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.

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 $4,000 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:

Scholarship Sources

Scholarships are awards that do not usually have to be paid back. Some scholarships 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.