Apply for out-of-state school grants and scholarships through the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Office. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which is used by almost all two- and four-year colleges and universities. You can submit applications online. Awards are based on student financial needs, family income and out-of-state tuition costs. Apply for government-specific grants like the Pell Grant, which awards eligible students as much as $5,350 for out-of-state tuition.
Find grants through websites such as FinAid.org, which offers one of the largest online grant and scholarship databases. With free site registration, you can use FinAid.org to seek out government grants that are based not only on need, but also educational interests. FinAid provides students with specific information on how to obtain and apply for certain grants; its handouts section includes how to write a grant proposal and how much one should expect to receive.
Look for specialty grants awarded to minority groups if you meet eligibility requirements. Organizations such as the United Negro College Fund, American Indian Fund and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund provide grants to students interested in out-of-state schools.
Apply for merit-based grants. Grants such as the Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) and the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) require students to have a certain grade point average and to have completed the required high school courses. These grants can award sizable amounts of money to attend out-of-state colleges. For instance, SMART grant applicants in 2010 may be awarded anywhere from $25,000 to $41,000 per academic school year.
Consider applying for individual out-of-state grants offered by the school that you choose to attend. Many colleges and universities recruit diverse student backgrounds-- either based on need, merit or ability--and are willing to offer a financial incentive in the form of a grant.