Should You Use Scholarship Grants or Financial Aid?

By Owen Jones

Just what is the real cost of a college education and is there a financing scheme available? Well, lets be honest about it - a college education is mind-numbingly costly, causing many parents alarm when their kids are looking at attending a community college or a state university.

There are a lot of items that make up the total cost of a college education and the tuition fees are only a part of the whole story of going to college. Common, everyday expenditures include food, transportation, accommodation, spending money and other sundry costs, which, when added up can create a large portion when financing a college education.

These days, many families, even those belonging to the upper class, think about applying for financial assistance. College grants and scholarships are an excellent kind of financial assistance. Grant and scholarship programmes do not ask the students or even their families to repay the monies given.

Scholarships and grants are of two basic kinds: (i) scholarships awarded based on financial need, depending on the financial inability of the student and their families to pay for the college education, and (ii) scholarships based on merit, for example the talent of the student in tennis is the deciding factor. A students academic prowess comes under the merit-based college grant and scholarship system as well.

Sometimes, college grants and scholarships combine the merit and need criteria to ease the whole financial aid process. Numerous students and their families are looking for this kind of financial aid. However, college grants and scholarships are limited in number although there is a growing number of students year after year.

Those students who qualify can get federal or / and a number of state scholarships, some of which are listed here:

Federal or National Pell Grants " this is a program, which is available nationwide and which is intended to provide financial aid to any qualified undergraduate student pursuing post-secondary schooling. Grants and scholarships of this type are given to those who have not yet completed a baccalaureate degree.

The value of the grant can vary year after year and will depend largely on the financial needs of the student, the expenses that will be incurred whilst attending the chosen university or college, and the availability of funds from the national government. This sort of grant will open up an opportunity for students to succeed in securing financial aid from the national government.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant or FSEOG " this is a scholarship for continuing undergraduate students who have exceptional financial needs, but not all students can get this kind of grant. It will depend on the eligibility of the student and the amount of finances at the school in question.

Another kind of financial assistance that students and families can get is student loans. However, this kind of financial aid has to be paid back. The financial requirements of the family must be taken into consideration to avoid paying very high interest rates.

It is also a must to learn all the terms of the lending agency such as the schedule of repayment and interest rates, before making a commitment.

Work study is yet another form of financial aid which calls for students to work to sustain themselves during their college stay. Work study is commonly carried out on college campus and is the most typical type of financial aid in all of the universities and colleges in the USA. Usually, students will render service to schools for 10-15 hours a week.

Scholarships, grants and other types of financial aid to obtain a college education is really multi-faceted, confusing at times, and even down-right exasperating. However, the good thing is that a college education is a non-refundable and non-toxic form of investment in the student's future!

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