Federal Grants For College

In this article, you will find out how to get federal grants for college students in 3 simple steps.

Step 1: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSASM).

You will have to fill in the free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSASM) which is at www.fafsa.gov. Using FAFSA online is more efficient than using paper.

However, If you need a paper FAFSA, you can download the PDF format here.

Alternatively, you can also contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). For the academic year 2012–13, the application date starts from Jan. 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. To avoid any disappointment, you should submit your application for the federal grants for your college education as early as possible.

It is important to note that schools and states regularly utilize the FAFSA information to give out non-federal aid and their deadlines are mostly in the beginning of the year. You can also find state deadlines at FAFSA website or on the FAFSA pdf document and it’s also better to find out the deadlines from the schools themselves you’re interested in.

Step 2: Review your Student Aid Report (SAR).

After finishing your application, you will get a Student Aid Report (SAR) which contains the details reported on your FAFSA and at the same time reveal your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is an index number for the purpose of checking if you are eligible to get the federal student aid.

It is important to check your SAR details thoroughly and do make the necessary changes if any mistakes are found. The school of your choice will receive your SAR data automatically via online means.

Step 3: Contact the Schools You Have Chosen.

It is your responsibility to make sure that the  financial aid office at schools of your choice has all the necessary details required to determine your eligibility. If you have met all the requirements, you will receive an award letter detailing the amount n type of federal grants the school will give you. You can then compare the different award letters from each school you have applied and take the appropriate grant for your college education.

In order to get the federal student aid successfully,  you will need to provide evidence that financial assistance is required. You have to be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen who have a valid Social Security number.

You have to be registered with the selective service if you’re a male between the ages of 18 and 25.  You must also have consistent above average academic progress in post secondary
school.

You should also have one of the following qualification:

1. Having a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate

2. Have cleared an approved ability-to-benefit test (if you don’t have a diploma or GED, a school can administer a test to determine whether you can benefit from the education offered at that school)

3. In the process of finishing six credit hours or equivalent course work toward a degree or certificate

4. Meeting other federally approved standards your state establishes

5. On your way to finishing a high school education in a homeschool setting certified under state law.

If you need money for college, then you will be glad to know the steps needed to get federal grants for college. For the academic year 2012-2013, there are over $150 billion of funds available in federal aid for eligible students. First of all, let me explain what is federal student aid.

Federal student aid is obtained from the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of this fund is to help students pay for their educational expenses at either college, career school or graduate school.

This money is used to cover expenses such as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and also transportation. In addition, you can also use it to pay for computer and dependent care.

Overall, the federal student aid is divided into 3 parts:
1. Grants
2. Work-study
3. Loans

Your responsibility is to find out from your school which programs it participates in.