore more on financial assistance, you can check the college Evently article on student financial services, where we personalize your searches and can connect you directly to the schools.
Eligibility Requirements For Back To School Grants
The Federal Education Grant or Federal Student Grant is always open to those who can show and prove their financial needs. The eligibility criteria are not limited to financial need.
Apart from financial need, they are awarded on merit, where your academic performance and previous record are considered.
Some grants are also awarded on specific requirements of age, residency, and demographic factors.
Types Of Federal Student Grants For Returning Students
Various Federal Education Grants are available for returning or back-to-school students to help fund their education. To receive your back-to-school Federal Education Grant, you must apply through FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form.
FAFSA opens every year, and you are required to fill out the form before the application deadline. Once submitted, the school will notify you of the grants you are eligible for and the amount you can receive as financial aid.
The United States Department of Education offers these grants to students who want to continue their studies at a college, university, or community school. Some of these include
Federal Pell Grants
They are generally awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a graduate degree. You are also eligible for a Pell Grant if you are a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program student. The Pell grants are given to students with exceptional financial needs.
The amount to be awarded is calculated through Expected Family Contribution (EFC), done by The Federal Pell Agency. The higher the EFC, the lower the grant that you will receive.
Applying for this grant is through the FAFSA form. The form has to be completed every year to stay eligible for the grant until graduation is done, or the student needs no financial assistance.
Check College Evently to know more about the Pell Grant and its application procedure.
FSEOG
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is determined by the College and administered directly by the financial aid office. Here, the College determines the financial need. College, you must fill out the FAFSA form to show your interest and eligibility for FSEOG. The award can be anywhere from $100 to $4,000 per year depending upon your financial needs, availability of funds to school, and the other aid or grants you are receiving.
To get your FSEOG, you must apply to the school participating in this program.
TEACH Grants
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education is for adult individuals who want to pursue a teaching or educational administration degree. As with other grants, this grant is also given after applying through FAFSA.
TEACH grant requires you to sign an agreement to teach at a low-income school for at least 4 years. This has to be done within 8 years of completing your education. The grant is converted to a loan if you fail to fulfill the service requirement.
