Completion grants for students near the finish
Students a term or two from graduating sometimes face a small unpaid balance that blocks the last steps. Some colleges run completion grants for that situation, and knowing how they work lets you ask before the balance stops your registration.
What a completion grant covers
A completion grant is college money aimed at students who have most of their credits and face a small financial barrier near the end. The barrier is often a balance that blocks registration for the final term, holds back a transcript or keeps a diploma from being released. Some grants also fill a gap left when a student has used up a scholarship's term limit or nearly all of the Pell lifetime limit.
The programs usually set out a few conditions. They often look at the number of credits remaining, steady progress, a recent grade average and a completed FAFSA. Each college defines these terms for itself, and some limit the grant to one award per student.
How students are found
Some colleges search their own records each term for students with senior standing and a hold on their account, then contact them with an offer. Others post an application on the aid office or student success pages. In both cases the money is limited and tends to go out early in the term.
Check your student account and email well before registration opens for your final terms. A notice about a hold is a signal to ask the aid office or the bursar whether a completion grant exists. Advisors often know about the program even when it is barely advertised.
A notice about a hold is a signal to ask the aid office or the bursar whether a completion grant exists.
What the college may ask in return
A completion grant often comes with a short agreement. The college may ask you to meet with an advisor, file a graduation plan, enroll in the remaining required courses or apply for graduation by a set date. These steps show the college that the money will lead to a finished degree.
The grant is usually paid to your student account to clear the balance directly. Keep the agreement and any emails about it, and ask whether the grant affects other aid you expect for the same term.
Steps to take this week
- Check your student account for holds
- Count the credits you still need
- Ask your advisor about completion grants
- Apply for graduation by the college's date
Who decides
Your college's financial aid office or student accounts office
If a small balance stands between you and graduation, ask the aid office whether your college runs a completion grant.
