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| Key Sources of Financial Aid – Best Sources – Grants
and Scholarships Federal, State, Private |
Education after high school costs more than ever. Post secondary education is more important than ever, so students and families need to learn about as many sources of aid as
they can. Non-loan sources of federal and other student aid are described below.
Grants
Financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Generally, grants are
for undergraduate students and the grant amount is based on need, school cost, and enrollment status.
Pell Grants
The Pell Grant is largest federal grant program. The Federal Pell Grant is a need-based grant for undergraduate students. A Federal
Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. They can be used for tuition, fees, and living expenses, even at some schools
with low fees, such as community colleges. For many students,
Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which other aid
may be added. Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree.
In some cases, you may receive a Pell Grant to attend a teaching credential program. You can also receive a Pell Grant if you're going
to school less than half time.
When you file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you are automatically considered for a Pell Grant. You also indicate
on the form which loans and grants you are interested in. To determine your financial need, the U.S. Department of Education
uses a standard formula to evaluate the information you reported on your
FAFSA. The formula produces an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) number. Your Student Aid Report
(SAR) contains this number and will tell you if you're eligible.
For the 2000-2001 award year, Pell Grants for full-time students ranged from $400 to $3,300. The Pell Grant is awarded to all eligible students, but the amounts for future awards will depend on program funding.
Your school can credit the Pell Grant funds to your school account, pay you directly (usually by check), or combine these methods. The school must tell you in writing how and when you'll be paid and how much your award will be. Schools must pay students at least once
per term (semester, trimester, or quarter). Schools that do not use formally defined, traditional terms must pay you at least twice per academic year.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)
SEOGs are awards of between $100 and $4,00 per year that are awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need, with priority given to those with Pell Grants. These awards are grants and like scholarships, they do not have to be paid back.
State Grants
The state higher education agency in your home state can give you information about state aid – including aid from the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program, which is
funded jointly by individual states and the US Department of Education.
The agency responsible in your state for public elementary and secondary schools can give you information on the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program
(Byrd Program). To qualify for aid under the Byrd Program, you must demonstrate outstanding
academic achievement and show promise of continued academic excellence.
Information on state higher education agencies and their programs, colleges and universities, financial aid assistance programs, grants, scholarships, continuing education programs, and career opportunities can be accessed online by visiting
www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/agencies.html or by telephone. State higher education agencies telephone numbers are as follows:
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State
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Telephone Number
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State
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Tele No
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Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
|
1-334-242-2274
1-907-465-6741
1-602-229-2591
1-800547-8839
1-916-526-7590
1-303-866-2723
1-860-947-1855
1-800-292-7935
1-202-698-2400
1-888-827-2004
1-770-724-9030
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Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
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1-775-687-9228
1-603-271-2555
1-800-792-8670
1-800-279-9777
1-800-642-6234
1-800-600-3453
1-701-328-4114
1-888-833-1133
1-800-858-1840
1-800-254-8807
1-800-692-7392
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| Hope Scholarship & Tuition Grant |
1-404-656-5969 |
1-800-692-7435 |
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Robert C Byrd
Scholarship Information |
(state grants) |
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
|
1-808-956-8213
1-208-334-2270
1-800-899-4722
1-317-232-2350
1-515-242-3344
1-785-296-3317
1-800-928-8926
1-800-259-5626
1-800-228-3734
1-410-260-4565
1-617-727-9420
1-877-323-2287
1-800-657-3866
1-601-432-6997
1-800-473-6757
1-800-537-7508
1-402-471-2847 |
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Guam
NorthernMariana
Islands
Puerto Rico
Republic of Palau
Virgin Islands |
1-800-922-9855
1-803-737-2260
1-605-773-31'34
1-800-342-1663
1-800- 242-3062
1-800-418-8757
1-800-642-3177
1-804-786-1690
1-360-753-7850
1-888-825-57O7
1-608-267-2206
1-307-777-7763
1-671-475-0457
1-670-234-612l
1-787-724-7100
1-680-488-2471
1-340-774-4546
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Scholarships are awards that do not usually have to be paid back. Some scholarships are based on financial need, but a number of
others are based on academic achievement (in areas such as academics, athletics, music, art or other disciplines), leadership ability, special talents, or heritage. Some scholarships are tied to service, which requires the scholarship recipient to serve a period of time performing specific duties in designated areas such as teaching
in inner-city schools, or providing health services in underserved communities. Scholarships usually do not provide funds for living
expenses.
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