Niche College Scholarship
Updated: December 2, 2015

College-Based Grants

There are many sources of grant funding available. In addition to federal and state grants there are college-based grants for enrolled students with financial need. Check with your school for campus grant opportunities. Remember to still apply for federal grants. College-based grants are just an extra source of funding to keep college costs as low as possible.

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Sources of Grant Funding

There are college-based grants that are need-based, and there are grants for other criteria. College-based grants are not exclusive to extremely impoverished students. While federal programs, such as Pell and FSEOG usually awarded to families who make $20,000 per year or less, are reserved for the extremely impoverished, other grants do not have strict financial standards. There are college-based grants based on family income and for other interests, including area of study, intended career, academic merit, athletic ability, social action, and community service.

College-Based Grant Criteria

College-based grants are awarded to supplement federal and state grants to make college more affordable. For example, student-athletes can get college-based grants on top of other athletic scholarships. Public and private colleges offer campus-based grants for minorities, women, or out-of-state students, and legacy students. Private colleges use grants to encourage their top recruits to attend their school and to offset tuition for enrolled students with financial need when federal aid does not cover the full cost of attendance.

Finding College-Based Grants

To find college-based grants on your campus, contact your college’s financial aid office. They have information about available grant programs and the application process. Some college-based grants are automatically awarded to all students who complete the FAFSA by the college deadline, and others have a separate application. Check with your department, for college-based grants for your major. Conduct a free college scholarship to find campus-based grants at your desired college/university, and to find other college grants and scholarships.