The best types of financial aid are those you don't have to pay back after you graduate. It comes in two forms:
Grants
Grants are like gifts and are usually awarded to students with the fewest financial resources. Grants are considered need-based aid. This need is determined when you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Grants usually come from federal and state governments and are sent directly to the school.
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Academic Competitiveness Grant
- SMART Grant
- Minnesota State Grant
- Minnesota Child Care Grant
- Minnesota Public Safety Officer's Survivor Grant
- Alliss Opportunity Grant Program
- Grants for Dislocated Workers
- Military Service Education Benefits
Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded based on criteria such as academic or athletic achievement, cultural or religious background, or special skills and talents. Most scholarships are offered directly to students through the colleges. View a partial list of school-specific aid. You sometimes need to apply separately for these scholarships. A few scholarships are offered through the government:
- Robert C. Byrd Scholarship
- Minnesota Academic Excellence Scholarship
- Minnesota Achieve Scholarship
- Minnesota Indian Scholarship
- Minnesota Educational Assistance for War Orphans
- Minnesota Veterans' Dependents Assistance Program
- Education Vouchers for Former Youth In Care
Remember to take advantage of free online scholarship searches that help match you to scholarship money, but be wary of any scholarship search offer that charges fees, asks for credit cards or checking account information, or guarantees scholarships.
Be sure to review our scholarship tips before applying. You will also want to check out the private scholarship information at www.finaid.org which sorts scholarships into categories such as merit, community service and scholarships for average students.
