Financial Aid Basics

So you've decided to go to college. Great choice! A college education can open many doors in your professional and personal life.

College is an investment in your future and there are many ways to help pay for it. The first step is to understand your options and make the best decisions based on your family's situation.

Financial aid is money from different sources that’s used to pay for your education. Much like the college application process, you have to apply for financial aid to be eligible to receive any funding. Depending on the source of financial aid, the process could be a little different. Sources of financial aid include:

• The federal government
• State government
• Colleges and universities
• Community groups, including religious organizations, civic organizations, employers, private companies, professional organizations and service organizations.

People are usually familiar with the first three sources of aid, but they sometimes overlook the money available from sources close to them such as their church, an employer or community civic groups. Use the scholarship search to explore local and national scholarship opportunities.