College and School Grants for Single Mothers

With the cost of an education rising every year, its getting more and more difficult to finance a college education. There are many types of financial aid available including student loans, work study programs, and grants. In particular, single moms really need to take advantage of the free money offered by Pell grants. There are a lot of resources out there and single mothers can find grants from the federal government, state government, and private institutions such as colleges and businesses.

The Pell grant is a need-based grant for post-secondary education. Run by the U.S. Department of Education, the Pell Grant amount ranges from $400 to $5,550 to applicants that meet the requirements. Repayment is not required. The first thing that you need to do to qualify for a Pell Grant is to fill out and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (also known as FAFSA).

Qualifying for the Pell Grant is simple. Single moms just need to show financial need based on the “Expected Family Contribution” of FAFSA. Other criterion include having a US citizenship, high school diploma or GED, and the student must be an undergrad that has never earned a bachelor’s degree.

The maximum amount awarded for the Pell Grant is $5,500. The actual amount that a single mom would qualify for is based on the “Expected Family Contribution” and other factors such as the cost of tuition, college textbooks, room and board, full time or part time status. The greater the cost of tuition, the more the student will get to receiving the max Pell Grant award.

Most financial aid programs including federal loans have lifetime maximums on borrowing. Unlike these programs, the Pell Grant does not currently have a lifetime cap on awards. So long as a student is pursuing their first bachelors degree and meets the other eligiblity requirments, they can receive the Pell Grant award.

After determining if you meet these eligibility requirements, applying for the Pell Grant involves submitting your FAFSA application www.fafsa.ed.gov. Filing a FAFSA is also a prerequisite for other federal grants. Make sure the FAFSA is submitted by the deadline.

It is also important to note that receipt of the Pell Grant is usually in two ways. One way is a college may credit the funds to a student’s school account. The other is sending a check directly to the student.