Even with all of the equality programs in place today, women grants are still necessary for many female students to fund their post secondary education. This is because women remain underrepresented in many skilled trades, especially the so-called STEM industries, or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields. Management and executive jobs in these industries are traditionally held by white males. Changes in regard to this disparity are being sought by federal and state governments, colleges and universities, and by businesses and professional associations. Many groups have minority “quotas” that must be filled in order to promote equality and diversity. In order to improve the lives of women everywhere and to inject their talents directly into the workforce, many groups and individuals offer women grants to help pay for educational expenses.
Women should be made aware that grants and scholarships are two different things- even though both provide free money for college. The difference is that scholarships usually only provide money for school-especially for high school students, recent high school grads, or undergraduate students that have not earned their first Bachelor’s degree yet. Scholarships often come with special requirements and obligations that must be met before and after the scholarship is awarded. Grants, on the other hand, have very few requirements, usually no post-award obligations, and can be offered for many different purposes. Women have obtained grants to start or develop businesses, to buy real property or improve existing property, to pay for educational expenses, or to fund research and development projects. But in the case of women grants for college, there are a few good places to start.
Finding the Right Women Grants
There are a number of grants that can be used for female students that are available from the federal government. By acting in conjunction with the US Department of Education, many colleges and universities are able to offer women assistance when they fill out a FAFSA. The FAFSA will make determinations for several grants, the primary of these being the federal Pell grant. This grant awards students with financial need up to $5550 for college, and can be awarded twice in one academic year to certain students who are seeking to rapidly complete a degree program. The FSEOG or Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant is usually given in conjunction with the Pell grant to students with exceptional financial need.
Academic Competitiveness grants may also be awarded via the FAFSA to students with special educational achievements. These can be funded by the federal government, the school of application, or both. Amounts vary, but usually will not be more than $1300.
Students that wish to teach at some point in their career may consider the TEACH grant as a form of women grants. This grants offers up to $4,000 each year to students who make a commitment to teach for 4-5 years in an elementary or secondary school that services low-income families. However, caution should be advised when applying for this grant, as obligations not met will result in the grant being converted to an unsubsidized federal loan.
Women can also find sources of grants from Foundations, Charitable groups, and civic organizations. These can be for women returning to school after a long period of absence, single mothers, or those from low income households. Some specific sources of these grants can be found at the Jeannette Rankin Foundation Women’s Education Fund, the American Association of University Women, and through the Sunshine Lady Foundation. Professional associations, businesses, and corporations also provide grants for women each year, although usually these are for different purposes. Namely, these groups usually seek to attract women to work for their industry at a later time, or to help fund research and development by female students in certain fields. Grants offered by professional associations can be researched with the following organizations: The Association for Women in Science, the Women in Engineering and Computer and Information Science Awards, and the Society of Women Engineers, Women Chefs and Restaurateurs.
Finally, local governments and even private individuals may offer women grants. In order to find these groups and learn how to apply, research should be conducted thoroughly and applications should be made often.