Pell Grant

• The Pell Grant is the federal government's base grant for students in low-income families. You must be attending school at least half-time to receive a Pell Grant, and you must be working towards your first degree. As of the 2011-2012 award year, the highest Pell Grant you may receive is $5,550. The amount will be lower depending on your school's financial aid policies, cost of tuition and your family's level of financial need. Apply for the Pell Grant and other federal grants freely and securely at fafsa.ed.gov.
  
  

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

• If your parent died while serving the U.S. military, there are special grant opportunities for you. The federal government awards the Iraq and Afghanistan Service grant to students under age 24 who attended school or had enrolled in school at the time of a parent's death. The deceased parent must have died in service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. While you may obtain up to $5,550 each year through this program, this amount, when combined with other grants you're receiving, cannot exceed your full cost of tuition and school fees. If it does, the government will reduce your grant award.
  
  

FSEOG Grant

• The government awards the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) only to students who demonstrate extreme financial need, which is based on your family's contributions to your education. Because you have one parent or no parents helping to pay your college expenses, this grant may be perfect for you. You may obtain anywhere between $100 and $4,000 each award year, depending on the cost of your specific school and the extent of your family's means.
  
  

Other Grants

• In addition to the government, your own school, your local community and non-profit organizations also provide grants to surviving students. For example, the widespread DeVry University awards full tuition grants to surviving students of civil servants, rescue workers and military personnel. Specific states offer student aid, as well: the California Student Aid Commission pays grant money to dependent students of deceased peace officers, firefighters and other public workers. This is called the Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program (LEPD), and it awards up to $11,259 per student. The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) offers scholarships between $1,000 and $10,000 to students who suffered the loss of a parent for any reason. Apply for the LIFE Scholarship from February to March at lifehappens.org, and ask your state government and school about local grant programs for dependent surviving students.