Pell Grants are provided by the federal government to help students from low-income backgrounds attend college and can be used at any one of 5,400 participating schools. The grant is worth a maximum of $5,500 a year. The amount awarded depends on several factors: the cost of attendance, the amount a student (or their family) can contribute toward their education and whether the student attends full- or part-time and is enrolled for a complete or partial school year. Students who lost a guardian or parent that served in the armed forces in Iraq or Afghanistan after Sept. 11, 2001, will be presented the full amount regardless. To apply for a Pell Grant, students must file a FAFSA, the free application for federal student aid.
Federal Student Aid Information Center
Box 84
Washington, D.C. 20044
800-433-3243
www.fafsa.gov
Trying to attend college while raising a child can put any budget under severe stress, as the child will require care while the parent attends school. Michigan State University helps student-parents with this challenge by offering the Spartan Kids Childcare Grant, which covers daycare costs. The grant is worth $3,000 per child and can be used at any care facility approved by the school. Applicants for the grant must be Michigan residents and qualify for a Pell Grant. The full amount of the grant can be given at once or paid out over several semesters.
Michigan State University Family Resource Center
1407 S. Harrison Rd., Suite 225
East Lansing, MI 48823-5239
517-432-3745
www.frc.msu.edu
The Florida Student Assistance Grant Program helps underprivileged students to pursue an undergraduate degree at an eligible school, which includes both private and public institutions within the state. Applicants must be Florida residents, American citizens or eligible non-citizens and have "substantial financial need," according to the Florida Department of Education. Students must not already have a bachelor's degree and attend school full- or half-time and cannot be in default for any federal or state student loan. The maximum grant amount is $2,235 and the award can be renewed as long as the recipient earns a 2.0 or higher GPA. To apply, students must file a FAFSA.
Florida Department of Education
Turlington Building, Suite 1514
325 West Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
1-888-827-2004