As the costs of college and university continue to climb, students are finding it difficult to be able to afford their schooling.  In fact, many students are scared off by the soaring tuition fees as the thought of the debt that will inevitably accumulate throughout their schooling becomes a concern. Fortunately, student loans are not the only way to pay for your education.  Education grants are provided by the government to help America's young minds with tuition payments and other expenses.

There are many different types of education grants you can qualify for.  Potential students from a low-income household can qualify for one of many different needs-based grants, such as the federal pell grant, which helps underprivileged students pursue academic studies that would otherwise be unavailable to them.  These needs-based education grants also include financial aid for disabled students, students of minority, students enrolling in certain programs (such as health care, technology or photography), students of a certain age and more.

There are also merit-based education grants that pertain to students that show academic excellence or excellence in a related field such as the arts or athletics.  These are funds allocated to students who have demonstrated above average performance in a particular area of study or practice.  Students with high GPAs or exceptional athletic abilities will likely qualify for one of these merit-based educational grants.  Some of these grants include the National SMART grant and the Academic Competitiveness Grant.

Merit-based education grants are often mistaken for scholarships but the key difference between the two is that scholarships tend to have more rigid requirements for selection. Many students automatically dismiss scholarships from their financial aid options assuming that their grades make them ineligible, yet merit-based education grants base their qualifications on factors such as gender, race, sports abilities, artistic talent, field of study, and financial needs, to name a few.

In fact, a great idea is to apply for grants and scholarships simultaneously as there are no restrictions preventing students with scholarships from receiving secondary funding from an education grant.

Organizations that offer education grants  and scholarships include the federal, state and municipal governments, community organizations, private companies, unions, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, and potentially your employer.

Apply now for your education grant and don't let financial obligations get in between you and your education.