There are hundreds of grad school grants available from the U.S. government and private donors. These do not have to be paid back but are considered a gift to students looking to further their educations.
Students receiving government grants must maintain a specific grade point average (GPA) throughout their academic career to continue receiving aid. Some government grants are based on need for students coming from low-income households.
Private grants often come in the form of scholarships. The amounts vary and the grants can be used for travel, research, experiments or projects. These may be offered by a particular company, especially if parents are employees, civic, and religious organizations.
Grad school grants can also be used to encourage students to study abroad with each based on the requirements of individual organizations. Each sponsor has specific requirements or qualifications that must be met by the applicant or may require that the students spend time in a specific country.
College scholarships may require that students meet specific criteria such as being from its home state, hold a specific grade average, pursue a degree in a particular major, or have a special talent in a specific field, such as education or music. Others may require evidence of leadership or involvement with specific activities or disciplines. Some may come with special obligations or responsibilities.
Grad School Grants Offered By US Government Agencies
These include…
- The Disabled American Veteran’s Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship Program.
- The United States Army educational benefits for individuals enlisting in selected military occupational specialties.
- Americorps gives people of all ages and backgrounds educational rewards after a year of community service.
- The Department of Health and Human Services offers grants through its Indian Health Services, National Institute of Health and National Service Corps.
To be eligible for most grad school grants, applicant must meet specific requirements that may include:
- U.S. citizenship or being an eligible noncitizen.
- Have a valid Social Security number.
- If a male between 18 and 25 years of age be registered with Selective Service.
- Maintaining satisfactory progress in a college or career school.
- Show evidence of being qualified to obtain a post-secondary education.
In some cases, students applying for grad school grants may be required to take an approved ability-to-benefit test.
Many US and international organizations encourage study abroad by providing funding. Students should contact each organization for details including deadlines.
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Resources For Further Grad School Grant Research
Some sites that can be found on the Internet provide in depth information for students looking to obtain grad school grants. These include:
http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/sab/gettingstarted/funding/scholarshipsPrivate.html
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/othersources.jsp
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/toolsandresources.jsp
There is a plethora of grad school grants available to students that can be found by taking the time to do research on the Internet to obtain information about qualifications, requirements, and opportunities available to them.
