El-Watan

Promoting Democracy in Algeria

College Financial Aid Guide

Grants are a type of aid paid by the government. Grants for college students do not have to be repaid. Grants are based on financial need, as calculated by the federal aid program. The first step in applying for government grants is to complete the FAFSA. Of course, each student and parents would rather receive grants instead of loans, they do not have to be repaid. So the student hopes to see a grant award if the results are returned to the application. There are some things to keep in mind, however, expected a grant. The funds available for scholarships are limited, so the grant is not usually fully fund educational expenses.

If the student plans to attend a community college where tuition rates are low, it is possible that grants will cover a greater percentage of tuition and fees. The second thing to consider is that when the needs analysis done by the government or school, the expected contribution from parents is often higher than in reality what is possible for most families. This expected contribution effects the amount available for student grants. Another important factor is that if the parent or guardian claims the student as a dependent on tax returns, this effects the amount of aid available to the student. In general, a student who is “independent” of parents in regard to tax legislation will receive more in financial aid. Freshmen may find that they receive less grant awards than they do in subsequent college years. Michael Carter is a contributor at College Financial Aid Guide, an online information source for financing education, scholarships and student loans.