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Government Education Assistance

Article on Government Education Assistance

Going to college can seem impossible financially for many students today. Luckily, there is government educational assistance. This comes in many firms both from the federal and state governments. If students thoroughly research their options and the requirements for applying for this aid, a college education may well be within reach.

Standard Federal Grants

In some circumstances, federal government educational assistance is in the form of grants. Most grant programs are only for students with exceptional financial need. These are the Pell Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART). Another grant program, the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH), is given to those studying to become teachers who agree to work in a low-income area for four years.

Federal Loans

The most common type of government educational assistance comes from the federal government and is in the form of loans. There are three main types of federal loans that students can take: Perkins, Subsidized Stafford, and Unsubsidized Stafford. The university is the lender on a Perkins loan. For Stafford loans, the government is the lender. Subsidized loans are need based and the government pays the interest while the loan is not in repayment status. Most anyone can get an unsubsidized loan, but the interest is paid by the borrower. In addition, PLUS loans are available for parents.

State and Local Aid

State and even local governments often have grants and loans available for students. Some of these are applied for automatically when applying for federal government educational assistance. Students should check their state and local government websites each year for grant and loan programs that become available. Some are need based, but many are for education in fields for which there is a local need. Be sure to take note of any special application requirements, as these special programs may need an application besides the FAFSA.

Other Government Educational Assistance

Both federal and state governments also offer several paid internships and fellowships through different government agencies. For undergraduates, these can either be summer programs or last a full school year or semester. Not only will they pay a portion of school tuition, but also many offer a monthly stipend for expenses. This is a much better option for work than a typical college student's job, as it will provide practice in the field and looks great on a graduates resume. Get to know the agencies linked to a certain field of study as well as the state and federal department of education websites. They will be able to provide call of the necessary application information.

There are many types of assistance to pay for a college education from the government. Most grants and student loans can be applied for through the FAFSA. Other grant and loan programs as well as internships and fellowships are available through separate application processes but can be well worth the effort. Students should take the time to know all options available before giving up on college.