The Ins And Outs Of Applying For College Grants And Small Business Grants

Many students who dream of pursuing a fine education only have one obstacle to overcome and that's securing the funding they need to pay for it. Sure, filling out the FAFSA and applying for government loans and grants can be a great help, but a lot of students aren't aware that there is money waiting to be had in their own backyards by way of small business grants for college and other local college grants and scholarships.

Small Business College Grants

Graduating seniors who apply are eligible to win local business college grants and scholarships. The amounts aren't huge, usually between $500 to $1,000, but the money can be a tremendous help to students in need.

While applying for these college grants isn't easy, for a lot of students, the payoff is more than worth it. Many of the companies offering small business grants and scholarships, for example, won't allow students to apply for their award until they've enrolled full time to an institution of higher learning. Still others won't consider any applicants unless they've earned a certain GPA. A number of college grants on the local level also require that the applicant fill out a questionnaire and write an essay or two explaining why they're a superior applicant and what they intend on doing with their education.

Local Employers Also Offer College Grants

Many local companies and large national chains with local franchises offer the opportunity to apply for college grants with them as well. Students that can illustrate achievement and dedication to the company in addition to academic success are great candidates for these small business grants and scholarships.

Local Banks And Credit Unions

Banks and local credit unions not only hold a lot of the community's cash, they also hand out local scholarships to high achieving students in need. There can be a number of awards available, depending on how large the bank or credit union is.

College Grants From Private Groups

A number of college grants also require that applicants themselves or family members be involved in their group. A local religious organization like a church might offer a college grant to members of their institution. Students with family members in a local Elks Lodge or Knights Of Columbus and even The Masonic Lodge might also be eligible to apply for a college grant by one of those organizations. It's worth noting that a lot of these scholarships aren't public knowledge, so it's worth asking a family member involved with one of these institutions to do a little investigating on the student's behalf.

Here's a website that will let you understand more about financial aid.