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Recipients of educational grants don't have to pay them back, which is far preferable to student loans. In addition to various organizations, the U.S. government is a major source of grants for attending college or university. Grant availability will depend upon your desired field of work, previous educational achievements, and income level.
One well-known type of government grants for education is the federal Pell grant. People with low levels of income can qualify. The maximum grant amount was $5,500 as of 2010. Pell recipients may also apply for the Academic Competitiveness Grant, which supplies up to $2,050 over two years. There are high school educational requirements, and the recipient must gain a 3.0+ GPA in the 1st college year to receive the 2nd year's funds.
Certain employment conditions apply to some grants. For example, the federal government's Department of Education "TEACH" Grant requires the student to become a "highly qualified teacher" serving students in a low-income area within a "high-need field". To avoid penalties, students should not apply for a grant if they aren't fully prepared to meet a condition it specifies.
Some state government agencies also supply educational grants to state residents. For example, the state of Washington offers continuing education grants for librarians and other library staff. Some state education department web sites supply additional information on such grant programs. Keep in mind that not all educational grants pertain to college.
Determining your eligibility for various government grants may prove quite worthwhile. If you meet the qualifications and attend a relatively inexpensive university, it's possible to entirely pay for your tuition and associated expenses with grant funds. This is far preferable to years of large monthly student loan payments which often become burdensome.