Education Grants for African Americans

Obtaining a college education or a trade school education is a great way to earn more money. Most people who get some sort of educational training end up being able to earn more money. Another perk to getting more education is that it often puts you in a position to have more job availability. Those who have more education tend to be unemployed less often. Getting an education can be costly though, so it’s a good idea to consider education grants for African Americans and others who need assistance.

Paying for college and trade school in American can be quite expensive. There are a variety of educational programs to consider and they all vary quite a bit in what they will cost. You can go to a trade school, certificate program, junior college, university, etc. Within those areas there are public and private schools. Public schools will almost always be more affordable, because they receive funding from the state and federal government. Private colleges and schools do not get the funding from the government, so they can cost quite a bit more for students to attend.

Choosing a Path

Choosing the type of program you want to attend is the first step toward getting an education. In order to get education grants you have to first have a plan and know what you are going to do. Consider what it is that you want to do and what type of education it takes to get there. You can use the Occupational Handbook that is put out by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to help you with this decision making. You can read about fields you may be interested in, what the pay is like, and what type of education is needed to enter the field.

Once you have narrowed down what you want to study you will need to determine where you will go to school. If there are more than one options for this in your local area it is a good idea to visit them all, evaluate and compare to see which one will be the best option for you situation. Consider the time invested, costs, educational attainment received, etc.

Keep in mind that many opportunities are called grants, while others are called scholarships. The term is used interchangeably by many. Both grants and scholarships will provide people with money to get an education that they do not have to be paid back. They are not loans, so you will not have to worry about interest rates or ever having to pay the funds back to someone.

Paying for Your Education

Most people who attend college or a training program need some type of assistance paying for it. They either get grants or take out loans. If you have a low income you may be able to get grants, which do not have to be paid back. The first place for you to look for education grants is the financial aid office of the school or university where you will be attending. They will have information about grants that you can apply for, including those that are specific to that educational institute. Many schools and universities offer grants to those who may not be able to otherwise afford to attend. Contact the financial aid office to inquire about grants that may be available.

Federal Student Aid – There are also education grants for African Americans and others offered through the federal government. The federal government will review how much you earn and if it meets their low income requirements then you may qualify for grants to get an education. What they offer are called Federal Pell Grants. Unlike loans that are provided by the federal government to cover education expenses, Federal Pell Grants never have to be paid back. There is no interest and there are no loan payments. They are essentially giving you a chance to get an education without incurring expenses. The grants are provided by the federal government and will pay for the educational plans that you undertake. You can apply for Federal Student Aid online. They will take the information and determine if you qualify for grants and they will send the information to the school you plan to attend. To get more information or apply for Federal Pell Grants, click here.

United Negro College Fund – This organization’s mission is to help provide education grants for African Americans. They want to help as many African Americans get an education as possible. They have a member database that includes 37 historically black colleges and universities that they will help people attend by providing grants and scholarships. The organization was founded in 1944 and since then they have helped over half a million African Americans get an education. Each year, the organization gives out over $100 million in scholarships to those attending more than 1,000 educational institutes around the country, including the historically black colleges and universities. The scholarship application deadline each year is in April. To get more information and apply online, click here.

National Black Nurses Association – This organization helps African Americans who would like to become a nurse. They have a scholarship program that provides a wide range of grants that range from $1,000 and up to $15,000. The application deadline each year is in March. To apply, you have to be enrolled in a nursing program and have at least one year left of nursing school. To get more information and apply for the scholarship online, click here.

In addition to these options it is a good idea to check with local organizations. Check and see if your local chamber of commerce has a grant program, as well as if there are any local African American groups that will provide grants. Many city governments will also provide grants, so it is a good idea to check with them. There are usually many local opportunities for grants and scholarships, so be sure to ask around, and contact the local schools to see if they have information about them.

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