It’s a big investment of time, money, and effort, so you should carefully evaluate the school you’re considering. Choosing the school you’ll attend is one of the most important decisions you need to make. Another is how you’re going to pay for your education. To help you and other students, the U.S. Department of Education offers a variety of student financial aid programs.
It’s up to you to check out a school. Just because a school participates in the federal student financial aid programs does not mean we have endorsed the …

Helping Ends Meet and More
Financial aid packages for college are typically a mix of grants and scholarships, which you don’t have to pay back; loans, which you do; and Federal Work-Study, money that you earn through campus or community service employment during the academic year to help cover living expenses. As with all need-based financial aid, the first step in determining Work-Study eligibility is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1 for entry that fall. Many colleges have specific …