State Level Education Benefits: Scholarships, Grants, Tuition Assistance
Higher education often comes with a hefty price tag. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost “of attendance for a student living on campus at an in-state public 4-year institution is $27,146 per year or $108,584 over 4 years.”
Pell grants and other federal student financial aid for college aren’t always enough to cover the entire cost of school. Fortunately, in addition to federal student aid, state-level benefits are offered to help alleviate the financial burden on college students.
Understanding State-Level Education Benefits
State governments play a vital role in supporting higher education by offering financial aid programs to help students better afford college. These benefits typically fall into the following categories:
Scholarships and Grants: These programs provide financial assistance that does not require repayment, making them an attractive option for students seeking to minimize their debt.
Scholarships are often merit-based, rewarding academic achievement, leadership skills, or other talents. Grants, on the other hand, are typically need-based, targeting students from low-income families.
You can find state-level scholarships and grants at the state and institution levels (colleges that offer grants unique to those institutions), such as the University of California, which provides the Blue and Gold Opportunity Program.
Under this option, California students with an annual family income under $80,000 (and who qualify for financial aid) systemwide tuition and fees “will be fully covered by gift aid (grants and scholarships) during the first four years at UC (or two years for transfer students).”
Tuition Assistance: These programs help reduce the cost of tuition for eligible students, often through direct discounts or waivers.
Some states offer in-state tuition rates to out-of-state students who meet specific criteria. In contrast, others provide tuition assistance for students pursuing specific fields of study, such as STEM or healthcare.
Loan Forgiveness: These programs offer loan forgiveness or repayment assistance to eligible borrowers, often in exchange for fulfilling specific requirements, such as working in a high-need area or serving in the military.
Loan forgiveness can significantly reduce the long-term financial burden of student debt. Many states offer student loan forgiveness programs.
A good example is the Colorado Educator Loan Forgiveness Program. In 2019, Colorado legislators passed a law to offer “loan repayment assistance on qualified loans for educators, mainly for those who serve in rural and hard-to-fill positions in Colorado,” according to the official site. Those who qualify can receive up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness annually. Many states have their own version of programs like this.
Work-study programs: These programs provide part-time employment opportunities for students to help them earn money to pay for college expenses. Work-study jobs are typically located on or near campus and offer flexible hours that can accommodate students’ academic schedules.
Qualifying For State-Level Education Benefits
Eligibility criteria for state-level education benefits vary depending on the specific program. However, some common factors include:
- Acceptance: You may be required to be accepted into a specific program to apply for certain college or state-level education benefits.
- Residency: Many state-level benefits require students to be residents of the state where they apply.
- Financial Need: Many programs target students from low-income families, requiring applicants to demonstrate financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Academic Progress: Some merit-based scholarships and grants require students to maintain a certain GPA or achieve specific test scores.
- Field of Study: Certain programs may be restricted to students pursuing specific fields, such as STEM or healthcare.
- Military Service: Veterans and active-duty military personnel may be eligible for additional benefits specific to their service.
Finding State-Level Education Benefits
Where do students find these options? The first reliable and comprehensive source of information regarding state-specific benefits is the official site of your state’s higher education agency or department of education.
These sites typically offer a variety of higher education scholarship or grant programs, plus eligibility requirements, application procedures, and deadlines. There are other resources:
College Financial Aid Offices: Financial aid offices at colleges and universities can help you learn more about that school’s programs and scholarships. Schedule an appointment with a financial aid advisor to explore options and get guidance on the application process.
Online Scholarship Databases: Many online platforms, including College Recon, aggregate information on scholarships and grants, including those offered at the state level. These databases often allow you to filter results by state, field of study, and other criteria.
Department of Veterans Affairs Offices: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website and state-level Veterans Affairs offices are excellent resources for finding specific benefits and assistance for veterans and military personnel.
What to Know About Applying for State-Level Education Benefits
To apply for state-level college benefits, students must provide documentation such as proof of residency, high school transcripts or equivalent, standardized test scores (such as the SAT or ACT), and proof of income.
In addition, individuals in the military typically need to provide documentation such as discharge papers, transcripts, and test scores to apply for college benefits.
Students should always complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for need-based financial aid programs.
Why? According to one source, “44 percent of high school graduating seniors around the country didn’t even fill out the FAFSA in 2022, leaving nearly $3.6 billion in free college grant aid unclaimed.”
About the author
Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.