Grants

Learn about federal grants and awards you don’t have to pay back. When you submit the FAFSA, you’ll be applying for these grants:

Federal Pell Grant

The largest source of free money from the federal government for students with financial need:

• awarded to every undergraduate who qualifies and hasn’t already earned a bachelor’s degree
• provides up to $5,550* a year, depending on your expected family contribution (EFC), cost of attendance (COA) and whether you’re attending full or part time
• can be used to pay for tuition, fees and living expenses at any qualifying college
• you can receive up to two consecutive Pell Grants a year, which can be used to attend only one college at a time

* 2010–11 maximum award

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

For eligible undergraduates with exceptional financial need:

• provides between $100 and $4,000 a year, depending on your EFC, your COA and whether you’re attending full or part time
• priority consideration if you’re eligible for a Pell Grant
• unlike Pell Grants, funds are limited, so there’s no guarantee you’ll receive one
• not all colleges offer them

TEACH Grant

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant provides up to $4,000 for each academic year, up to a total of $16,000, if you:

• agree to serve as a full-time, highly qualified teacher for four years within eight years of completing the course of study
• teach in high-need subject areas of math, science, foreign language, bilingual education, special education, as a reading specialist or in another field documented as high need by the federal and state government and the local educational agency, and approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education
• are enrolled in an eligible institution and maintain a 3.25 GPA
• file an application and service agreement; if agreement to serve is not met, the amount of the grant received will convert to an unsubsidized Stafford loan, with interest accruing from the date of the grant award

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship

Recognizes academically outstanding high school seniors who show promise of continued achievement in college:

• awards are based on your grades and SAT or ACT score
• can be used at any accredited college in the country
• provides $1,500 a year for up to four years
• applications are available at high schools