Hispanic grants are available for students planning on attending their first year of college or those going back to school. There are several different free grant money programs available for the Latino community which can help pay for a large portion of college or university fees, books and housing.

If you are a Latino senior graduate of high school with a GPA of 3.3 or higher, the Gates Millennium Scholarship is perfect for you. This free grant program is offered by Bill and Melinda Gates and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. This is just one of many scholarship programs offered by the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and it is geared toward Latino or Hispanic students that display good leadership skills and a desire for higher education. In order to qualify for this grant, you must have a financial need for it. This grant is based on both merit and finances, but it does not matter what type of degree program you pursue, as long as you have a high GPA and need the financial aid.

For Latino or Hispanic students with a GPA of 3.0 or above who plan on attending a two year or four year degree program full time, you may qualify for the Hispanic Scholarship fund which is available through the General College Scholarship Program or GCS. You must be a US citizen or a legal permanent resident to apply and competition for these awards is very high. The grant ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 and it is available to both graduate and undergraduate students, the stipulation is that this is the first degree of this type that you are pursuing and that you are in need and qualify for financial aid or assistance.

The Hispanic Scholarship fund also offers a Scholarship Grant to Latino students looking to pursue a degree in a science, technology, mathematics or engineering related field through the Proctor and Gamble Company Scholarship Program. In order to qualify for the grant you must plan on pursuing a full time degree in the US, have a GPA of at least 3.0 and display a significant need for financial aid through the FAFSA application. This grant is not available in all areas so you should speak to your student counselor and ask them if it available for you.

If you plan on attending college in the San Francisco area, you can apply for the Margoes Foundation Scholarship Program also offered through the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. In order to qualify you must be of Latino or Hispanic background, you must be a senior graduate of high school and you must participate in the College Connect Program. If you are approved the grants can be as much as $2,500.

The first step in applying for any of the above Scholarships programs is to fill out the FAFSA form. If you qualify for financial aid based on the results of your FAFSA application, then you should speak to your student counselor regarding any and all Hispanic Grants available to you. You can also visit the Hispanic Scholarship Fund website to find out what programs are available for Latinos and Hispanics and even apply for them online: http://www.hsf.net

There are many different options available to you, be sure to discuss them with your student advisor and apply to any and all grants available to you. College is expensive, that's why these grants are available and there is no limit to the number of programs you can apply to so long as you qualify.

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