There are more than 5,000 institutions of higher learning that accept the Federal Pell Grant for tuition, many of these institutions are community colleges. Santa Rosa Junior College in California and the Community College of Denver are two examples. This is a need-based grant, geared toward low-income students.
To apply you will need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The U.S. Department of Education will evaluate your income level and that of your parents (if you are a dependent) and, using a formula, determine if you are eligible for a Pell Grant.
You can download the FAFSA from the Department of Education website at fafsa.ed.gov or obtain one by visiting the financial aid department at your community college.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program is needs-based and awards are given first to those students whom a community college’s financial aid department deems in “exceptional need” financially, and to those who receive the Federal Pell Grant. To apply for the FSEOG, you will need to visit the financial aid administrator at your community college.
Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) is a scholarship program, administered by Executive Women International (EWI), and geared toward adults with financial, social or other challenges. In 2008 they awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships to trade school, community college and four-year college students. To compete for the ASIST scholarship you must first apply with the EWI chapter nearest to you. Chapters can be located by visiting the EWI website at ewiconnect.com.
Many states offer educational grants to community college students. For instance, in California there is the Cal-Grant, and Nevada offers the Nevada State Incentive Grant. Some community colleges offer their own grants as well; the College of Southern Nevada offers the Direct Aid Nevada Grant and Valencia Community College in Florida offers the Academic Competitiveness Grant. Check with the financial aid office at the community college you will be attending to find out about state and school-specific grants.