Federal Scholarships
Universities, corporations, and philanthropic organizations are not the only sources of college scholarships for deserving students. The federal government also provides a number of scholarship opportunities, in addition to the federal grant programs you may already know about, such as Federal Pell Grants.
Types of Federal Scholarships
Like other scholarships, federal scholarships are awarded based on a variety of criteria, which can include anything from financial need (usually determined by completing the FAFSA on the Web) to a student’s chosen major. Federal scholarship awards vary in amount, and can range up to the full amount of a student’s tuition and fees. Federal scholarships may or may not be renewable, depending on the award. Some federal scholarships are awarded by the student’s academic institution, while others are awarded by a federal agency or an organization working in partnership with some branch of the federal government.
Federal scholarships are typically offered by federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Transportation, and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Many federal scholarships are designated specifically for students in high-need fields or for students doing coursework that is particularly relevant to the mission of a particular federal agency. Several major-specific federal scholarships feature either a fellowship/internship or an employment agreement with the awarding agency.
Finding Federal Scholarships
You can find federal scholarships by conducting a scholarship search. Below are a few examples of scholarships sponsored by federal agencies that you can find in our scholarship database. To learn more, click on the links below. These are just a few of the awards you might see in your scholarship search results. You can find out about a wide array of scholarship opportunities, including federal scholarships, just by searching for available scholarships on Scholarships.com.
Federal Pell Grants
Application Deadlines:
Varies
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students to promote access to post-secondary education. Students may use their grants at any one of approximately 5,400 participating post-secondary institutions. Grant amounts are dependent on:
- the student’s expected family contribution (EFC) (see below)
- the cost of [...] More
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
Application Deadlines:
Varies
The FSEOG Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Students can receive these grants at any one of approximately 4,000 participating postsecondary institutions. Institutional financial aid administrators at participating institutions have substantial flexibility in determining the amount of FSEOG awards to provide [...] More
Federal Work Study Program
Application Deadlines:
Varies
The FWS Program provides funds that are earned through part-time employment to assist students in financing the costs of postsecondary education. Students can receive FWS funds at approximately 3,400 participating postsecondary institutions. Institutional financial aid administrators at participating institutions have substantial flexibility in determining the amount of FWS awards to provide to [...] More