Types of College Grants Available for Married Students

The type of financial aid that you qualify for may change after marriage, but there are still many types of grants available for married students. If you need to fund your education using grants, you need to know which types of grants you will be able to get, even when you are married.

Your Income
For most grants, especially federal grants such as the Pell grant, you will need to use both you and your spouses income to determine your eligibility. To do this, make sure that you have your yearly tax files on hand and visit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, website. You do not need to pay any fees to fill this form out, but you will need your taxes, your spouses taxes, and your identification to complete the form.

The FAFSA application will be evaluated and sent to the schools of your choice. The college will use the application to determine your eligibility for federal grants. There are also other grants that you may not need to qualify for financially, but instead will need to meet the specific criteria set forth by the organization offering the grant. There are many grants that are available by filling out the FAFSA application, depending on your school and the state you are attending college in.

Career Specific Grants
Career specific grants are among the most popular for married students who do not qualify for federal grants because of the income guidelines. For example, the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant, also known as the SMART grant, is available to married students who have excelled in the field of math and science. There are also specific grants for teachers and those entering the nursing field, as well.

You will find that many grants are based on excelling in your chosen field of study. In order for married students to become eligible for merit based grants, a high grade point average will need to be maintained. Some grants are recurring, while others are given only once. There are many options for grants, as long as you persevere in your search for the grants that fit your grades and financial status.

Colleges for Married Students
You may also find that there are colleges that provide new students who are married with a special grant during their first semester. These grants are intended to help couples who want to increase their educational background pay for college, but generally will not pay for an entire semester. Many couples do qualify for other types of financial aid, especially during their first year at college.

The best option that you have is to begin by filling out your FAFSA. Both you and your spouse will need to complete the application if you both want to attend college using grants for married students. You can then talk to your advisers to find other grants, and search online to find grants, for married couples.