6 Education Grants You May Never Heard Of

Because of the high costs of a college education, returning to school and earning a degree is little more than a dream for some people. Fortunately, numerous education grants are available that can help fund a college education. While most people know about the Pell and other popular government grants, there are also quite a few grants that are not nearly as well known. Here are some of them:

National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant

The Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent  (SMART) grant is designed for high school juniors and seniors who want to study science, math, technology, liberal arts, computer science or engineering. To qualify, students must also qualify for the Pell grant from the federal government. The award amount can be as high as $4,000.

Academic Competitiveness Grants

Academic Competitiveness Grants are designed to support high school students who are taking advance college-level classes in preparation for their college career.  The grants are designed for students preparing for a career in math, science, engineering, technology, foreign languages. To qualify for this loan program, applicants must also be able to qualify for the federal Pell grant.

Frederick and Mary F Beckley Scholarship

The Frederick and Mary F Beckley Scholarship caters to people who use their left hand as their dominate hand. The award is available for students at Juniata College in Pennsylvania who use their left hands. Other requirements for the grant include maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.39, minimum enrollment at Juniata College of one year and demonstrable leadership skills.

Jeannette Rankin Foundation Scholarship

The Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund offers grants for lower-income women age 35 or older who wish to attend college. Applicants must prove that they are driven and have a real plan for success, and they must meet specific low-income level guides to qualify for the scholarship.

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society Grants

For people of Native American descent, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society offers numerous grants. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $4,000 each year. To qualify for these grants, applicants must show their proof of American Indian descent and maintain a GPA of at least 3.0. Depending on the specific scholarship, students must be enrolled in a program that is based in math, science, computer science or engineering.

American Honda Foundation

Every year, the American Honda Foundation awards multiple grants ranging from $20,000 to $75,000. Grants focus on all areas of education, but are particularly focused on improving literacy and STEM education. Organizations seeking to implement programs focused on those areas may submit grant proposals to this education foundation four times a year.