• middle / hs students
• undergrad students
• graduate students
• student loan borrowers
• parents
• middle / hs counselors
• financial aid professionals

Financial help for college

There is a lot of financial help if you want to take the BIG STEP toward more education after high school.

Many students hesitate to consider additional education because of tuition costs. If you think you can't afford more education after high school, you need to know that many students receive financial help from:

• their state,
• the federal government,
• the school they attend after high school, and
• private financial assistance programs.

There are different types of financial assistance available:

• Scholarships, which usually are based on good high school grades, good assessment test (like the ACT) scores, or exceptional ability (like athletic talent).
• Grants, which usually are based on financial need.
• Loans, which will need to be repaid eventually.
• Work programs, which allow students to earn money for educational costs and living expenses.

Your school counselor and the financial aid office at the schools you're considering can give you information about how to apply for financial assistance.

You can also use Internet scholarship searches or the local library to search for private funds.

Your state may offer a variety of financial assistance programs targeted to specific groups of students. Ask your counselor for the Web addresses and phone numbers of aid sources in your state and elsewhere and contact your state department of education.

Military programs can provide financial assistance and additional training. Apprenticeships and on-the-job training are other ways to continue your education.