The process of applying for grants begins with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form is used to determine your eligibility for all government grants.
Pell Grants are available to students seeking bachelor's or graduate degrees and are based on financial need. In 2009, the annual award ranged from $976 to $5,350.
You must be a Pell Grant recipient to be eligible for the Academic Competitiveness Grant. You also must be in your first or second year as an undergraduate, and if you're in your second year, you must have a grade-point average of at least 3.0. In 2009, this grant awarded $750 in the first year and $1,300 in the second year.
The FSEOG is awarded to undergraduates who have exceptional financial need, and Pell Grant recipients are given priority consideration. Annual grant amounts ranged from $200 to $4,000 in 2009, however, some colleges don't participate in this program.
The National SMART Grant is available only to students majoring in the following programs: physical, life or computer sciences, engineering, technology, mathematics or a critical-need foreign language. Students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and be enrolled at least half-time in their third or fourth year of college (or the fifth year of a five-year program). The maximum annual award was $4,000 in 2009.
The TEACH Grant is available to students who agree to be full-time teachers in a high-need field at schools that serve low-income students for at least four years. Students who don't complete the required four years must repay the grant as a student loan. The annual award limit was $4,000 in 2009.