Do You Have To Pay Back Grants? (Usually No, But…)
Wondering if you have to pay back grants you receive to fund your college expenses? Here’s how you can tell the difference between grants, scholarships, and loans.
Robert Farrington is America’s Millennial Money Expert® and America’s Student Loan Debt Expert™, and the founder of The College Investor, a personal finance site dedicated to helping millennials escape student loan debt to start investing and building wealth for the future. You can learn more about him on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.
He regularly writes about investing, student loan debt, and general personal finance topics geared toward anyone wanting to earn more, get out of debt, and start building wealth for the future.
He has been quoted in major publications, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, ABC, NBC, Today, and more. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes.

Wondering if you have to pay back grants you receive to fund your college expenses? Here’s how you can tell the difference between grants, scholarships, and loans.

Want to be financially stable? Find out what it takes to improve your finances and achieve stability in this article.

Have equity in your home? You may be able to sell shares of that equity. Check out this Point review to learn more about how it works, why it’s better than a HELOC, and use cases where it makes a lot of sense.

It’s the worst scenario – your child forges your name and takes out a Parent PLUS student loan in your name. What can you do?

Hulu costs $12.49 a month with ads and Hulu + Live TV costs $99.99 in 2026. Compare every plan, bundle and the $6.49 student deal before you pay.

Want to know what your state’s tax rate is and what people in other states pay? Check out this ultimate guide to state income tax.

If you’ve used Aspire loan servicing for your student loans, here’s how you can avoid some common problems with the company.

Ibotta is a free smartphone app that allows you to get cash back on items you purchase. Learn more about how to use it in this Ibotta review

If you’ve used VSAC student loan servicing for your student loans, here’s how you can avoid some common problems with the company.

EdFinancial is a student loan servicer based out of Knoxville, Tennessee. They have been servicing student loans for over 25 years.

Wondering if you should start driving for Uber or Lyft. Check out our Lyft vs. Uber guide for drivers and riders.
The College Investor® provides the latest news and analysis for saving and paying for college, student loan debt, personal finance, banking, and college admissions.