Search for College Grants by Subject – Where the Main College Grants Come From

Grants specifically designed for students engaging in particular fields of study are plentiful and derive from several organizations and institutes. The most common and popular sources of college grants to help students pay for their education come from:

  • Federal government programs
  • State need-based systems
  • Colleges and universities
  • Private and public corporations
  • Private organizations

Popular Study Subjects that Provide Grant Money

The majority of grants for subject-based studies come from all the sources listed above, and are commonly distributed to students studying popular subjects including: Arts, Engineering, Mathematics, Nursing, Science, Teaching and Technology.

Grants for Students Studying SMET Subjects

If you are a student interested in pursuing a course of study in SMET subjects; science, mathematics, engineering and technology, there are several grants that you be eligible to receive.

  • The National SMART Grant is a federal academic competitiveness-based grant designed to assist academically talented students with an interest in chemistry, engineering, math or technology, who need financial aid in order to access higher education in these SMET Subjects.
  • Grants for engineering, science and technical related fields of study are available from professional organisations. Morris Udall Foundation Grants and National Science Foundation Math Fellowships are just a two examples of private grants that support financially disadvantaged and talented students.

Underrepresented Students are Supported by SMET Grants

Many academic subjects and disciplines remain underrepresented by students from Native American, African American, Hispanic and Asian backgrounds. Several grants are designed to assist and encourage underrepresented students including women and minority students’ participation in science, math, engineering and technology subjects. Popular sources of grants for students in this category include:

  • Engineering diversity grants – commonly provided by corporate entities in computer and technology related industries.
  • Math Grants for women and minority students – largely funded by private investors who seek to invest in talented students.

Nursing and Teaching

The two dominant high-need fields in the U.S. remain nursing and teaching. Enrolment in these professional fields of study continues to be monitored by government agencies in order to tackle the shortages and supply of academically qualified people to cover the public need. Students interested in pursuing a degree or academic qualification in nursing and teaching often receive ample amounts of grants and other funding especially from government sources, which cover most of their tuition fees and related expenses.

Nursing and Healthcare to Balance Industry Deficits

Qualified nursing staff is conceivably the largest healthcare shortage in the U.S., which stands to reason why a masses of financial support is provided annually by federal governments to encompass new nursing recruits into the healthcare system. Beneficial nursing grant subsidies, loan repayment programs and tuition waivers are available to women, men and minorities who pursue nursing careers to cut the cost (or in some cases eliminate the cost) of education and professional development. State based programs offer additional financial aid for nursing students, although many require you to work in a state run underserved hospital for a set period of time as a condition of receiving the grants after you graduate.

Popular alternative healthcare grants:

  • The American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the Emergency Nurses Association are two professional nursing associations that distribute need-based grants to its student members.
  • Students in can also apply for assistance in if they wish to specialise in specific healthcare areas such as grants for medical study, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

Grants for Teachers

The public education sector is always in need of qualified teachers, there are several government grant programs specifically created to provide financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students. Usually these grants are provided on a basis that teaching students, once qualified, agree to serve in a public or community based school for a set period of time. If you are interested in pursuing a teaching career, it will be worthwhile looking in to federal funded grants for teaching students and other teaching programs which can pay for some if not all of your education. Don’t forget to also enquire about local and state based financial aid. Many states provide grants for teaching students who continue to serve in a local education facility.