General Information
States grants and scholarships are “free” money that reduces your net cost of attending college. It is important that you become aware of all grant and scholarship programs that may help you pay for college.
Q & A
How do I know if my state has a grant or scholarship program?
Refer to the link in the right hand margin to see if your state has grant or scholarship programs.
How much state grant/scholarship will I qualify for?
It varies. The amount of specific grants and scholarships are typically set by the state legislature. Most states base their grants and scholarships on information you report on the FAFSA. In other states your grants or scholarships are based upon academic, athletic or another type of demonstrated merit. Some states use both methods. The websites for each program should list the qualification requirements.
Can I use my state award for help pay for any college?
Most states require that you attend a college in state. But many states allow the awards to pay expenses for both private and public schools – as long as they are in state.
What form(s) do I need to complete to apply for a state grant or scholarship?
Most states use the FAFSA as their state aid application.
But some states require an additional form as well. If you live in a state that requires more than just the FAFSA, it is likely that a link to the state application will be appear completion on the FAFSA confirmation page when you submit the FAFSA. It is easy to miss the state application link if you are not looking for it so make sure that you carefully review all the fine print on the FAFSA confirmation page
The state website for each grant or scholarship program should contain the application instructions and other requirements.
What is the deadline for applying for grants or scholarships?
It varies by state. There is a link on the FAFSA homepage that allows you to check the deadline for your state. As with institutional aid, it is imperative that you apply for state aid by the published deadlines, particularly in those states where funds are limited and awarded on a first come, first serve basis until depleted.
Now that the FAFSA is available each year on October 1, it is a good idea to complete and submit it in October to ensure that you don’t miss any deadlines.
Selected State Grant Programs:
