Where can a 39 year old Hispanic veteran (US) get a college grant?

Question

I'm looking to return to school for my B.A. but the cash flow is very limited and loans can only go so far. I hear there's lot's of free money out there (grants) for education...

Answer 1

Fill out the FAFSA. Google for it.

However, if you are planning on going to school this school year (fall of 2008, spring of 2009) it's a bit too late, although you can still fill it out. But if you plan on doing it next year (fall of 2009, spring of 2010) then do NOT fill it out until after January 1st 2009.

Answer 2

If you are a US military veteran, your first choice should definitely be to investigate your Montgomery GI Bill benefits. Thanks to some very recent changes in the law, the benefits are better than ever. Benefits are payable for 10 years after your release from active duty.

You can read all about the Montgomery GI Bill at the site I've linked to below.

If, for some reason, you are not eligible for the MGIB, your options are pretty much limited to the traditional forms of federal and state financial aid. There seems to be a common misconception that there are special forms of aid that are offered to older students who want to return to college after several years in the workforce, but that's generally not the case. Some states and colleges have special programs like this, but it's far from a universal.

If you're interested in finding out more about the traditional forms of federal student aid (which you'll certainly qualify for, regardless of your age), you should start with this booklet - Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid. It's a US Department of Education pamphlet that explains all of the different forms of financial aid - not just the federal aid, but scholarships, grants and institutional assistance, as well. As you read through the booklet, you'll learn about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the single application form that you use to apply for just about any form of federal educational aid. (But not the GI Bill - that's a separate process, altogether)

Here's a link to the pamphlet: http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attach... - the GI Bill info is linked below.

I hope this helps - good luck to you!