Applicants for government financial aid should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form that is available from the U.S. Department of Education. Many colleges and universities use this form to determine a student's financial need. FAFSA forms are due on April 1 of each year and are based upon an individual's tax information.
One of the most common forms of government financial aid for education is grants, such as the federal government's Pell Grants. Whereas scholarships tend to be more specific, grants are based upon such basic criteria as financial need or minority status. Grants and scholarships may require a certain grade point average (GPA), study in a specific major or status in a particular minority group. Many students may also qualify for the work-study program, which involves part-time work on campus. Current and former military personnel can receive financial support from the G.I. Bill. Many high school graduates enter the military or the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) to receive the benefits that help them pay for their education.
Those seeking government scholarships and grants should begin seeking them eight months to one year before classes start to be certain there is time to complete and submit all applications. Late applications are rarely accepted. The Federal Department of Education lists eligibility and other information. Individual states frequently offer scholarships to help the disadvantaged or to encourage residents to remain in-state for their education. Check your state government's department of education website for leads on this type of aid.
The simplest way to identify government scholarships and grants is to contact an educational institution's financial aid adviser. Librarians at many state, college and university libraries are also familiar with scholarship and grant information, particularly scholarships and grants available to state residents.
When searching for government scholarships, avoid websites and other services that charge a fee to locate financial aid. Instead, begin a search by contacting a financial aid adviser or librarian, both of whom can identify the most useful sources for free.
Most colleges and universities help students pay for an education, offering thousands of scholarships for education. Any search for financial aid should consider these as essential to paying for education as government scholarships. The search for financial aid usually begins with the FAFSA. A prospective student need not have completed his taxes to submit the FAFSA.