The world of higher education has changed considerably since Lady Mowlson gave Harvard the first ever college grant. Just go to the wiki and you can see the federal government offers the Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grants, SMART Grants, Academic Competitiveness Grants, the Federal Work-Study Program, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, State Student Incentive Grants and Federal PLUS Loans just for starts.
Education in pre-revolutionary days and even to a large part of the near past was impacted by the need for children to work family farms in the spring for planting and in the fall for harvesting. If someone wanted to learn a trade, they apprenticed themselves to someone who already knew that job. For those who could afford it, Harvard was pretty much the only choice for college and this experience was not one offered to the "under-privileged" classes.
Today there are a wealth of college institutions and what seems to be an almost equal number of grant sources. While that's not actually true, there are more out there than most students have even heard of. Sure, the Pell Grant comes to mind when thinking about grants, but thanks to the Department of Education there is a database service reserved for educational assistance. Future public school teachers can apply for TEACH grants, while other students can investigate private institutions that facilitate grants, as well as loan options, including National Direct Student Loans.
So, with all the information out there, where should a student start looking for the assistance they need to realize a college dream? Begin with FASFA4Caster, a service offered by the Department of Education. Students will create an account, their own MyFASFA, which will assist them as they navigate the financial aid options available for which they qualify.
A report by USA Today noted recently that there was an average annual cost of $15,000 per semester for higher education. Looking only to the Pell Grant - currently at $5,350 - is not going to cover a student's semester expenses. As with most things, unless a student has hit the lottery, or has the good fortune to have the last name of Buffet, Jobs, or Gates (and the family money that goes with it), some type of assistance will be required for that student to get a college education.
If you're talented enough to get into a school like Harvard, or even Harvard itself, you may find they are one of the few that adjust their tuition based on a student's need. Yet, every college and university, both on-campus institutions and those online, are staffed with financial aid officers who have been trained to assist students in finding the monies they need to go to college. While there is information on the Department of Education's website, students will find exploring this information on their own may turn up unexpected resources.
What will a financial aid officer do for you? How about helping you go through the mountain of paperwork that is often required? Or finding specific assistance for single moms, single parents, military veterans or Native Americans? One in four students going or returning to college are over the age of 25 and many are already working or have children or both. A good aid officer will have the experience to get you pointed into the direction you need to apply for everything that fits your individual situation.
Times have changed quite a bit since Lady Mowlson. 100 pounds won't go far at Harvard these days, however, there are other means of assistance that will. There are more resources now out there in the world so student can take college courses online for their degree. With some professional help and a little research on your own into financial aid, you'll soon have that degree in hand.
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