Understanding What College Financial Aid Is

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Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career school. Grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable.

Check out this video to learn about federal grants, loans, and work-study jobs and how they can help fund your education.

Grants
A grant is a form of financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund, or you receive a TEACH Grant and don’t complete your service obligation). A variety of federal grants are available, including:
Pell Grants,
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG),
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants, and
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants.

Learn About Grants
Scholarships
Many nonprofit and private organizations offer scholarships to help students pay for college or career school. This type of free money, which is sometimes based on academic merit, talent, or a particular area of study, can make a real difference in helping you manage your education expenses.

Learn About Scholarships
Work-Study Jobs
The Federal Work-Study Program allows you to earn money to pay for school by working part-time. You’ll earn at least the current federal minimum wage. However, you may earn more depending on the type of work you do and the skills required for the position. Your total work-study award depends on
when you apply,
your level of financial need, and
your school’s funding level.

Learn About Work-Study
Loans
A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. If you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your school’s financial aid offer. When you receive a student loan, you are borrowing money to attend a college or career school. You must repay the loan as well as interest that accrues. It is important to understand your repayment options so you can successfully repay your loan.

Learn About Loans
Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to estimate your eligibility for loans, grants, and work-study.

Apply for Financial Aid
Federal student aid from the Department of Education covers such expenses as tuition and fees, housing and food, books and supplies, and transportation. Aid can also help pay for other related expenses, such as a computer and dependent care. Thousands of schools across the country participate in the federal student aid programs; ask the schools you’re interested in whether they do!

Apply for federal student aid—grants, work-study, and loans—using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. And remember, the first F in “FAFSA” stands for “free”—you shouldn’t pay to fill out the FAFSA form!

The FAFSA form you fill out should correspond with the school year you’re planning to seek aid for. For example, if you’re applying for financial aid for the 2024‒25 school year, fill out the 2024‒25 FAFSA form. Likewise, if you’re applying for financial aid for the 2023‒24 school year, fill out the 2023‒24 FAFSA form. If you plan to take summer classes, contact your school's financial aid office to determine which FAFSA form you should fill out.

You can estimate your eligibility for federal student aid and your Student Aid Index for the 2024‒25 school year with our Federal Student Aid Estimator. Be sure to use the tool before you fill out the FAFSA form.

Complete a FAFSA® Form
Aid for Specific Groups
Military Families
There are special aid programs or additional aid eligibility for serving in the military or for being the spouse or child of a veteran.

Learn About Aid for Military Families
International Study
Federal student aid may be available for studying at a school outside the United States, whether you’re studying abroad or getting your degree from an international school.

Learn About Aid for International Study
Other Aid Sources
Aid From Other U.S. Federal Programs
Besides aid from the U.S. Department of Education, the federal government offers a number of other financial aid programs. These programs include

education awards for community service with AmeriCorps;

educational and training vouchers for current and former foster care youth; and/or

scholarships and loan repayment programs through the Department of Health and Human Services’ Indian Health Service, National Institutes of Health, and National Health Service Corps.