Delaware is a small state in the nation but it has plenty to offer when it comes to those wishing to go to college and study for a fulfilling career. Attending college is not free by any means and often times students need help in finding the financial assistance they need to go to school. If you are a resident of Delaware then here we shed some light on the grants in Delaware for 2012:
Governor’s Education Grant for Working Adults: If you are a working adult on a low to modest income who would like to go back to school then this grant can be of tremendous help to you. Your income must fall into the range specified by the grant guidelines. To qualify you must be a U.S. citizen and also a resident of the state of Delaware. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and they must have either received a high school diploma or a GED. Before you apply for this grant you should make sure that the college or education center you wish to attend is a partner in this program. The maximum amount for this grant is up to $2000. Government employees are not permitted to apply for this grant.
Nursing Incentive Grant Program: If you are currently enrolled on a full-time basis in an accredited school in Delaware and plan to gain your RN or LPN then you can apply for this grant program. Students must be U.S. citizens and Delaware residents. Applicants must also rank in the top half of their class to be eligible for this grant. RNs that have been practicing for five years or more who would like to return to school to earn their Baccalaureate degree may also qualify for this program.
There are Federal, State, and other grants and scholarships, need-based and/or merit-based, offered in Delaware. The Delaware Higher Education Commission administers the many State financial aid programs that are available in Delaware. The state of Delaware has many universities and colleges, to name a few: the Delaware College of Art and Design, Delaware State University, Delaware Tech and Community College, and the University of Delaware.
You may apply for federal financial aid if you are enrolled at or plan to enroll at a Delaware university or college. To be eligible, you must be a resident of Delaware. Being a resident of Delaware requires living there for at least 12 months prior to application for financial aid.
To get federal aid, you must turn in a FAFSA form. FAFSA applications are normally due by June 30th of each year, but may be filled out as early as January 1st the year before aid is sought. Specifically for Delaware, the Delaware state deadline for the FAFSA is April 15th. It is a good idea to keep track of application deadlines so that you qualify for a financial aid package at the school you plan to attend or currently attend in Delaware.
There are 23 state-sponsored financial aid programs and 8 private scholarship programs administered by the Delaware Higher Education Commission. The 23 state-sponsored financial aid programs are as follows: 1) Scholarship Incentive Program (ScIP); 2) Educational Benefits for Children of Deceased Veterans and Others; 3) Governor’s Education Grant for Working Adults; 4) Governor’s Education Grant for Unemployed Workers; 5) B. Bradford Barnes Memorial Scholarship; 6) Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship; 7) Herman M. Holloway, Sr. Memorial Scholarship; 
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship; 9) Diamond State Scholarship; 10) Delaware Nursing Incentive Program; 11) Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program; 12) Delaware Teacher Corps; 13) Librarian and Archivist Incentive Program; 14) Optometry Incentive Program; 15) Speech/Language Pathologist Incentive Program; 16) Critical Need Scholarship (Professional Development for K-12 Teachers); 17) DIDER Partnership with Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University; 18) Delaware Institute for Medical Education and Research (DIMER) Loan Program; 19) Delaware State Loan Repayment Program for Health Professionals; 20) University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine SREB Regional Contract Program; 21) Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine SREB Regional Contract Program; 22) Academic Common Market (In-state tuition at out-of-state colleges); and 23) State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College (In-state tuition at an out-of-state college).
The 8 private scholarship programs are: Delaware Engineering Society Scholarships; Delaware Open Cross Country Championship Scholarship; Delaware River and Bay Authority Scholars Program; Delaware Solid Waste Authority John P. “Pat” Healy Scholarship; First State Manufactured Housing Scholarship; Kirkwood Soccer Club; Port of Wilmington Maritime Society Scholarship; Joseph B. Schafferman, and the Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund. In conclusion, there are many school grants in Delaware as well as scholarship opportunities in Delaware; despite the fact that Delaware is a small state in size.
In Delaware education grants are overseen by the Delaware Education Board. It is the Delaware Community Foundation’s Grants Committee that oversees all grants that are made for charitable purposes to non-profit organizations subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. Let us look at what is new in terms of school grants for the state.
Youth Mentoring Grant
A new grant that is available for 2011 is the Delaware Mentoring Council (DMC). This grant program will award up to $220,000 in grants to fund youth mentoring efforts in the public schools of the state, as well as for site-based afterschool programs administered through the community.
These grant programs are structured in such a way that the focus is on “mentor coordinators” who will then be able to offer support services for what can be described as sustained direct mentor to student relationships. This will serve students that are academically and/or socially at risk from grades K to 12. The maximum amount of money awarded to eligible schools is $10,000 or $3,000 to eligible 501c non-profit organizations. Do a search online to find out more detailed information about this grant program.
Governor’s Education Grant for Working Adults
The Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) and the Delaware Higher Education Office (DHEO) have paired together to create the Governor’s Education Grant for Working Adults program. This education grant is designed to assist working adult students who have chosen to return to school to upgrade their skills and/or to train for a new job.
Eligible working adults must be 18 years of age or older. They must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of the state of Delaware or an eligible non-citizen. They must be a high school graduate or a GED recipient. All students wishing to apply for this grant must fulfill these requirements in order to qualify for this grant program. The maximum amount given out to each student for one academic year, which is deemed to be July 1 through June 30, is $2,000.
