Pell grants offer up to $5,500 for qualifying students in the 2010-11 school year and are the most common type of federal grant. Complete the FAFSA to determine your Expected Family Contribution at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. You will need last year's tax returns. To begin the FAFSA, you must first apply for a Personal Identification Number online. You will use this PIN to sign your forms electronically. Once your FAFSA is complete, you will receive your Student Aid Report within days. Use the community college's school code to send the SAR to their financial aid office. Do not forget to complete any supplemental forms the college requires in order to process your financial aid.
Some community college students are also eligible for two other types of federal grants. The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants begin in July 2010 and offer aid to veterans of these recent wars. Students enrolled in a "rigorous program of study" in secondary school may qualify for an Academic Competitiveness Grant of up to $1,300 in addition to the Pell Grant. Find a list of qualifying programs of study at http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/about/ac-smart/state-programs.html. Other types of specialized federal grants may be available for students transferring to four-year universities.
Many community colleges will have their own grants with varying eligibility requirements, from financial need and academic performance to community involvement and programs of study. Contact the financial aid office and meet with a financial aid officer before the semester begins. Often they can provide institution-specific strategies and information unavailable on the web.