Individual Grants

• Individual state education grants provide financial assistance to residents enrolled in or attending institutions of higher learning. Such grants include the Cal Grant, available to qualified residents of California, and the Oregon Opportunity Grant. Formerly known as the State Need Grant, the Oregon Opportunity Grant provides funding for state residents attending a community, state or private college in the state. Iowa College Student Aid Commission is a state program that awards a number of grant and scholarships, including the All Iowa Opportunity Foster Care Grant and the Iowa National Guard Educational Assistance Grants.
  
  

Institutional Grants

• State institutional education grants are awarded to schools and educational programs throughout the country. The state of Minnesota offers a number of institutional education grants, including the Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Services grant. This award is available for the 2012 school year for the implementation of special programs for students who require additional educational or behavioral support. New York State provides institutional education grants for adult and family literacy services and public library construction, among other things. As of January 2011, Iowa is accepting applications for a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant program.
  
  

Eligibility

• To be eligible for the Oregon Opportunity Grant, students must be U.S. citizens or legal immigrants residing in Oregon whose family makes 55 percent or less of the state median income. Cal Grant awards are available to those who meet GPA requirements, attend an approved institution in the state of California, are enrolled at least half time and meet financial need requirements. To be eligible for the All Iowa Opportunity Foster Care Grant, you must be an Iowan foster care child aged 17 to 24. The Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Services grant is awarded to public or charter schools in the state of Minnesota.
  
  

Grant Amounts

• Total funding for New York State education grants for the construction of public libraries is $14 million annually. The amount awarded to a specific project is based on need. Cal Grants are awarded in amounts of $11,124 annually for University of California students, $4,884 for California State University students and $9,708 for students attending private colleges. Total funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant program in Iowa is $4 million. Award amounts are based on need. The maximum award for an All Iowa Opportunity Foster Care Grant is $7,330.