While there are no federal grants specifically designated for working students, the government does award need-based grants to many students each year. The most common and largest grant program offered by the government is the Pell Grant, which gives needy students as much as $4,000 in grant money for each academic year. There are also three other grants available for students who qualify for the Pell Grant. They are the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, the Academic Competitiveness Grant, and the National SMART Grant. SMART Grants are disbursed to math and science students, and academic competitiveness grants are awarded to students who show a combination of financial need and academic excellence.
Most states also offer grant programs for needy students, although many of them are contingent upon a student going to a public school in that state or staying in the state for their education. Students in California can get up to $9,700 for each year of school through the Cal Grant program. It is available for students who are attending either private or public universities in the state. Texas also has a comprehensive grant program for students staying in state. The U.S. Department of Education Web site has a directory of state education grant and financial aid opportunities.
Many companies have discovered in recent years that they get a large return on investment by offering money for employees to go to school. Check with your employer to see if they offer any kind of tuition reimbursement or assistance program. Starbucks is well-known for their reimbursement program, which offers employees anywhere from $500-$1,000 depending on the duration of the student's employment with the company. Google offers employees as much as $8,000 per year in tuition reimbursement and will pay for the entirety of a master's in computer science at Stanford for employees who are accepted into the program.
For students seeking work during school, the federal work-study program is a great way to help balance schoolwork and employment. Another avenue to explore is the huge amount of scholarship money that is given out by charitable organizations and corporate entities each year. Individual schools also offer grant and scholarship money based on need and academic achievement, and even standardized test scores.
The first step for any student hoping for any type of financial aid is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This will determine your eligibility for grants from the government as well as any type of financial aid from the school of your choice.