A college education is a valuable asset for anyone to have. If you live in the state of Missouri, known as the Show Me State then  when it comes to money for college you may feel like exclaiming, “Show me the money!” in the way the character from the “Jerry Maguire” movie did.  In Missouri the majority of financial aid programs, and in particular the grants are provided to students by the Missouri Department of Higher Education. Let us take a look at the public education grants in Missouri that are available for those who are permanent residents of the state.

Charles Gallagher Student Assistance Program

The Charles Gallagher Student Assistance Program offers grants to Missouri students who are eligible residents. This means that they must be attending colleges or universities in the state and must have been approved for financial aid through a completed FAFSA.  Applicants must be attending school on a full-time basis to qualify for grant money.

This grant program awards up to $1,500 to undergraduate students. There is also a similar program known as the Gallagher Grant that Missouri undergraduates can apply for as an accompaniment to the assistance program. Through this grant applicants are eligible to receive an estimated $1,500. You must be able to prove that you are in need of financial assistance to attend an institution of higher education.

To be an eligible candidate for the Charles Gallagher Financial Assistance Program you must be a full-time undergraduate student who is studying at a post-secondary institution that is participating in the program. You must be working toward your first baccalaureate degree and you must be able to demonstrate that you need the money. You must maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the post-secondary institution in question. Those pursuing studies in theology or divinity are not eligible to apply for this grant program.

To start the process for financial assistance you must obtain a copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can get a copy of the form by dropping by the financial aid office of the college or university or by dropping by the guidance counselor’s office at your high school. You can also go online and print off a copy at the FAFSA website .

Missouri College Guarantee Program

If you are attending a two year or four year college in the state of Missouri and are studying full-time then you can apply for the Missouri College Guarantee Program. To apply you must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher. You also must have been involved in extracurricular activities during your high school years to apply. Eligible candidates will receive anywhere from $100 to $4,900 through this grant program.

Harry S. Truman Library Institute Undergraduate Student Grant

The Harry S. Truman Library Institute Undergraduate Student Grant, as the name says is suitable for undergraduates who are residents of the state of Missouri. Those who apply for these student grants must be permanent residents of the state. Applicants must be majoring in economics /historic preservation and must be attending or have enrolled in a college in Missouri. The amount of money awarded is up to $1,000.

Missouri Public Services Survivor Grant Program

This grant program offers tuition grants to dependent children as well as spouses of public safety officers or Missouri Department of Transportation workers who were killed or permanently disabled performing their jobs. This includes those who are involved in the construction and/or maintenance of highways in the state, as well as roads and bridges.

To be eligible for this grant program you must be under the age of 24 years and you must be presently attending or accepted for enrollment at a post-secondary institution in Missouri that is participating in the grant program. You must be a full-time student. This grant program is not available to part-time students. It is also important that you are a legal resident of Missouri and are a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen. It is essential to maintain satisfactory academic progress as is determined by your school. Theology and divinity students are not eligible to apply for this grant program.

Maryland is the Free State and the Old Line State. This is a state that does what it can to help its residents to earn the college degrees that they yearn for to enhance their lives. Some of the grants are need-based while others are merit-based. There are others that awarded based on your commitment to work in the same field as the course of study you are in. It is the Maryland Higher Education Commission that is responsible for all of the public education grants and scholarships in Maryland. Let us take a look at what the state of Maryland has to offer you in terms of financial assistance.

College Bound Last-Dollar Grant

Also sometimes referred to as the Last Dollar Grant this is a need-based grant program that was created specifically for those who have graduated from Baltimore City Public High School. This grant program can be renewed for up to five years that you spend studying in a post-secondary institution.

This grant awards in the range of $400 to $3,000 on an annual basis. Approximately 90 to 250 undergraduate students attending colleges in Maryland receive this award money every year. Those who receive $3,000 a year for their schooling would be eligible to receive $15,000 for a five year degree program.

To apply for this grant you must be able to demonstrate that you need the money to attend a post-secondary institution. Recipients must be accepted into or currently attending one of the nine participating colleges or universities in Maryland. These colleges include Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Frostburg State University, Morgan State University, St. Mary, Stevenson University, Towson University, University of Maryland College or University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance Grant

The Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance Grant (sometimes simply called the Educational Assistance Grant) is a need-based grant that current high school seniors and full-time college and university undergraduates working towards degrees are eligible to apply for.

To apply you must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form can be downloaded from the website found here- http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ or you can obtain a copy through your high school or college. You should file a FAFSA anywhere between January 1st through March 1st. The earlier you apply the better. Those who apply late will be placed on a waiting list. All majors and fields of study are eligible to apply for this grant.

If you are a dependent student then both you and your parents must be residents of the state of Maryland to apply for this grant program. You must be a full-time student taking 12 or more credits per semester at a two or four year college or university in the state. Courses that are being audited do not count as credit hours for the full-time status required to apply for this grant.

Financial need must be clearly demonstrated. Students with the lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC) are awarded the grant money first. The award may be renewed as long as the recipient maintains satisfactory academic progress. The Educational Assistance Grant awards anywhere from $400 to $2,700 to students per academic year.

Maryland Guaranteed Access Grant

The Maryland Guaranteed Access Grant (also known as the Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant) is a state-funded grant that when combined with money from the Federal Pell Grant and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is designed to help cover the tuition costs and related fees of attending a college or university in Maryland on a full-time basis.

The access grant is open to those students who are currently in their last year of high school who are taking a college preparatory program. To apply you must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You must also complete and submit the Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant application.

You must demonstrate financial need to apply for this grant and you must have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher. You also must be planning to enroll in a two or four year college or university following your high school graduation.

All majors are eligible to apply for this grant. You are strongly encouraged to have your application in before the 1st of March. Students who are approved for the Guaranteed Access Grant will receive anywhere from $400 to $1,000 through this program.

New Mexico is a state that is fondly referred to as the Land of Enchantment. A college education can be a stepping stone to greater things but it is a very costly stepping stone for a tremendous amount of people. If the money you have saved coupled with family money and student loans still has you coming up for short for money to pursue a college or university education then you should think about public education grants in New Mexico. Public education grants are grants that are state-funded and can offer financial assistance to those looking to attend a public institution of higher learning.

Before you look further into what grant programs are available in the state of New Mexico you should apply for federal aid. You do this by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. These forms can be obtained through your high school guidance counselor’s office, the financial aid office at the college you attend or online.. Once you receive confirmation that you have been approved for financial aid through the federal government then you can set about the task of applying for state financial aid for your schooling. The FAFSA is often the starting point for all types of educational financial assistance.

New Mexico College Affordability Grant

The New Mexico College Affordability Grant is in place to encourage students in the state who do not qualify for other types of state grants or scholarships to enrol in degree programs at public New Mexico colleges or universities. If you do not fit the eligibility criteria for other grants then this is the one you should be looking more closely at.

The Affordability Grant offers a maximum of $1,000 per semester and is renewable for the student as long as the student continues to maintain satisfactory academic progress.This grant money can be received for a total of eight consecutive semesters.

To be eligible you must be a state resident who is attending a public college or university. You also must be an undergraduate student who has filled out a FAFSA form and been approved for financial aid. To qualify you must be a full-time student or you must be attending school at least half-time (which works out to be six credit hours per semester).

New Mexico State Student Incentive Grant

If you have a substantial need for financial assistance and are attending a public college or university in New Mexico then you can apply for a Student Incentive Grant. In order to be eligible to receive grant money you must be attending one of these public post secondary institutions- College of Santa Fe, St. John’s College, College of the Southwest, Institute of American Indian Art, Crownpoint Institute of Technology, Dine College or Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute.

To be eligible for this public education grant you must be a U.S. citizen and a New Mexico resident. You must be able to demonstrate financial need. You must be attending school on a full-time or half-time basis.

New Mexico Student Choice Grant

The New Mexico Student Choice Grants are similar in nature to the Student Incentive Grants except for one thing- these grants are for New Mexico residents who are attending private post secondary institutions. Most state-funded grants are aimed at those attending public higher educational facilities but some can also be used to help those in private academic facilities.

To be eligible you must be a resident of New Mexico and a U.S. citizen. You must be an undergraduate student who is either studying full-time or part-time. You also must be able to show that you have a strong need for monetary assistance from the government to attend college or university.

The Heidelberg College Out of State Grant

If you attend Heidelberg College and are a resident of any state other than Ohio you may qualify for The Heidelberg College Out of State Grant. If you are accepted for this grant it can be renewed for up to four years as long as your academic progress is deemed as satisfactory. To apply for this grant money you must first fill out a FAFSA form as you would for any other grant that you were to apply for. Once you get confirmation that you have been approved for financial assistance from the state then you can move forward with applying for this grant.