Do grants need to be paid back?

I'm working on figuring out how to pay for college and was offered some grants in my financial aid package. Do grants need to be paid back, or are they more like scholarships in that way?

While both grants and loans are types of financial aid, they function very differently.

Grants, like scholarships, do not need to be repaid under normal circumstances. They are essentially "free money" that is provided to help pay for your education. The money can come from a variety of sources such as federal or state programs, or from the college itself.

However, it's worth noting that in rare instances, a grant might have to be partially or fully repaid. For example, if you withdraw from school before finishing your semester or if your enrollment status changes in a way that reduces your eligibility for certain types of funding, you might have to repay part or all of a grant. The specifics would depend on the circumstances and the specific grant.

Always make sure you are fully aware of any conditions attached to your grants so that you can adhere to them and maintain your eligibility.