Online colleges and universities have made it possible for millions of people to realize their dream of completing their higher education. Online education offers flexibility to its students, which is amiss in the traditional colleges. However, there’s one factor that acts as a deterrent while enrolling in online colleges and universities, and it is the college’s high tuition fees. Though there are several affordable online colleges, the most popular ones charge hefty tuition fees.

In a bid to ensure that students don’t miss out on their higher education, colleges offer grants to deserving or eligible students. Earlier, only traditional colleges offered these grants to its students, but recently, online colleges have followed suit, and have started awarding grants to their students too. Online college grants can be ethnicity-based grants, grants for single mothers, gender-based grants, or merit-based grants.

If you are planning on applying for online college grants, there are certain things you need to know so that the process transpires without any obstacles.

Determine whether you qualify for a merit-based or need-based grant
If the online college you are applying to offers merit-based and need-based grants, you need to determine your eligibility for these grants. Merit-based college grants look at the academic performance and achievements of the student, whereas, need-based college grants take into account the student’s financial condition to gauge whether they can pay the college tuition fees.

Don’t apply for every college grant
One of the major mistakes that most students make is applying for every college grant in sight. It is imperative that you approach this process with a clear strategy. You can find out about grants offered by local groups, or if you are absolutely sure about your major, check the corresponding department of the online college to see which grants they offer. If you apply to too many grants, you may get fatigued, and there are high chances that you might become less committed with every individual application. You might also end up making more mistakes.

Refrain from reusing essays
Certain online college grants require their candidates to submit essays on specific topics. So, do not harbor the misconception that you can submit the same essay for different online college grants. Your essay will reflect your goals and your efforts to secure a scholarship. Also, this might be the only opportunity to win that specific college grant. So, refrain from reusing the same essay for different online college grants.

Apply early and often
This is the cardinal rule when it comes to applying for online college grants. You should apply as soon as the online college announces its grants as this will increase your chances of receiving a college grant. In fact, the ideal time to start applying for online college grants is at least six months before the classes begin.