[EXCLUSIVE] Free College Money
There are plenty of scholarships and grants out there to help you pay for college. In the 2019-2020 year, college students received a total of $242 billion in grant money. The key to finding scholarships and grants for college is to start early and research all opportunities.
free college money
For example, the Peace Corps offers tuition assistance for graduate students at more than 90 participating universities and colleges. AmeriCorps provides the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for members who complete service within a 12-month window. Hundreds of higher education institutions may match the AmeriCorps award, which is worth up to $6,345 in 2020-2021.
Coca-Cola offers multiple scholarships each year to help high-achieving high school seniors pay for college. Each year, the company selects 150 students to receive $20,000 each. Eligible students should have top-tier grades and a knack for leadership.
For example, there are scholarships for women, members of the LGBTQ community, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and others. Check to see if there is an advocacy group that can provide help with college funding.
Both scholarships and grants for college are free money to help you pay for your education. Unlike student loans, you don't have to pay back college grants or scholarships, except under certain circumstances, like withdrawing early from a program or a change in your enrollment status.footnote 1
The biggest difference between college grants and scholarships is that grants for college are typically need-based. Scholarships may be need-based or merit-based, which means they're given out based on some kind of ability, hobby, ethnicity, religion, etc.
Generally, your school will pay out your grant money in at least two payments called disbursements. Typically, the college applies your grant money toward your tuition, fees, and (if you live on campus) room and board. Any money left over is paid to you for other expenses.footnote 2
There are college grants available to international students. Grant programs and financial aid for international students are not as abundant as those for domestic students. However, there is still a variety of grants for college dedicated specifically to supporting international students.
Under this groundbreaking program, more than 940,000 middle-class families and individuals making up to $125,000 per year will qualify to attend college tuition-free at all CUNY and SUNY two- and four-year colleges in New York State. The new program begins in the fall of 2017 and will be phased in over three years.
- Be residents of New York State- Plan to attend SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college- Complete 30 credits per year towards their program of study (including January and Summer sessions)- Plan to live and work in New York following graduation for the length of time they participate in the scholarship program
The Cal Grant is a California-specific financial aid allocation that does not need to be paid back. Cal Grant applicants must apply using the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by the deadline and meet all eligibility, financial, and minimum GPA requirements of either program. Grants are for students attending Universities of California, California State Universities or California Community Colleges, or qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California.
Are you interested in pursuing an occupational or technical program that could bring you closer to your dream job? The California Student Aid Commission provides State financial aid for those who meet certain income, asset, and other financial aid standards to attend college. The Cal Grant C program provides FREE MONEY to students pursuing an occupational or technical program.
However, you can reduce the need for loans by taking advantage of free money to pay for school, also known as gift aid. You can even combine different types of gift aid to pay for college, offsetting your expenses.
Most colleges operate their own gift aid programs. Depending on the school, there may be grants and scholarships awarded based on financial need or accomplishments. Awards can range from small grants that cover just the cost of textbooks to scholarships that cover the full cost of tuition.
Penguin Random House, a publishing company, offers the Creative Writing Awards program. Each year, five students can receive up to $10,000 each for college expenses. To qualify, students have to submit an original literary composition.
If you or one of your parents is a labor union member, you may be eligible for a grant or scholarship from that organization. For instance, the Union Plus Scholarship awards are given to union members, spouses, or dependent children. Qualifying members can receive $500 to $4,000 for college.
The Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union offers scholarships to its members graduating high school seniors or enrolled in undergraduate programs. Chosen students will receive $500 scholarships for their college education.
Utilizing gift aid will reduce how much you have to pay for your education out of your pocket or with student loans. Over time, using gift aid can help you save money and pursue your other financial goals faster.
CareerSource Pinellas and St. Petersburg College have partnered to provide $1.2 million in tuition assistance to new and current SPC students who are Pinellas County residents. Eligible students will receive a voucher that can cover the costs of their college tuition, books and supplies!
Funding covers tuition and other costs for more than 80 progams at SPC. Earn your credential tuition free in a variety of areas: the arts, business, education, engineering, manufacturing and building arts, health sciences, legal studies, public policy, public safety, science, social and behavioral sciences/human services, technology, and veterinary technology.
Private schools would likely be excluded. They usually charge more for tuition, but often offer more financial aid. Some private schools like Harvard and Yale are already "debt-free," which means they won't charge you more than what they think your family can pay.
But at some colleges, it's room and board that hits your wallet the hardest. Students at public colleges paid an average of $14,000 this year, but only about $4,000 of that went to tuition, according to The College Board. The other $10,000 covered room and board.
While that costs isn't automatically wiped away, Sanders doesn't want students to have to borrow money to pay for room and board, books and other living expenses. If it's determined that those cost more than what your family can pay, you'll get federal, state or college grants to cover the cost.
A large percentage of families cannot currently afford the full cost of public college and end up borrowing money. In 2009, 60% of public school graduates had taken out a federal loan to finance their education, according to The College Board.
Sombody's gotta pay for it. Under Sanders' plan, the amount of money a college usually receives for tuition would now be covered by the U.S. and state governments. The feds would kick in 67% ($47 billion a year) and states would be on the hook for the rest ($23 billion a year).
This would likely be in addition to what the government already pays for higher education. The feds currently spends about $76 billion -- mostly flowing to colleges through financial aid grants awarded to students and grants for specific research topics -- and the states pay about $73 billion, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts.
That could be a tough sell because cash-strapped states are already having a hard time maintaining their existing level of aid to colleges. In Illinois, for example, years of a decline in state funds and the current state budget impasse are forcing several state colleges to take drastic measures just to stay afloat
Tennessee and Oregon have already made community college tuition-free using state funds. Tennessee's program started last fall, is funded from lottery revenue and costs an average of $1,165 per student annually. It brought a wave of new students to the state's community college system this year.
The city of Detroit is using private donations to fund a new free-tuition program for its community colleges. Eventually, some of the money will come from property taxes already earmarked for the program.
Although it's not called a free-tuition program, Louisiana has one of the most generous scholarship offers. It's currently used by nearly 47,000 residents and covers the cost of tuition for students who meets certain academic standards. But funding for the program is in jeopardy as the state faces a massive budget shortfall.
Full-paid tuition for first-time college students with a 3.0 or higher grade point average in high school, and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determination that your family cannot contribute any money toward college costs. The FAFSA is a form that students fill out to see if they qualify for federal grants or loans to help pay for college. A determination of zero family contribution indicates a low household income. One example: a student from a family with a household income less than $24,000 and which received government assistance of some kind in the filing year would have an expected family contribution of zero.
Free tuition for students with expected family contributions on the FAFSA of under $8,000. University officials say the average household income of those who qualify for the Oakland program is $41,000, though families earning as much as $140,000 are considered. Students can receive free tuition for four years.
Grand Rapids PromiseOffers free tuition to Grand Rapids Community College to graduates of all public and private high schools located in Grand Rapids, starting with the 2020 graduating class. The program covers 100 percent of costs for students who attended Grand Rapids high schools beginning before 10th grade. 041b061a72