The Federal Pell Grant Program provides grants to low-income undergraduate students and some postgraduate students to increase post-secondary education. Students may use their funds at any one of about 6,000 participating educational institutions. The amount of the award is determined by considering the expected family contribution, the cost of attendance, whether the student is full- or part-time, and whether the student intends to attend school for a full year.
The U.S. Department of Education determines financial need by means of a formula from information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.) The elements of the formula include the student's income, or the parent's income if the student is a dependent. Other factors include the size of the family and whether any other family members are also attending school. After filing a FAFSA, students receive a report and the school receives an information record stating whether the student is eligible and if so, the amount of the award. Schools can pay the student directly, credit the student's account, or use a combination of these methods.
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program supplements Pell grants for eligible low-income individuals. Applications are usually made through local Department of Labor One Stop Career Centers. The focus of WIA is to help the individual acquire skills for jobs that are in high demand and pay a high wage. Eligibility is determined by income, assets, and family size as determined from the FAFSA. Awards can range up to $9,000 for a two-year program of study.
Scholarships, like grants, are financial awards that do not have to be repaid. Contact the financial aid office at the school you wish to attend to inquire about scholarships. Public libraries stock guidebooks for scholarships as well. Employers and organizations that you or your family are affiliated with may offer scholarships. According to College Board, free scholarship search sites are available, such as Scholarship Search, Fastweb and Sallie Mae; they warn that you should never have to pay for scholarship information.