Most people use the following resources to pay for college:

• Savings

• Cash and Earnings- Current salary of student/parent

• Financial aid

Financial aid comes in different forms including: 

1. Grants- These typically do not have to be repaid. 

   • Need Based

   • Includes: Pell Grants, Teacher Education Assistance for College or Higher Education (TEACH) grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and service grants

   • Eligibility requirements vary per grant

   • May need to repay them if obligations are not met.

2. Scholarships

   • Need or merit based

   • Offered by schools, nonprofit organizations, employers, religious groups, etc.

   • Can be local, state, national

   • Tailored to more specific groups of people (FFA, NHS, tribal members, sports players)

   • Each scholarship has their own deadlines and eligibility requirements

3. Work-study programs

   • Can only work a certain number of hours.

   • Total work-study award is based on: when you apply, your level of financial need, your institutions funding level

4. Loans

   • Have to be repaid

   • Two main types: subsidized and unsubsidized 

First, your Student Aid Index (SAI) is determined based on the amount your family can reasonably be expected to contribute to your tuition.

The financial aid office will then subtract your SAI and any other financial assistance received from your Cost of Attendance (COA) to determine the amount of your financial need and therefore how much need-based aid you can receive. 

*Note: Your COA is the estimate of your tuition and fees, cost of room and board, books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, miscellaneous expenses, and other reasonable education related expenses.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Colleges and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.

You must apply for aid every year, but with the right information in hand, it's easy.

These are the basic steps in the financial aid process. 

1. Create your FSA ID on StudentAid.gov

2. Complete the FAFSA

3. Receive/review your FAFSA Submission Summary

4. Receive/Review your award letter from your institution (typically in the Spring before the upcoming school year)

5. Decide what aid you would like to accept and return your award letter (or confirm online).

Federal deadline: June 30, 2027

School deadline: Varies. Contact your college/university/tech schools financial aid office for more details.