State and Federal Sources of Financial Aid Funds

The federal government provides $33 billion in grant aid to post-secondary education students annually. The aid comes in several forms:

Need-based federal aid:

	Federal Pell Grants
	Federal Subsidized Stafford Loans
	Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
	Federal Work Study
	Perkins Loans

	Federal PLUS loans (also known as Direct Plus Loans)
	Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (Also known as  Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans)
	Other parent loans
	Alternative Student Loans

In order to receive a grant from the federal program, your college must qualify to administer these grants. Check with your school’s financial aid department to be sure your school is a qualified participant. The internet site where you can fill out your “Free Application for Federal Student Aid”, (FAFSA), http://www.fafsa.ed.gov, provides great information about federal grant programs.

Another excellent site is www.student.gov. Click on their scholarships link and you will find a glittering array of scholarship possibilities from many different federal agencies.

Check with your state’s higher education authority to see what kind of assistance is available. Many states provide excellent scholarships and grants and often have special categories of award for women going back to school, minorities, and people with disabilities. Be sure to follow all application procedures and deadlines. Many colleges will not make up for state grants lost to students though late applications. Additionally, many states and private colleges administer need-based institutional funds which help round out financial aid awards.