How To Find College Grants and Maximize Free Financial Aid in 2025

College grants are one of the best ways to pay for school because they don't need to be repaid like student loans. If you're wondering how to find college grants and apply, you're not alone. Thousands of students qualify for these opportunities each year based on financial need, academic interests, or personal background. That means you don't have to be a perfect student or write a long essay to get one.

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What are college grants and how do they work?

A college grant is a type of financial aid that you don't need to repay. Grants are usually awarded based on financial need, though some are tied to academic or career interests, like military service. Some grants are intended to support students who identify as part of a racial or ethnic minority group, or who have disabilities.

Grants are considered gift aid because, unlike student loans, they're essentially free money to help cover things like the cost of tuition, fees, books, and living expenses. Grants can come from many sources, including the federal government, state agencies, colleges, and private organizations. As such, it's important to research all your options and apply as early as possible.

How to find federal and state college grants

You can apply for grants from the federal government, state governments, colleges and career schools, and private or nonprofit organizations. Most grant aid is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Federal grants

The U.S. Department of Education offers many federal grants for students in the 2025-26 academic year, including:

• Pell Grant: Up to $7,395, depending on your financial need and your school's cost of attendance
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): $100 to $4,000 a year, depending on your family's finances and the availability of funds at your school
• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants: Up to $4,000 a year to students who plan a career in teaching

State grants

You can also search for state grants and scholarships by visiting the website of the higher education agency that distributes them in your state.

Other college grant opportunities

Armed services grants

Active duty and reserve members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard can qualify for tuition assistance for higher education.

Veterans of all armed services branches are often eligible for GI Bill funding that covers much of their college tuition and living expenses.

Fulbright awards

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers opportunities for students to study, teach, or conduct research abroad. The program operates in more than 140 countries, awarding 2,000 grants annually in fields of study including arts, business, journalism and communications, and sciences and public health.

Degree-specific college grants

However, you might have to apply directly for some grants and merit-based scholarships offered by private and nonprofit organizations that are specially designed to help students pursuing degrees in a specific career field, such as agriculture, archaeology, geology, and journalism.

College grants for minority students

Other grants aim to close funding gaps for African Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and other minority groups. The state of Wisconsin, for example, offers a Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant that provides up to $2,500 a year to African American, American Indian, Hispanic, or Southeast Asian students.

College grants for visually impaired or deaf students

There are also grants aimed at helping students with visual or hearing impairments. Wisconsin provides up to $1,800 a year in grant assistance to eligible students.

Check with your school's financial aid office, department chair, and your state's higher education agency for special grant programs that could help you.

How to apply for grants

1. Fill out the FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to qualifying for most need-based grant aid. Be sure to fill it out as soon as possible when the window opens on Oct. 1 during your senior year of high school.
2. Look for grants on your own: To find more federal grants, check out this list of federal student grant programs. You can also search online at sites like Scholarships.com to find scholarships and grants for college.
3. Review your financial aid letter: The schools you apply to will determine whether you qualify for federal, state, or school-based grants.
4. Accept any grants you're offered: Each school that accepts you will list the grant aid you're being offered in your financial aid award letter.

When grants and scholarships aren't enough

The gift aid offered by the colleges you apply to might not cover all of your costs. In these situations, your financial aid award letter will also provide options for taking out student loans to pay for college.

Before taking on too much debt:

• Make sure you understand your federal loan options and the different types of loans you might be offered.
• Think about how much you will earn after graduation and how much you can borrow without stretching your finances.
• Consider attending a public school in your own state or a community college with a lower average cost of college.