Grants

Differences between grants for college and scholarships

Both scholarships and grants for college are free money to help you pay for your education. Unlike student loans, you don’t have to pay back grants or scholarships, except under certain circumstances, like withdrawing early from a program or a change in your enrollment status.

The biggest difference between college grants and scholarships is that grants for college are typically need-based. Scholarships may be need-based or merit-based, which means they’re given out based on some kind of ability, hobby, ethnicity, religion, etc.