What is Financial Aid?

Financial aid is money distributed primarily by the federal government and colleges in the form of loans, grants, scholarships, or work-study jobs. A student can receive both federal and college aid. Grants and scholarships are more favorable than loans because they don't have to be repaid--they're free money. In a work-study program, your child works for a certain number of hours per week (either on or off campus) to earn money for college expenses. Obviously, an ideal financial aid package will contain more grants and scholarships than loans.

More Information on understanding Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Process

While it is not required to apply for your FAFSA (Free Application for Free Student Aid) in order to attend a post secondary school, many colleges require it in order to be considered for scholarships, and it is required to be considered for student loans and grants. In order to get started, you will want to set up a FSA ID. Click on the link below to start this process.

Apply for FAFSA