How much GRANT money might I receive?

Question

Last year my parents made $53,000. How much money could I receive? I am 20. I am a dependent. And my GPA is 3.5 I understand that no one will know the exact amount of grant money I will receive, but does anyone know a good estimate that I will receive (maybe from your own similar personal experience)??? By the way, I will NOT take out loans. I only want to take grants.

Answer 1

You are correct in saying that no one will know the exact amount of aid you will receive; however, you should complete a FASFA appliation, which is the application for financial aid including grants.  Once you complete this, you will get an EFC (estimated family contribution). This number will tell you how much your parents should be able to contribute to your college education.  Now this number is generally higher than most parents can afford so the higher the number the lower amount of aid you will receive. But because you parents make 53,000 your ability to recieve enough grants to cover the full price of tuition is slim.  I believe the Pell grant is around $4500 for the year.  What you will be able to get are loans which are generally at a fixed interest rate.  I know you said you didn't want any loans but unless you find outside/school scholarships you may have to use them to fund your eduction.

Answer 2

$53,000 isn't under the categorization of poor. In fact, it's quite far from the poverty line. If you're trying to land need-based government grants, it would be difficult for you to get any. The government will prioritize those who come from families that earn around $15000 - $25,000 annually. But it wouldn't hurt to fill up a FAFSA form. You can do it online. You may also want to check sites like http://new.freegrantsearch.com

In addition, if you really want to avoid student loans, why don't you try applying for scholarships. 3.5 GPA isn't bad at all. Plus, there are so many different typesof scholarships offered, not just academic or merit based. If you have been volunteering in community service programs, or if you have been active in extra-curricular activities, you could actually boost your resume to increase your chances of landing a scholarship deal.

you could try this site: http://instantscholarshipsearch.com

Answer 3

In my experience, if your parents make $53,000, you are going to receive exactly zero dollars in grants.

I could be wrong and I don't know all of your circumstances, but I have seen my share of FAFSA's and I think you are not going to get any federal money.

So, since you refuse to take out loans, you are going to be paying for everything out of pocket.