Based on financial need, the Federal Pell Grant is open to all students enrolling in college who have not received a bachelor's or graduate degree. The grant award amount varies from $1,176 to $5,550 a year. Grant money can be used to pay tuition or living expenses if you receive more than the cost of tuition. To apply for the Federal Pell Grant, prospective students must fill out and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Also subject to the FAFSA application requirement, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program is a supplement to the Pell Grant for those with financial need. The FSEOG is awarded to Pell Grant recipients first, and awards vary from $200 to $4,000 a year. However, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is not available at all colleges. If you think you might be eligible, check with the financial aid office at your prospective school to see if the grant is available.
A program for educators planning to teach in a school in a low-income area, the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant is open to individuals in teaching programs at the undergraduate, graduate or post-baccalaureate level. Each student receiving a TEACH grant will be awarded up to $4,000 a year. Students accepting TEACH monies must sign a service agreement stating that they will teach in a high-need subject or low-income area for at least four out of the eight years following their graduation. If a student does not fulfill this obligation, the grant is converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, payable the U.S. Department of Education.
State grant programs, such as the ones in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, offer grants designed for adults, especially veterans of the Army, Navy or National Guard. Award amounts vary by state and income but are not entirely need-based.
Colleges and universities often have special in-house grants available for nontraditional students. For example, the Altrusa Grant Fund at the University of Wisconsin at Madison provides two awards of $2,000 each twice a year to students continuing their education after an interruption. Check with your prospective college financial aid office to see if similar awards are available through your school.