The most common question I hear from women who are hesitant about going back to school is: do I have to do the FAFSA? The paperwork feels intimidating. Some women think they earn too much to qualify for anything.
Here is the truth: most of the biggest grants do require the FAFSA. But there are real options that do not. And even if you think you make too much, you should probably still file.
What Requires the FAFSA
| Program | Max Amount | FAFSA Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Pell Grant | $7,395/yr | Yes |
| Federal SEOG Grant | $4,000/yr | Yes |
| Most state grants | Varies by state | Yes |
| Most institutional scholarships | Varies by school | Usually yes |
| WIOA job training funds | Varies | Usually required first |
Grants and Scholarships That Do Not Require the FAFSA
| Source | Who It Is For | Where to Apply |
|---|---|---|
| Private foundation scholarships | Varies by scholarship | Scholarships.com, Fastweb, Bold.org |
| Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award | Women as primary financial supporters of their household | Soroptimist.org |
| Jeannette Rankin Foundation | Women 35 and older with low income | Rankinfoundation.org |
| Talbots Women's Scholarship | Women returning to school after a gap | Talbots.com/scholarship |
| Local community foundations | Residents of a specific county or city | Search your county name plus "community foundation scholarship" |
| Employer tuition reimbursement | Current employees (check your HR handbook) | Your HR department |
Why You Should Still File the FAFSA Even If You Think You Will Not Qualify
The income cutoff for a Pell Grant is higher than most people expect. A single parent with two kids can earn over $60,000 and still receive some Pell funding. Even if you do not qualify for Pell specifically, filing unlocks state grants with different income limits, school scholarships that require a FAFSA on file, subsidized student loans with better terms, and work-study opportunities.
Filing the FAFSA is free and takes 30 to 45 minutes. The only reason not to file is if you are confident you want none of those things.
The Best Approach
File the FAFSA and also apply for private scholarships that do not require it. That is how you get the most free money possible from both sides of the system.
Not Sure What You Qualify For?
My free grant finder takes about 2 minutes and matches you with every grant, scholarship, and training program available based on where you live and what you want to study.
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