Grants for continuing education can refer to a variety of programs and concepts. The first distinction to be made is that organizations that provide additional training to employees may be eligible for continuing education grants to cover the costs of that training. The grant is usually given directly to the organization, which may reimburse employees for training sessions or provide on-site training. In some cases, these grants are referred to as money given to people who are returning to school after a break, and while the majority of private grants of this type are geared toward single mothers, there are some categories that may apply to any returning student or someone seeking to meet continuing education requirements to maintain licensure or credentialing. When students transfer from a junior college to a four-year school, a final definition may apply; these are sometimes referred to as transfer scholarships and are usually based on academic success at the junior or community college.
Continuing education grants can be obtained from a variety of sources. They may be issued by state or federal governments, or by private organizations. The types of money and the amount of money available are sometimes influenced by the economy. Most people and applying organizations can expect to find fewer resources during difficult economic times.
When companies are looking for continuing education grants to provide additional training or fund employee training, they may have a few options. Libraries, for example, may be eligible for grants from the state in which they are located. Examining public or private programs that reward employers for training employees may also be a viable option. Large grantor agencies occasionally set up grants for small businesses or their employees to receive additional training that will result in increased efficiency, sustainability, or advanced technology use; private industries may have one or two such grants.
It should be noted that when it comes to grants for continuing students, US students should first look for more traditional sources of funding. Students returning to college may be eligible for Pell Grants, state grants, and a variety of student loan offers if they fill out a Federal Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Specific applications for continuing education grants may be easier to find through scholarship offices at colleges a person plans to attend. Another good place to look is the Internet, which has a number of websites that list free scholarship opportunities.
People looking for a grant to help them meet their continuing education requirements can look in a number of places. State aid may be available, and grants may be available through a person’s professional organizations, affiliations, or unions. The best place to inquire about transfer scholarships for a transfer student is the community college’s financial aid or scholarship department.
There are also continuing education loans, though they are less appealing. These will, of course, need to be repaid when schooling is completed at a specific time. They may be advantageous because they may exceed the state’s educational limits, and they are frequently designed for people who have had a break from school and now want to return. These loans are sometimes only available to single parents, but there are many to choose from, and they may have more favorable terms than standard student loans in some cases.