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As the cost of tuition continues to rise, college grants and scholarships become more important to the typical college student. The current credit crisis also places more pressure on the average college student. With annual fees at private colleges and universities now well over $20,000, virtually every student needs to take out student loans at some point during their college experience. We at FindTuition.com pride ourselves in bringing students the most comprehensive college grant information that we possibly can--eliminating the burden of searching for these loans yourself. FindTuition.com has gathered over $7 billion in college grants and scholarships to help you pay for college!

You are probably asking yourself, “What is the difference between a grant and a scholarship?” While you are not required to pay either back, education grants are typically based on the needs of the student, and are specifically for those who have a harder time gaining access to funds for college. Scholarships usually factor in student need as well, and require applicant to provide an essay or some other qualifier. FindTuition.com has over 10,000 college grants available through the college grant search.

There are different types of education grants that you may find in the FindTuition.com College Grant Search. They are:

State Grants
Federal Grants
College and University Grants
Minority Grants
Degree Based Grants
Need Based Grants

We will now explain each grant in greater detail.

State Grants:

A state education grant is a need based grant for any student that resides in the state that is providing the funding. Each year thousands of state grants go unclaimed because students do not realize that they qualify or do not fill out their FAFSA form. For all types of grants, it is very important that you fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Often students don’t want to fill out the FAFSA because they think they will not receive any aid from the government. No matter what, it is important to fill out the FAFFSA because colleges and universities use this report to determine what financial aid package you will receive.

Here are some links to state grant resources:

Pennsylvania State Grants
New Jersey Education Grants
California State Grants
Michigan Education Grants
Texas State Grants
Florida State College Grants

If your state isn’t listed above, here is a list of all the state grant agencies and their contact information:
http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_ID=SHE

Federal Grants:

Federal college grants are much like state grants. They are based on need, which is determined by the FAFSA form. Every year, the federal government provides federal grants. Student.gov is a great place to find more information about federal financial aid. The Department’s Federal student aid programs are the largest source of student aid in America. If you’re interested in financial aid for college or a career school, this is the right place. These programs provide more than $80 billion a year in grants, loans, and work-study assistance. The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Students may use their grants at any one of approximately 5,400 participating postsecondary institutions. Grant amounts are dependent on the student’s expected family contribution (EFC), which is determined by the FAFSA; the cost of attendance (as determined by the institution); the student’s enrollment status (full-time or part-time); and whether the student attends for a full academic year or less. There are two great federal grant programs, the Academic Competitiveness Grant, which can provide up to $1,300 for freshman and sophomores and The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant, which provides $4,000 a year for the third and fourth year students studying computer science, engineering, mathematics, or sciences.

Minority Grants:

Again, minority grants are available for those who show need. Only in this case, the applicant has to be a minority in order to qualify. Minority grants can be deceiving, however, because being a minority can simply mean that you are disadvantaged and are therefore more likely to be in need of assistance. For example, male nurses are the minority in the nursing field and can qualify for some minority grants. Of course, there are also ethnic grants such as African American, Hispanic, and Native American grants.

Grants for Women:

Statistics show that more women finish undergraduate degrees than men, yet educators state that educational institutions continue to fail female students on certain levels, including supporting and nurturing women in non-traditional roles and interests. The equation becomes even more imbalanced when it comes to minority women. As a result, many public and private organizations provide college grants specifically targeted toward women. These grants often focus on typically male dominated industries and degrees that are largely underserved by women. There are also grants for single women and minority women in the FindTuition grant search.

Degree and Need Based Grants:

Most of the education grants are government based grants, but there are also private sector grants widely available to college student. One of the best places to look for grants is in your specific field of study. Often organizations and companies that focus on a particular field will provide need based grants to students in their expertise. The branches of the military also provide college grants for those who sign up for a specific amount of time in the armed services sector.

College and University Grants

FindTuition.com has a wealth of college and university based grants. Students often do not do realize that there are grants and scholarships available to them because they are not advertised. FindTuition.com puts all of these grants in one convenient place. If your school is not listed on our college grant and scholarship search, then check out the financial aid site for your specific college or university. If you attend a community college, don’t assume that your college doesn’t offer grants. Most community colleges also have needs based grants.

Applying for Grants

When it comes to finding college grants that apply to you, it all comes down to a little hard work. Do some research, fill out the applications, and you will see there are millions of dollars in scholarships and grants available for students of all kinds of backgrounds and lifestyles--not just left handed, redheaded twins. Good luck and start your grant search today!