Your Guide to Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid is the key to getting help with paying for college.

Financial aid includes free money like grants, scholarships and work-study, as well as government loans that you repay. You’re likely to end up with a combination of sources, but you should always maximize all free aid before turning to loans. If you do borrow, choose federal loans before private options.

Financial aid: What's typical?

The type and amount of aid you receive will depend on what you’re eligible for. Here are the average amounts students receive and the percent of families using these sources, according to "How America Pays for College 2023," an annual study by Sallie Mae and market research firm Ipsos.

To help you navigate the complicated financial aid process, we’ve chosen articles below that address typical questions students have. They’ll even explain the jargon.

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Start by finding the description that best matches where you are in the financial aid journey.