| In today's economy, many students are having | | | | called the Pell Grant. The Pell Grant can be awarded |
| difficulties paying their tuition expenses. It's well known | | | | twice in one year to eligible students, for up to $5,550 |
| that tuition and other educational expenses are rising at | | | | for the 2010 - 2011 school year. The Pell Grant is |
| a much faster rate that the consumer price index. | | | | awarded based upon financial need to students who |
| Having to worry about coming up with extra money to | | | | qualify and can be used for tuition costs, as well as |
| cover these costs can make it very difficult for | | | | other expenditures. |
| students to concentrate on their studies. | | | | Another area of grant and scholarship money is |
| It's very common today for students to take out | | | | available to students who perform well academically. |
| student loans to help finance their education. The | | | | Some schools even forgo tuition from students who |
| problem with a loan is that is has to be paid back, | | | | have achieved extremely good GPAs and grades. |
| often starting immediately after graduation. For | | | | Although these academic programs are very |
| students who have had to finance all of their education | | | | competitive, students who work hard may find that |
| with loans, interest can increase the bill by thousands | | | | they are eligible for a variety of grants and |
| and thousands of dollars. | | | | scholarships from a number of areas, including |
| In lieu of student loans, grant money can be a great | | | | educational foundations, alumni foundations, and |
| way to finance college. A grant gives money for | | | | departments and particular colleges who want to |
| school to eligible students, but it doesn't have to be | | | | attract top students. |
| repaid, unlike a loan. Often, a grant can be used for | | | | In addition to academic and financial need grants, there |
| expenses other than tuition, such as rent or | | | | are many grant opportunities for students who are |
| transportation, because it is sometimes paid directly to | | | | interested in entering specific fields. For example, |
| the student. | | | | teaching grants are available from educational |
| Students can apply for a variety of different grants. | | | | foundations, and nursing grants are available from |
| There are government-funded grants, as well as | | | | professional nursing organizations and companies that |
| privately funded grants available to students in nearly | | | | are involved in healthcare. Other top grant givers are in |
| every major and discipline. Some grants are | | | | fields that involve engineering, technology, and |
| need-based, i.e., dependent on a student's financial | | | | mathematics. All of these fields are falling short in new |
| situation, while others are based on academics or | | | | professionals who want to enter these fields and so |
| some other criteria. | | | | there is more money available in these fields than |
| The government grant that is the most well known is | | | | others. |