Students and working adults who require financial aid to finance their educational pursuits may receive extra assistance in the form of scholarships and grants if they choose to enroll at online universities.

The University of Phoenix, a primarily online college, currently enrolls the most students who are receiving federal financial aid through the government’s Pell Grant program, the Clarion Ledger reports.  Using these grants for online college is a great way to make it more affordable.

Pell Grant recipients are selected based on their expected family contribution, the cost of attendance at their institution of choice and whether the student is attending school full or part time, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

As many adult learners are no longer dependents, they are unlikely to benefit from family contributions. Additionally, tuition costs at online colleges are typically lower than those at brick-and-mortar universities. As a result, professionals who choose to further their education through online degree programs may be likely to receive college grants.

The Ledger reports that 82 percent of first-year, full-time students enrolled in Virginia College – which provides several online education options – were Pell Grant recipients. Conversely, only 55 percent of students at campus-based Holmes Community College benefited from the program.