Where to begin to look for a government grant?

Question

Ok, i know that you can get government grants to pay for school and even living expenses.....but where does one even begin to look and/or apply for such grants? I want to go to cosmetology school but i can't quit my job because we just had a baby and my husband doesn't make enough money for me to go to school full time and not have any income. Any ideas on where to start? online applications for grants, or where to look? I live in Missouri, but would probably go to school in Kansas. All help is appreciated!

Answer 1

Check out Federal Student Aid Web Site or FAFSA http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

I suggest you explore all federal funding and grant options at the Federal Student Aid website http://federalstudentaid.ed.gov/  

You may also want to read the Handbook of the Pell Grant -- this is an 86 page document that contains everything about the grant

http://ifap.ed.gov/sfahandbooks/attachme...

Or you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center http://www.ed.gov/programs/fpg/gtepfpg.p... at 1-800-433-3243 and ask them if there are any programs for women of your age

Aside from FAFSA http://www.fafsa.ed.gov  and Pell Grant http://www.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.htm...  , you may want to explore private foundation grants

Also check out Fastweb http://www.fastweb.com

For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online http://gtionline.fdncenter.org . It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) and their opening blurb says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." You may be able to find grants from private foundations.

Answer 2

Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and apply. It will be based off your 07 tax return if filed. Then get incontact with your school's financial aid office to see if they need any additional information from you. They will then process your application to see if you are elegible for any grants they offer plus the Pell grant.