Federal Student Aid

You’re considering education beyond high school? Whatever form this “post secondary” education takes—whether it’s university, trade school or community college—you have to be thinking about how you’re going to pay for it. The cost of education continues to rise. But if you’re determined to achieve the success that education beyond high school can bring, the investment is worth it. But that doesn’t mean managing these costs isn’t a challenge.

Federal Student Aid can help. Each year more than 10 million students are assisted with grants, low-interest loans, and work study programs. The information provided on this website will steer you step by step through the process of applying for financial aid.

Now is the time to take action. You may qualify for more financial aid than you think. But you won’t know until you follow the steps we describe here. Investing a little time now could pay off in a brighter future. Start right here, with this top level overview.

What is federal student aid?

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Federal student aid is financial assistance through the U.S. Department of Education that’s available if you’re enrolled in an eligible program as a regular student at a school participating in our federal student aid programs.

Federal student aid covers school expenses such as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies and transportation. This aid can also help you pay for a computer and dependent child-care expenses.

There are three categories of federal student aid: grants, work study and loans. Check with your school to find out which programs your school participates in.

Federal Student Aid Summary Chart

» View Federal Student Aid Summary Chart Here

Do you need help paying for college or for a career or vocational school? This website will provide information for the federal student aid programs and how to apply. The rest of the website provides more detail of what you need to know.

Most student financial aid comes from the federal government programs you’ll read about here, which the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid office administers. For additional sources of student financial aid go to www.StudentAid.ed.gov.

Beware of scams and services that will search for financial aid for you for a fee. The College Scholarship Fraud Protection Act protects you from this type of fraud.

Who gets federal student aid?

Eligibility for federal student aid programs is based on financial need and several other factors. Your eligibility is determined by the information you provide on the FAFSA.

Basic eligibility requirements

• Demonstrate financial need
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid Social Security number (SSN)
• Be working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program.
• Show, by one of the following means, that you’re qualified to obtain a post secondary education:
  • Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate.
  • Pass an approved ability-to-benefit (ATB) test (if you don’t have a diploma or GED, a school can administer a test to determine whether you can benefit from the education offered at that school).
  • Meet other standards your state establishes that are approved by the U.S. Department of Education
  • Complete a high school education in a home school setting approved under state law.
• Register (if you haven’t already) with the Selective Service, if you’re a male between the ages of 18 and 25.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress once in school.
  

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This content courtesy of U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, Students Channel, Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid, Washington, D.C., 2006.