Grants for College
Grants for College
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Grants are financial aid awards that do not require repayment, making them a valuable resource for potentially reducing educational costs. They may be ideal for first-time students, returning learners and those pursuing advanced degrees. By understanding the various types of grants for college and their eligibility criteria, you have the opportunity to secure vital funding to help achieve your academic goals.
Federal Pell Grants are awarded to eligible undergraduate students pursuing their first bachelor's degree who demonstrate significant financial need. These funds do not have to be repaid except under certain circumstances. You are no longer eligible for the Pell Grant if you have already earned your first bachelor’s degree.
To determine eligibility, the U.S. Department of Education uses a standard formula established by Congress to evaluate the information reported on the FAFSA. The formula produces an SAI figure. This figure, along with your number of credits scheduled, is used by the Office of Financial Aid to determine the amount of funds to be awarded. There is a maximum lifetime Pell Grant limit of the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters of eligibility.
As the federal award changes each year, please check with your student service counselor for current award maximums.
Spouses and dependents of law enforcement and correctional officers may qualify for a scholarship that covers tuition and fees. To be eligible, they must be enrolled in an approved career and technical education district, community college, university or private postsecondary institution. This scholarship is offered on a first-come, first-served basis for the 2025–26 award year.
Learn More About the Law Enforcement Spouse & Dependent Scholarship
Agreement to Serve
Each year you receive a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and Promise to Pay that is available electronically on the Department of Education website. The Agreement to Serve states the conditions under which the grant will be awarded and the teaching service requirements, and includes an acknowledgment by you that you understand that if you do not meet the teaching service requirements, you must repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest accrued from the date the grant funds were disbursed.
The Agreement to Serve also requires the following:
The Federal SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant) is awarded to you if you have financial need and meet the same federal general eligibility requirements as that of a Pell recipient. Students with the lowest SAI who also receive Pell Grants for the award year have primary consideration for this grant. As funds are limited, the selection process is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. As this is a grant, funds do not need to be repaid. The normal award is $1,000 per award year.
The Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) program establishes a federal-state partnership to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to students who have demonstrated financial need. Federal funds are provided to match appropriated state funds on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Each participating institution, public or private, provides institutional matching funds, which are equal to the amount of funds provided by the state for the LEAP program. Funds are dependent upon federal approval and may not be available for certain award years.
Learn More About LEAP
Federal grants for college are government-provided funds that do not require repayment except under certain circumstances. They are typically available to various students, including low-income individuals and first-time college attendees. These grants can help reduce the financial burden of tuition and other educational expenses, enabling you to focus on your studies. Familiarity with eligibility requirements and the application process is important for exploring these resources.
State grants are awarded annually to qualified students based on the state where they reside. Arizona state grant information is below. For details on state grant options outside of Arizona, contact your state’s department of education. Additionally, to learn more about GCU scholarships, visit our Additional Scholarships page.
The U.S. Department of Education's Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program provides grant funds to postsecondary students who are completing coursework that is needed for a career in teaching and who agree to serve for at least four years and within eight years of completing degree.
You must serve as a full-time, highly qualified teacher in a high-need field and in a school serving low-income students after leaving school.
If you receive a TEACH Grant, but do not complete the required four years of teaching service within eight years after completing the coursework for which you received the grant, or if you otherwise do not meet the requirements of the TEACH Grant program, all TEACH Grant funds that you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan that you must repay in full with interest to the Department of Education. Once a TEACH Grant is converted to a loan, it cannot be converted back to a grant.
TEACH Grant Requirements
The Arizona Teacher Student Loan Program (ATSLP) is a forgivable loan program designed to financially support and encourage private college students who are Arizona residents to enter the teaching profession and teach in Arizona. Students must enter into an agreement to teach in an Arizona public school for one full school year for each year that ATSLP Loan funding is received. The agreement will provide the conditions of the forgivable loan and information on promising to repay the loan if the teaching obligation is not met. GCU must certify that the student meets the minimum qualifications for the program. Loans are awarded to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis.
Learn More About the Arizona Teacher Student Loan Program
To minimize debt, and graduate with the least amount of debt possible, GCU encourages students to accept the most beneficial sources of financial assistance first, such as scholarships, grants, work-study (if eligible), student worker positions, and GCU’s interest-free payment plan options. Compare the terms of federal loans before applying for private loans. Please review the terms and conditions of student loans, including grace periods and payment plan options.