Having a rough time finding the highest paying college grants to fully pay your way through school? Don’t turn to student loans just yet, especially if you aren‘t aware of just how much totally free help is available out there. Here’s a few of the biggest, sweetest college grants you can apply for right now.
Avoiding student debt is smart and there are many companies and organizations ready to help you. Certain Fortune 500 companies, employers, and community-centric foundations hand out grants big enough to pave your way through school. Check out our list of top-paying grants and how to apply for them and get the funding you need today.
Never Take out a Student Loan with These Massive College Grants
American Honda Foundation
Many top-rated companies give away scholarship money for students in need. Few of them have the potential to pay for four years of college, so it’s wise to apply to as many as possible. The American Honda Foundation’s grants should be at the top of your list because they are a game-changer if you win. Honda hands out between $20,000 to $75,000 dollars to a small number of extremely lucky students every year. Your odds of success go up if you’re in a STEM or literacy educational field.
Annenberg Foundation
Living in Los Angeles County increases your odds at winning this big-ticket grant, though it’s unnecessary. The Annenberg Foundation gives out between $10,000 to $250,000 dollars to individual students each year. Their primary goal is to enable young minds and leaders of organizations to build a better Los Angeles. Check your local community for similar initiatives if you don’t land this grant, as many give out their own similar bursaries and grants to help you make your start.
Coca-Cola
Healthy people rejoice: you can apply for this ritzy Coca-Cola grant whether it’s your favorite soft drink or not. Every year, the company awards 50 students a total of $20,000 toward tuition. Another 200 students receive $10,000 towards their college degrees. Those amounts are enough to almost completely pay for any community college and some four-year universities in full. Coke also forks up a number of smaller grants, too, making them a good all-around choice for grant-seekers.
Benjamin A Gilman
Looking to study abroad while you earn your degree? Check out the Benjamin A Gilman scholarship program to receive an education without being tied down to your hometown. You must qualify for the Federal Pell Grant first, which is available to all college-bound students, so be sure to double-check the requirements before you start making plans. You can actually combine both grants to pay for most or even all of your education abroad. Travel, have fun, learn, and grow your mind!
Walmart
Walmart employees (including their dependants) can apply for a significant amount of educational grants if they’ve been with the company for over six months. It‘s easy and fast to qualify. Just enroll in (or at least, prepare to enroll in) an accredited university or community college before applying. This is a great opportunity to get a degree if you or a parent is a dedicated Walmart employee.
Dell
Dell is still one of the most successful computer manufacturers on the market, and that shows in their grant programs. The company continues to sell PCs while handing out college grants of up to $20,000 per year. So, what exactly do you need to get in on this bad boy? A minimum GPA of 2.4 — or at least a transcript showing graduation from an accredited high school. You’ll also have to enroll into an accredited university to earn a bachelor’s degree after graduation.
“Dude, you’re getting a Dell…” Well, a Dell grant, anyway!
The grants on this list are pretty incredible, but there are plenty more where they came from. ROTC scholarships from military service and college-specific scholarships can also be pretty accessible, and they all pay well, too. Keep digging for options and apply for as many high-value grants as possible to get your free ticket to earn a college degree.
