Nationwide Financial Literacy Grant Program for Universities Takes Center Stage

The application process for Higher One’s annual “Financial Literacy Counts” grant program is now open for colleges and universities seeking financial support of their campus-based financial literacy projects and programs. Funding from the program is earmarked for a broad range of financial education programs, activities and initiatives and, for the first time in the program’s history, proposals that focus on peer-mentoring financial literacy initiatives also are encouraged.

Colleges and universities selected to receive grants will be awarded funds ranging between $2,000 and $5,000. Higher One received during the 2013-14 academic year approximately 90 applications, which resulted in awards to more than fifteen institutions for a total amount exceeding $50,000.

The financial literacy industry continues to encourage peer mentoring, while financial education initiatives rolled out on campuses across the country are showing some very strong promise in teaching young people about budgeting, saving, banking and other important personal finance concepts.

Higher One’s funding of campus financial literacy efforts comes at an important time in America’s higher education space, as student debt continues to climb substantially, with effects that are compounded by the high levels of financial illiteracy that plague today’s college students.

Institutions of higher education can learn more about the Higher One funding and application process here.