The Federal Government will give college students who have filled out a FAFSA and are found to be in dire financial need a grant of up to $4,000 a year.

The grant does not have to be repaid.

The Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant provides funding for educational expenses to students with expected family contributions (EFCs). The maximum annual amount that can be received in a SEOG is $4,000 per student.

You must be a citizen of the US or eligible non-citizen, you must not already have a bachelor’s degree, and you must not be in default on existing student loans. You can receive a SEOG in addition to a Pell Grant, which has an annual maximum of about $5,700 in 2016.

Both of them require that a student fills out a FAFSA form (PDF Download 17-18 — Found Here), which is free (hence the name Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The grant can be paid directly to the school or to the student if he or she proves enrollment.

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