Pell Grant Eligibility Article

Free Grants and Scholarship

With many students now wishing to continue their studies in order to be better prepared for the business world that awaits them, the US government has dedicated a large portion of its budget to enable free grants and scholarship for those students wishing to continue their education. Indeed, with over $67 billion being made available for fees, grants and loans, it's an area that's taken seriously.

One of the methods used to provide students with these grants is the Federal Pell Grant. With the possibility that this can provide a student with just over $3,000 in free grants, this is a very welcome package indeed. The amount you receive depends on many factors, and include on your own financial need; the actual cost of attending the school; and whether the student is completing a full scholarship or not.

The main attraction of these free scholarship packages is that they are paid on a regular basis, usually once in every semester or quarter, depending on the course involved. They can be augmented by the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), should you not be applicable for the Pell Grant payments, and are available on the campus itself. Other options available are the Federal Perkins Loan and the Federal Work Study, or FWS. The difference with these grants is that it's the school or campus itself who decides who benefits from extra financial aid.

Although these types of grant can make a huge difference in being able to afford further education, there are set guidelines as to who can benefit. To be applicable for this type of help, you usually have to meet most, if not all, of the following requirements:

* Be studying towards a degree or certificate of accreditation

* Be financially in need

* US citizen, or non-resident with a valid Social Security Number

* Produce a valid high school diploma, or General Education Development certificate

* Enrolled in an eligible program

* Respond negatively to a drugs question

* Have a good standing academically in school

* Register with Selective Service (although this is optional)

There is a particular reason why you have to answer both truthfully and correctly to the drug-related question. Since the use or possession of drugs is strictly prohibited in federal law, if you have a history of this kind of offence, you will probably not be able to apply for free grants or scholarship aid. However, you should be aware that you might still be applicable for various other packages that private institutions and non-federal agencies may be able to offer.