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Edited By: Grants for College
Key takeaways:
- Grants for college are forms of financial aid that can be used towards tuition, room and board, fees, and other education-related expenses.
- Grants are mainly provided by federal or state governments, colleges or universities, and private organizations or companies.
- Some grants ask that students submit specific applications while others only require FAFSA submission.
The average cost to attend an in-state, public 4-year institution in the United States is $27,146 per year. Although the high cost of college can be overwhelming, grants can help lessen the financial burden and make higher education more accessible and affordable.
Jump to:
- 25 Best Grants for College
- What are grants?
- What are the main types of grants?
- Grants vs. scholarships: what's the difference?
- How to apply for grants
- Frequently asked questions about grants
The 25 Best Grants for College with Approaching Deadlines in 2026
What are grants?
College grants are forms of financial aid given to students by the government, institutions, or private organizations. Unlike loans, grants don’t have to be repaid as long as you don’t violate the terms or conditions. Different grant providers have different goals and motivation to offer grants. Understanding the reasoning that grants are awarded can help you decide what kind of grant is the best for you.
- Government grants are used to promote economic growth and innovation, create a higher-educated population, and encourage study in specific fields.
- Institutions provide grants to build a diverse student body, meet enrollment targets, and to compete with other schools.
- Private grants are often given to invest in future talent, encourage diversity in their industry, and create a positive public image.
What are the main types of grants?
There are primarily 3 kinds of grants: government, institutional, and private. Applying to multiple types of grants can maximize your chances of paying less for college.
Government grants
Government grants are financial assistance provided by either the U.S. government, the government of your state, or the government of the state you attend college in. They’re generally paid directly to the institution a student attends, although some specific types may be given to the student directly. To qualify for these grants, students need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA must be completed each year in order for students to continue to receive government aid.
Federal grants are offered by the U.S. Department of Education and may be used at any postsecondary institution. The main types of federal grants are the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Upon completing the FAFSA, students are automatically considered nfor the Pell Grant and the FSEOG. Both of these grants are based on a student’s financial need and range from $4,000 to around $7,000 per year, as long as a student remains eligible.
The TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000 per year to students who agree to teach at a school in a low-income area for 4 years post-graduation. Because the TEACH Grant is a significant commitment, it requires more steps than just completing the FAFSA. Additionally, unlike the majority of grants, the TEACH Grant doesn’t consider financial need as an eligibility requirement.
State grants are provided by states’ higher education agencies. While students typically only need to complete the FAFSA to be considered for these grants, some states, such as New York and Pennsylvania, require students to fill out a separate, state-specific application in addition.
Each state, as well as the grants offered by that state, may have different eligibility requirements. Some state grants require students to be residents and to attend school in their state, while others may only need students to meet one of these qualifications.
In general, government grants have the strictest regulations when it comes to how they can be used. Be sure to check each type of grant’s requirements; they will explain what you can use the money for and how to remain eligible. If one or more requirements aren’t met, students will have to repay the grant.
Institutional grants
Institutional grants are money provided by the college or university a student attends or plans to attend. To be considered, students must have been accepted to the school and typically must also have completed the FAFSA. Some colleges might ask students to complete separate applications as well.
The majority of institutional grants are used directly to lower the cost of attendance at that college or university. Usually, the student will never physically receive the money—they’ll just pay less to attend the school.
Private grants
Private grants are awarded by companies, foundations, and organizations. These types of grants are often more specific than government or institutional grants; they can be based on factors such as gender, ethnicity, disability, and field of study.
Private grants may be awarded directly to the student or to the college or university they will attend. When grants are given straight to the student, there may be specific requirements regarding what the money can be used for. Funds might only be for tuition or educational expenses like books or laptops. In some cases, however, they may have no restrictions at all.
It’s always a good idea to check with the grant provider to determine what steps you need to complete to be considered and what you’re allowed to spend the funds on. If you misuse the grant funds or don’t maintain certain eligibility requirements, you may have to repay the grant.
Grants vs. scholarships: what’s the difference?
Grants are typically provided to students who demonstrate financial need. In most cases, once you complete the FAFSA and apply to colleges, you’ll automatically be considered for government and institutional grants. Private grants, however, usually require separate applications.
Grants also have strict requirements for what they can be used for. Generally, grants can only be applied to tuition, room and board, and fees. Misusing grant funds, even unintentionally, may be considered grant fraud. If you’re found to be misusing these funds, you’ll likely need to repay the grant and may be barred from receiving future aid.
Scholarships, on the other hand, are primarily based on a student’s merit or identity. This could include academic performance, artistic ability, gender, or ethnicity. You’ll typically have to apply directly for scholarships and the number available is often limited.
However, scholarships tend to have more flexibility when it comes to how the funds can be used. Generally, you can use scholarships for any external academic expenses, such as a computer, food, or off-campus housing, in addition to tuition, fees, and room and board. Sometimes, there are no restrictions placed upon scholarship money at all.
How to apply for grants
Students are automatically considered for federal and state grants when they submit the FAFSA. Usually, institution-specific grants are also applied automatically when you apply to a college and complete the FAFSA. However, schools sometimes have separate applications to qualify for their grants.
For other grants, specifically ones offered by private organizations, you’ll almost certainly need to apply. When students sign up for a free account on Scholarships.com, they can receive a list of all awards they’re eligible for, including grants. Some of these private grants will also require a FAFSA on file, while others won’t.
However, even if completing the FAFSA isn’t necessarily needed, it’s still a good idea to do so. Submitting the FAFSA doesn’t mean students will have to take out federal student loans; it just means they’re making their financial information available so that the government, institutions, and private grant providers can decide the amount and type of financial aid they’re eligible for.
Frequently asked questions about grants
What can I use grants for?
While each grant may have different rules for what they can be used for, the majority of grants can only be used to directly fund your education. For example, the Texas Tuition Equalization Grant may only be used to pay for tuition at a college or university in Texas.
Other grants have fewer restrictions, such as the Minnesota State Grant. Along with tuition, this grant can be used to pay for fees, books, supplies, housing, and transportation.
If you are awarded a grant, be sure to ask the grant provider what the rules are for how you can use the award. If you misuse the funds, even unintentionally, you’ll likely have to repay the grant.
Are there grants for specific majors?
Although the majority of grants are awarded based on a student’s financial need, some grants are created specifically for students pursuing certain majors or fields of study. Generally, these are only offered to students pursuing high-demand fields such as teaching, healthcare, or STEM.
Sometimes, part of the grant’s conditions will be that you’ll have to work for the providing organization after you graduate. For example, one of the conditions you’re agreeing to when you accept the Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant is that you’ll eventually teach in a Massachusetts public school. Before accepting any grants, make sure you are aware of all the conditions you’ll need to meet.
Do I need to have a certain GPA to receive a grant?
Many grants are only based on need, and therefore don’t consider a student’s GPA. However, grants that consider academic merit as well as financial need will likely have GPA requirements. For instance, students must have a high school GPA of at least 3.0 to be considered for the Cal Grant Competitive Awards.
While grants awarded only based on financial need may not require a certain GPA to be accepted, many require students to maintain a minimum GPA throughout college if they wish to continue to receive the grant.
Is there a maximum family or personal income to qualify for grants?
Nearly all grants have income eligibility requirements, specifically government and institutional grants. However, each grant will have a different cut-off. For example, while some grants are only offered to lower-income students, others may be open to students from middle class families as well.
Do I need to reapply for grants each year?
Most annual grants don’t renew automatically, so you will need to reapply each year. For some annual grants, specifically ones that consider financial need, students only need to complete the FAFSA every year to maintain eligibility. Others might have more in-depth renewal processes, or may even renew automatically as long as students maintain a certain GPA.