Find Scholarships And Financial Aid For College.

Campus-based scholarships and grants are provided by the individual college, school or university. Campus-based scholarships and grants provide the student with money for college that does not need to be repaid. Typically, you are automatically eligible for need-based and merit-based scholarships and grants from the individual school upon submission of your college application, however some schools may require additional forms.

Private scholarships and grants also provide the student with money for college that will not need to be repaid. Privately funded scholarships and grants can come from various businesses, corporations, organizations, and clubs. Each private scholarship and/or grant will have it’s own eligibility requirements and application deadlines.

FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) is your gateway to all federal financial aid available for college. You must complete and file a FAFSA to be eligible for federal financial aid for college. Federal financial aid for college is need-based and includes the following types of aid: Grants, Work-Study, and Federal Student Loans. Grants provide money for college that will not need to be repaid, work-study provides part-time employment to help students earn money while enrolled in school, and federal loans provide money for college that will need to be repaid with interest. The only way for a student to receive any of the forms of federal financial aid listed above is to complete a FAFSA.

State financial aid for college is similar to federal financial aid, but on a local level. In most states you are eligible for state financial aid automatically when you submit your FAFSA, however some states require additional forms, so it is important to check the requirements of your own state.

Private student loans for college are provided by banks and other lending instructions, and are credit-based loans. Unlike federal financial aid, private student loans are not need based. Experts suggest exhausting all other college financial aid options before applying for private student loans.