Career Specific Grants
Grants awarded to students interested in pursuing a particular career have become
more common as the need for new hires in certain categories has increased. Nurses
and teachers, for example, have a wealth of opportunities available to them when
it comes to career specific grants, especially if they’re interested in working
in areas where there are nurse or teacher shortages. For more information on these
grant awards, contact your local student assistance commission or your college’s
financial aid office, as both should have a wealth of information for those interested
in learning more about which fields are not only in demand job-wise, but which could
net you significant savings on your college education. If you’re unsure about a
career choice and going into college undecided, looking into which fields are constantly
in need of new graduates could be a wise move. For information about scholarships
and grants based on other criteria, conduct a free scholarship search to cast a
wide net for funding you may not even know you’re eligible for. Below, we give you
some examples on how your choice of career could help you pay for school.
From the Government
Most of the grants you’ll receive on the federal level will be through the results
of your Free Application for Student Aid, or FAFSA. These will be need-based awards,
although a minimum GPA may also be a requirement. Read the fine print when applying
for and before accepting any grant award, as something may be required of you post-graduation,
such as years of service.
The federally-funded Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education
(TEACH) Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 to students who intend to
teach in low-income, high-need school districts. High-need fields of study include
the foreign language, special education, math and science, among others. If students
receive the grant and then choose not to pursue the above, the
TEACH Grant will be turned into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
Grants targeting nursing students include the
Nursing Scholarship Program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, which rewards would-be nurses with a monthly stipend and covers the costs
of tuition and fees in exchange for two years of service at a health care facility
where there is a nursing shortage.
The
National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants
provide up to $4,000 for each of your third and fourth years if you major in a list
of eligible fields of study like math, science technology or engineering. Eligible
recipients must already be Pell recipients, and show that they have high enough
need to qualify for grant funding beyond their Pell award. Students must also have
a minimum GPA of 3.0, and have at least one class in an eligible field of study
the year the grant would be awarded.
If you plan on staying in state for school, you could also be eligible for grants
from your state if you’re going into a field that is particularly in demand locally.
The Illinois
Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program, for example, is available to juniors
and above who want to be teachers in Illinois, especially in districts with high
teacher turnover rates.
From Your School
If you know exactly what you’d like to be doing after you graduate, consider approaching
colleges that specialize in certain fields, or making sure you investigate all of
the grant possibilities at your intended college. Many schools, including community
and technical colleges, have grant funds set up by specific departments, or funding
set up by alumni in certain fields that you may be interested in.
The University of Minnesota's Women's Center offers grants to not only students
but faculty and staff interested in the field of women’s studies and enhancing the
campus climate for women through special projects.
If you’re pursuing an advanced degree, you could have the option of pursuing a research
grant or fellowship in your desired field. Grants for advanced degrees will often
not only fund your education, but help pay for internships, career-advancement opportunities
and research positions that will give you valuable experience and a resume boost
once you complete your program.
Santa Clara University’s Law School, for example, has several
Social Justice Grants that provide students and alumni with funding
opportunities for doing things like working in summer public interest positions
as volunteers or for low pay.
There are many outside organizations that aim to expand college opportunities for
students pursuing certain fields of study through grants and scholarship programs,
so make sure contacting local groups is on your list of things to do. While some
will require you to pay it forward by working in that field of study for several
years after you graduate, others only want you to complete a degree in that field.
The Institute of
Museum and Library Services department of the National Foundation on the
Arts and Humanities has a number of grant opportunities for not only supporting
the nation’s library systems, but to recruit and educate the next generation of
students entering the library science profession.
The National Association of Black Journalists provides grants for black
student journalists who are also members of their professional organization. It
could be worth joining the local organization of the field you’re interested in
if it means you have a better shot at landing free money for college.
If you’re looking for an advanced degree and are already in the working world, contact
your employer. Chances are there are funding opportunities there that you may not
have known about, although you may be asked to remain with the company for several
years after you’re done with your advanced coursework. Employers want you to expand
your skill sets so that you’re more valuable and productive at their company, so
why not let them foot the bill if you like your job and want to take some professional
development classes?
From Outside Organizations
There are many outside organizations that aim to expand college opportunities for
students pursuing certain fields of study through grants and scholarship programs,
so make sure contacting local groups is on your list of things to do. While some
will require you to pay it forward by working in that field of study for several
years after you graduate, others only want you to complete a degree in that field.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services department of the National Foundation
on the Arts and Humanities has a number of grant opportunities for not only supporting
the nation’s library systems, but to recruit and educate the next generation of
students entering the library science profession. The National Association of Black
Journalists provides grants for black student journalists who are also members of
their professional organization. It could be worth joining the local organization
of the field you’re interested in if it means you have a better shot at landing
free money for college.
If you’re looking for an advanced degree and are already in the working world, contact
your employer. Chances are there are funding opportunities there that you may not
have known about, although you may be asked to remain with the company for several
years after you’re done with your advanced coursework. Employers want you to expand
your skill sets so that you’re more valuable and productive at their company, so
why not let them foot the bill if you like your job and want to take some professional
development classes?