and Grants

The wonderful thing about scholarships and grants is that the money doesn't have to be paid back. Essentially, it's free money.

A scholarship is awarded based on merit. For example, a student might qualify for a math scholarship. You probably already know about athletic scholarships. A grant is awarded based on a person's or family's financial need.

The types of federal grants you could receive include:

It has been a long journey, but the federal government is now committed to fostering American Indian education from an American Indian perspective. These scholarship and grant programs can help ensure a meaningful education for you, and your Native school of thought will become an asset for the entire country.

You also should explore scholarship options from the American Indian College Fund, your local tribe, or incentives offered by some colleges and universities to encourage American Indian students to enroll.

Scholarships and Grants

Scholarships and grants also may be available through your state or through a variety of other organizations based on your field of study, hobbies, interests, etc. These types of grants are usually small, but you may qualify for more than one, which could help whittle down your overall cost. Small scholarships and grants add up!

For example, if you were interested in becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic and researched scholarships, you'd see that some paramedic associations offer scholarships to EMT students. There are also memorial scholarships set up by family members touched by the efforts of an EMT. These scholarships are likely to be small and very specific (must live within a certain state or county, etc.); still, they can help lower your overall education costs. Your college's financial aid office can help you find these hidden scholarship gems.

Setting aside a little time to research scholarships and grants could add up to big bucks. Still, your search could make you a target for scammers. Click here for some tips on avoiding scams, and click here for ideas on how to search successfully for scholarships.