Attending college is not a cheap endeavor for any would-be student. If you wish to attend college but have no idea how you are going to afford it then you need to learn about the grants available in the state of Connecticut in 2012. Knowing that there is money available to you that you do not have to pay back can make you breathe easier. Here we look at grants in Connecticut for 2012:
CAPS Grant: This is a need-based grant that is available to undergraduate students. The official name for the CAPS Grant is the Connecticut Aid for Public College Students Grant Program. The money for this grant program comes from the Connecticut Department of Public Education. The amount provided to each eligible student is dependent upon the needs of the student. The need is also determined by the college or university in question. The maximum total for this grant is $3000. To apply students first must complete a FAFSA application form.
Connecticut Independent College Student Grant Program: This grant program is similar in nature to the CAPS Grant Program described above with one major difference- it is meant for students who wish to attend private or independent higher learning institutions. Students need to show that they are at a financial disadvantage to apply. They also must fill out a FAFSA form.
Connecticut State University Grant (CSUG): This grant program is authorized by Connecticut State Law and it allows State University Trustees to give out up to $18,000 to help those who need financial assistance to get their degrees. The financial aid offices at the universities such as Eastern Connecticut State University and Central Connecticut State University make the decision about how much money to provide each student who qualifies for the grant. The CSUG is available to students who attend school both full-time and half-time.
Prospective students searching for federal and state grants and other financial aid programs available in Connecticut will have many considerations. The Federal grant and scholarship programs fall under these categories: Pell Grant; Academic Competitiveness Grant; National SMART Grant; Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG); Robert C. Byrd Scholarship; and the TEACH Grant. The primary State financial aid programs are: Capitol Scholarship; CT Aid for Public College Students; CT Independent College Student Grant Program; and the CT Minority Teacher Incentive Grant/Weisman Teacher Scholarship.
To apply to get a Federal Pell Grant in Connecticut, fill out the FAFSA. The Pell Grant amount is currently up to $5,350 per year. Eligibility for the Pell Grant is based on need. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident enrolled as a college undergraduate in Connecticut.
To get an Academic Competitiveness Grant in Connecticut, you must demonstrate need and show merit. You will need to fill out the FAFSA. The amount of the Academic Competitiveness Grant is up to $750 during your 1st year of college and up to $1,300 during your 2nd year of college.
The National Smart Grant is offered to students in Connecticut who show financial need and academic merit. The amount of the National Smart Grant is up to $4,000 a year for your 3rd and 4th year of college. To be eligible for the National Smart Grant in Connecticut you must also be pursuing a major in physical, life, or computer sciences, math, technology, engineering, or in a foreign language determined critical to national security.
The SEOG Grant in Connecticut allows you to get up to $4,000 a year. It is a need-based grant, so fill out the FAFSA .To be eligible for this grant, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien enrolled as a college undergraduate.
The Robert C. Byrd scholarship is another form of merit-based financial aid available to undergraduate students in Connecticut, and the amount of the award is up to $1,500 per year. You must file an application through your high school guidance office by April 1st.
Applications are available at high schools and at The Connecticut Department of Education.
To be eligible for the Federal Teach Grant you must show need and intention to teach. The award amount is up to $4,000 a year. Fill out the FAFSA to apply. If a student does not follow through with all teaching requirements, the total amount of the grant becomes an unsubsidized Stafford Loan with interest due from the date of the first TEACH Grant.
To get more information about the State financial aid offered in Connecticut, visit the website of the State of Connecticut Department of Higher Education.. Between the federal and the state financial aid offered in Connecticut, there are good opportunities for students to obtain school grants in Connecticut in addition to scholarships.
The state of Connecticut has grant programs that can be applied for to help to address some of the issues that need more attention in society. Let us take a look at some of the grant options in Connecticut for 2011.
Research Grants
The Breast Cancer Alliance awarded 18 grants for 2011 to fund innovative projects at leading cancer research institutions located in Connecticut, as well as New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The Alliance awarded five research grants, two breast surgery fellowships and 11 education/outreach grants for 2011. The grant money will also be used to fund education initiatives, free screening mammography programs for uninsured and underserved women and community outreach programs.
Grants for the Visual and Hearing Impaired
In the state of Connecticut there are grants available for programs and services for the visual and hearing impaired. These grants are available in varying amounts up to a total of $10,000 per client. The goal of this grant is to help this demographic of the population to fit more comfortably into society and to feel more a part of the whole. The programs that the grant pays for should open up opportunities for communication and recreation.
Grants Relating to Tobacco Use
There are new grants to reduce and treat tobacco use in Connecticut. This is not the kind of grant that you will find in every state. The grants for this purpose total $60,000 and are aimed at preventing continuous tobacco usage in the state. The mission of it is to promote and encourage healthy living for residents. In particular these grants seek to fund programs that concentrate on those who are of low socio-economic status and those with little in the way of education.
Solar Grants for Non-Profits
Connecticut announced new solar incentives for 2011 that are available for non-profit and not-for-profit organizations located in Connecticut. This includes charitable, educational, religious, artistic and scientific organizations. The two solar grants available include the ARRA Commercial Solar PV Program and the On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation (OSDG) Program. Both of these new grant programs in Connecticut are very generous.
The ARRA Commercial Solar PV Program is for projects between 50kW and 200kW AC. It is a state grant program that is intended for on-site solar power generation. The payout of this grant to the not-for-profit organization will be decided upon by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) and will be based upon a reasonably time to break even as compared to buying the electricity from the utility.
The On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation (OSDG) Program is for projects between 10 kW and 200 kW AC. This is also a state grant program that is for on-site generation projects in CL& P and UI service territories. The payout for this solar grant is something that will be determined by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) and will be based upon a reasonable time to break even.
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Looking for grants in Connecticut focused on playgrounds.
Thank you,
Lori Nacca