The most basic federal scholarship is the Pell Grant. This grant is determined largely by a student's financial need. To be considered for a Pell Grant, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. If he is eligible, the Pell Grant will be automatically awarded.
studentaid.ed.gov
Both of these grants are add-ons to the Pell Grant. That is, a student must qualify in terms of financial need for the Pell Grant in order to be eligible. The American Competitiveness Grant is for college freshmen and sophomores, while the SMART grant is for college juniors and seniors who are majoring in math or science.
studentaid.ed.gov
Like the SMART grant, the TEACH grant program is designed for a specific field of study. It is available to all students who are studying to become teachers in high-need schools or in high-need fields, such as math, reading, science or special education. Unlike the SMART grant, however, students need not be Pell-eligible to receive this grant. TEACH grant recipients must recommit each year to serving in high-needs areas.
studentaid.ed.gov
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a few different scholarship programs for people who have served in the military and their children. Its most prominent programs include the Yellow Ribbon Program, which pays full tuition and fees at state schools; and the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty Program, which pays for up to 36 months of college expenses.
gibill.va.gov
Offered for both undergraduate and graduate students, the National Science Foundation offers a huge variety of student scholarships. The scholarships focus on students studying in both the hard sciences (such as physics, math, biology, etc.) and the social sciences (such as economics, psychology, and political science).
nsf.gov