What kinds of federal grants are available?

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) offers a variety of federal grants to students attending four-year colleges or universities, community colleges, and career schools.

• Federal Pell Grants
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants

Important Resource

Federal Student Grant Programs (PDF) — Lists federal student grant programs with program details and award limits.

How do I get a federal grant?

Almost all of the grants (listed above) are awarded to students with financial need. If you are interested in these grants, or in any federal student aid, you have to start by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. You have to fill out the FAFSA form every year you’re in school in order to stay eligible for federal student aid. Once you’ve done that, you’ll work with your college or career school to find out how much you can get and when you’ll get it.

Why would I have to repay all or part of a federal grant?

Here are some examples of why you might have to repay all or part of a federal grant:

• You withdrew early from the program for which the grant was given to you.
• Your enrollment status changed in a way that reduced your eligibility for your grant (for instance, if you switch from full-time enrollment to part-time, your grant amount will be reduced).
• You received outside scholarships or grants that reduced your need for federal student aid.
• For a TEACH Grant, you did not meet the requirements of your TEACH Grant service obligation.

How do I repay a grant overpayment?

Your school will notify you if you must repay part of the grant. From that point, you will have 45 days to either pay that portion of the grant back in full or enter into a satisfactory repayment arrangement. If you enter into a satisfactory repayment arrangement, the school may assign the debt to ED for collection or may keep the debt and allow you to make payments directly to them.

If you do not carry out one of these options, you will lose your eligibility for further federal student aid.

What should I do to maintain the grant?

The requirements for maintaining a scholarship or grant vary from program to program. Please visit the website relevant to your specific scholarship or grant to ensure that you meet the requirements for maintaining eligibility for that aid program.