Your decision to apply to college is a very important one. You will be getting specialized training and education that can help you get the career of your choice. The biggest problem, however, is paying for this education. There is financial aid available to help you on the way to your future success.



Financial aid is simply the assistance you can get to pay for your education. This can be provided by a number of sources, including the state, government and private sources. It may come in the form of a grant, a loan, a scholarship or even work-study arrangements. Billions of dollars are given to students every year – meaning that half of students will receive aid for their education.

Most of the time, financial aid is given according to the financial need and the cost of the college. If your family does not have the means to pay then the aid you can get is known as need-based.

When it comes to eligibility, you must be a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen, be enrolled in an accredited institution, maintain a satisfactory academic level, not owe any loans, and be registered with a Selective Service if required.

There are also merit-based options that do not depend on the financial needs, but rather the skills of the students.

When it comes to grants or scholarships these are a type of gift that do not need to be repaid in the future. When you get a loan, these must be paid back – usually starting from when you leave school. And if the student is working part-time then this money will often be used to pay back the college expenses.

When it comes to working out if you are eligible for student aid then you need to subtract the amount that your parents will be able to pay for your attendance. Information you provide will help in the assessment of your family's finances, and factors are all taken into account such as the family size, number of family members in college, assets and more.

It is also important to determine the status of the student, whether they are dependent on their parents or classed as independent. If your parents are independent then only your income, and that of your spouse if married, will be taken into account when it comes to assessing how much you are entitled to.

If you want to apply for financial aid then you must make sure to properly fill out all of the necessary forms. This will help your needs be evaluated accurately, and make sure you read all of the application materials very carefully. You can also receive guidance from the financial aid office of your school.

Most vocational schools will make use of just one application for financial aid, known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is a four page form that will be available at your student finance office. You can also apply using the internet by the government FAFSA website.