Pell Grants are among the most common grants offered by the federal government. Generally, the grants are for undergraduate students only, although some students seeking a teacher certification after college graduation can also qualify. For 2010-2011 school year, the most a student can receive per year is $5,500, although not every student will receive the maximum. To qualify, a student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A student's eligibility is determined by the cost of attending school, how many units the student plans to take and financial need.
TEACH (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education) Grants are given to students planning to become teachers in elementary through high schools that serve children from low-income communities. To qualify, an applicant must complete a FAFSA and enroll in a college program that will make him a teacher. TEACH Grant recipients also need to maintain at least a 3.25 grade point average, and they must also sign contracts that oblige them to teach for a minimum of four years. A TEACH Grant will pay as much as $4,000 a year.
To encourage students to study math and science, the federal government offers up to $4,000 a year to third- and fourth-year students through its SMART (Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent) Grant. To receive this money, a student must be able to receive a Pell Grant, and he must be studying for a major in a hard science, mathematics, engineering or technology. Students must also earn at least a 3.0 GPA.
Starting in the 2010-2011 school year, a student can receive an Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant if one of her parents died while serving in the U.S. military as a result of war-time duties. To receive the grant, students must not have qualified for a Pell Grant. A student must also be younger than 24 and enrolled in college at the time of her parent's death.