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Financial aid
Financial aid comes in many forms. The first place to start is with funds that don’t have to be repaid — scholarships, grants and work study. Then, student loans can help cover the remaining costs of education.
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Post-secondary education — community college, four-year college or university and trade, technical or professional school — is expensive. Most students these days rely on financial aid for support managing the costs of school.
Most financial aid requires you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is financial aid that is federally sponsored. There are private scholarship and student loan providers, which typically have their own requirements and application processes.
Grants
If you’re getting ready to continue your education after high school, you may be looking for support with affording tuition and fees. Grants are gifts of money available to students based on certain financial and personal factors.
Scholarships
If you’ve done well with school or sports or are connected with a particular social or cultural group, you might qualify for a scholarship. Scholarship providers typically choose recipients based on an application process.
Student loans
With the costs of education rising, many students are turning to student loans to help cover tuition and expenses. Student loans are often considered good debt — but they’re a big financial commitment and should be used carefully.
Work study
Work-study funds are available to students based on financial need and do not have to be repaid. If you want to work part time while in school and use some of your income to cover tuition and fees, work study might be right for you.
