State grants for students returning after years away
Coming back to college after years of work or family life can open state grants built for that situation, and this article explains how they work. It covers who runs them, how they differ from traditional awards and what to bring when you ask.
Grants built for a return to school
Several states run grants for people who have been out of school for some time, including those who earned some credits and stopped. Some of these programs set a minimum age or require that you hold no degree yet. Many pay tuition at community or technical colleges and a few extend to four-year schools.
Traditional state grants can also serve returning students. Some have no upper age limit and accept part-time enrollment, while others are written with recent high school graduates in mind.
How your past record can count
A state may limit how many terms of its grant one person can receive, and earlier terms usually count toward that limit. The agency can tell you how many terms remain on your record.
Your earlier college transcript also matters for federal and campus aid. If you left with low grades or unfinished credits, the college may review your academic progress before paying any aid. Ask the aid office whether an appeal or an academic plan is available for students coming back.
The agency can tell you how many terms remain on your record.
Fitting school around work and family
Many returning students study part time, which can change the grants available. Some state awards require full-time enrollment and others prorate the amount by credits. Ask how the college counts evening, weekend and online classes toward your enrollment.
Employers sometimes help with tuition as well, and that help has to be reported to the aid office. The office then fits it together with state and federal grants on your offer.
Income from a recent job can make the FAFSA look different from your current situation, for instance after a layoff. The aid office can use professional judgment to review that change when you bring documents.
Steps to take this week
- Search your state agency's site for grants for returning students
- Request your old college transcript
- Ask how many terms of state aid remain on your record
- Find out whether part-time study keeps the grant
Who decides
Your state's higher education agency and your college's financial aid office
Some states hold grants for people coming back to college, and your earlier terms can affect what remains.
