Top Educational Grants Hispanic Students Should Know About
College education has become a double-edged sword today. Where a degree from a prestigious institution can guarantee a high-paying job, it is also bound to submerge you into heaps of debt.
As a minority that faces economic inequality, most Hispanic students struggle to pay for college. With so many other responsibilities, they opt out of college education to save themselves from debt. According to a Lumina-Gallup survey, Latino students are more likely to drop out of college than their white peers.
If you are a Hispanic student who’s worred about college tuition, you will find this article helpful.
Importance of Educational Grants
Money might seem like the only benefit of educational grants but there are so many other things that Latino students can also enjoy.
While grants and scholarships are often taken synonymously, they are not. Scholarships are given to academically gifted students. On the other hand, educational grants are given to those struggling with finances.
Due to the sky-rocketing inflation, almost everyone is struggling financially. In such a scenario, paying thousands of dollars of college tuition seems impossible. Therefore, educational grants can be a literal blessing. Here are some other benefits of educational grants:
- Students can focus on studying instead of juggling multiple jobs just to pay off their tuition.
- Having a grant lessens the likelihood of students dropping out of college.
- Mentioning a grant on your resume makes you look like a serious student.
Applying for Educational Grants
Before we get to the grants, let us discuss the right time to apply for these grants.
If you plan on starting college right after high school, then you should be looking into these grants and scholarships in the senior year of your high school. Most of these have tight deadlines, so you need to be aware of all the requirements well beforehand. Moreover, make sure to thoroughly research each grant before applying so that you end up winning one that your school does not participate in.
On top of that, since most of these have online applications, so make sure you have a stable internet connection while applying. Some internet providers offer student internet plans that are pretty affordable. On that note, you can reach out to Spectrum servicio al cliente en español (especially for Spanish-speaking students) for budget-friendly plans. While a stable internet might not look as important, it is when you are doing a critical task like finding funding for your college.
Now let us get to what you have been looking for.
Top Educational Grants Latinos Can Apply To
There are many different kinds of grants available but these are roughly divided into three categories; federal, state, and private grants. Here are some grants to look out for when it’s time to get into college. Some of these grants are specifically for Latino/Hispanic students, while others cater to all college-going individuals.
Let’s stop here for a disclaimer. Most grants do not cover the entire college tuition. Some might cover just the college tuition, while some cover a chunk of it. Bear in mind that there are other expenses related to college, like housing, transport, etc.
- Federal Pell Grants
These are specifically for undergrad students. It is an initiative of the US Department of Education.
To apply for a Pell Grant, you need to fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) which gauges your financial need. The maximum amount you can get from a Pell Grant for a year is roughly $7400. The grant amount is calculated according to the financial condition of the students.
- A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Grant
An FSEOG is a grant for students in dire financial need. If you are an undergrad student with zero Expected Family Contribution, then you will be considered first. The amount you will receive under this grant varies, but the maximum you can get per year is $4000.
It is also important to check beforehand if your college participates in FSEOG because not all colleges do. Lastly, you also need to fill out a FAFSA for this.
- Dell Scholars Program
Managed by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, it is a great scholarship for college students. Every year, 500 students are chosen to be Dell Scholars and are awarded $20,000.
To be eligible, all you need to have is a GPA over 2.4 and check out all the boxes for the Pell Grant. Not only that, you can also get career support, a Dell Laptop, and a Mental Wellness membership. You can learn more about the Dell Scholars Program here.
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund
The HSF has been helping students with financial and other resources to make higher education a priority in Hispanic households. Up till now, it has given out more than $500 million in the form of scholarships. You can get a scholarship ranging from $500 to $5000.
Moreover, with HSF, you can also get career support like internships and jobs and mentorship access. Lastly, the scholarships are given directly to students.
- Ascend Educational Fund
This is a great option for immigrant students or ones with immigrant parents. However, it is specifically for students graduating from NYC high schools. If you or your parents were born outside the US and you maintain a GPA of 2.5, you can get a maximum of $20,000 with Ascend Educational Fund.
On top of that, you have to enroll full-time in an accredited college right after your high school graduation.
