Learn 10 Ways to Make Paying for College More Affordable

Request a Grant

A grant is one type of financial aid you can pursue. The beautiful thing about grants is that they are usually not repaid. There are, of course, exceptions. Some grants require you to fulfill a service requirement; failing to do so may result in you losing the money you received.

Many grants are provided by the federal government, but you should also be able to apply for grants from your state government, private groups, or the college you are attending. Students who can demonstrate financial necessity are eligible for grants. Fill out the FAFSA application to apply for a grant.

Federal government awards include:

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity awards

• Federal Pell Grants

• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants

• Service Grants for Iraq and Afghanistan

Each grant has its own set of criteria. For example, the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants are exclusively available to students whose parents or guardians served in the US armed forces and died while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Apply for a work-study position.

Students can get financial aid through the Federal Work-Study program, which gives them part-time work to help pay for school. Work-study positions typically pay at least the federal minimum wage, but some pay more based on the type of work and talents you bring to the table.

Request a loan

A loan can be considered financial aid, but there is one crucial condition. You must repay the loan plus interest. Apply for a loan through the financial aid office at your school. It is critical to understand the repayment terms before accepting any loan.

For instance, how long do you have to repay the loan? What type of attention will it elicit? Is there a period when there is no interest? Before entering into any type of debt, you should be as well-informed as possible.