Federal Student Financial Aid for College
Applying for federal student aid is free; that’s why the application you use is
called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
If you need help completing the FAFSA, you can get that help for free too. You don’t
have to pay anyone for assistance.
- How much financial aid you receive depends on such factors as your financial need, the amount
of other aid you’ll receive, and the availability of funds at your school. Unlike
the Federal Pell Grant Program, which provides every eligible student with funds,
each school participating in any of the campus-based programs receives a certain
amount of funds each year from the federal government for each program. When that
money is gone, no more awards can be made from that program for that year.
- Each school sets its own deadlines for students to apply for campus-based funds.
The deadlines will usually be earlier than the U.S. Department of Education’s deadline
for filing a FAFSA (June 30th). Check with the financial aid administrator about the school’s deadlines. You might miss out on aid from these programs
if you don’t apply early. Contact your financial aid office
about the school’s deadlines.
What is Federal Student Aid?
Federal student aid is financial help available to students enrolled in an
eligible program at a school participating in federal student aid programs.
(By school, we mean a four-year or two-year public or private educational institution,
a career school, or a trade school.) Aid covers school expenses, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and
transportation. Most federal aid is based on a student’s demonstrated financial
need, rather than on grades. There are three categories of federal student aid:
Grants
Grants are financial aid
that you don’t have to repay. Generally, you must be an undergraduate student, and
the amount you receive depends on your need,
cost of attendance, and enrollment status (full time or part time). The
maximum amount a student can receive in Federal Pell Grant money for the 2012-2013 award year (July
1, 2012, to June 30, 2013) is $5,550. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs)
range from $100 to $4,000.
Work-Study
Work-study offers you the opportunity to earn money while you’re enrolled in school
to help pay your educational expenses. The Federal Work-Study Program encourages work in the local community
and work related to your course of study, whenever possible. You can be an undergraduate
or graduate student to qualify.
Loans
Loans, whether they are private or federal, are borrowed money you must repay with
interest. You can be an undergraduate or graduate student. Parents may also borrow
to pay for the educational expenses of their dependent undergraduate students. Maximum
loan amounts depend on your grade level in school.
Federal Perkins
Loans are offered by participating schools to students who demonstrate the
greatest financial need. (Federal Pell Grant recipients get top priority.) You repay
the loan to your school.
Stafford Loans
are lent to undergraduate and graduate school students, and PLUS Loans are lent to graduate school
students and parents of dependent undergraduate students through the William D.
Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. Eligible students and parents borrow
directly from the federal government at participating schools, and you repay these
loans to the U.S. Department of Education.
Who gets Federal Student Aid?
The Department of Education stipulates that to be eligible, you must
- Be a U.S. citizen or
eligible noncitizen with a valid Social Security number. Demonstrate by one
of the following means that you are qualified to obtain a postsecondary education:
- Demonstrate by one of the following means that you are qualified to obtain a postsecondary
education:
- Enroll in an eligible
program as a regular
student seeking a degree or certificate.
- Register (or have registered) with the Selective Service if you’re a male between
18 and 25.
How do you apply for Federal Student Aid? Follow these three steps:
1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
You can apply beginning January 1st prior to the academic year for which you are applying,
and you have until June 30 of the following year to submit your FAFSA. Be sure to check the FAFSA for the list of
deadlines for state aid.
Schools and states often set deadlines early in the calendar year. These must be
met to receive certain types of funds. Apply as early as you can. You don’t want
to miss out on any source of aid!
2. Review your Student Aid Report (SAR)
Based on whether you have submitted a paper or an electronic FAFSA, the Department of Education will send you either a paper SAR or an
electronic SAR via the Internet. The SAR confirms the information reported on your FAFSA and will contain your
Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is a measure of your family’s financial
strength and is used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid. To receive
your aid, you must have a complete and correct SAR.
3. Contact the school(s) you may attend
Speak with the financial aid office staff at the school(s) you’re interested in attending. Make sure they have all the information they need to determine your eligibility.
The financial aid administrator will review your SAR, and if you’re eligible, will
prepare a letter outlining the amount of aid (from all sources) the school will
offer you
Federal Student Aid Summary
The following is a summary of Federal Student Aid programs that will help you pay
for school. Check with your school to find out which programs your school participates
in.
|
Federal Student Aid Program
|
Type Of Aid
|
Program Details
|
Annual Maximum
Award Limits
|
|
Federal Pell Grant
|
Grant: does not have to be repaid
|
Available almost exclusively to undergraduates; all eligible students will receive
the Federal Pell Grant amounts they qualify for
|
$5,350 for 2009-2010; may change annually depending on funding
|
|
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
|
Grant: does not have to be repaid
|
For undergraduates with exceptional financial need; priority is given to Federal
Pell Grant recipients; funds depend on availability at school
|
$4,000
|
|
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH)
|
Grant: does not have to be repaid
|
For undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate school students planning to teach
an in-need subject—for at least four years—in a school that serves students from
low-income families.
|
$4,000
|
|
Academic Competitiveness Grant
|
Grant: does not have to be repaid
|
For first and second year undergraduates who are eligible for a Pell Grant and who
have successfully completed a rigorous high school program.
|
Up to $750 for the first academic year of study and up to $1,300 for the second
academic year of study
|
|
The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART
Grant)
|
Grant: does not have to be repaid
|
For third and fourth year undergraduates eligible for a Pell Grant and majoring
in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering
or in a foreign language critical to national security.
|
$4,000
|
|
Federal Work-Study
|
Money is earned while attending school; does not have to be repaid
|
For undergraduate and graduate students; jobs can be on campus or off campus; students
are paid at least minimum wage
|
No annual maximum
|
|
Federal Perkins Loan
|
Loan: must be repaid
|
Five percent loans for both undergraduate and graduate students; payment is owed
to the school that made the loan
|
$5,500 for undergraduate students; $8,000 for graduate students
|
|
Subsidized FFEL or Direct Stafford Loan
|
Loan: must be repaid
|
Subsidized: U.S. Department of Education pays interest while borrower is
in school and during grace and deferment periods
|
$3,500 to $8,500, depending on grade level
|
|
Unsubsidized FFEL or Direct Stafford Loan
|
Loan: must be repaid
|
Unsubsidized: Borrower is responsible for interest during life of the loan
|
$5,500 to $20,500, depending on grade level (includes any subsidized amounts received
for the same period)
|
|
Federal PLUS Loan
|
Loan: must be repaid
|
Available to parents of dependent undergraduate students
|
Cost of attendance minus any other financial aid the student receives
|
Frequently Requested Telephone Numbers
|
General information about the federal student aid programs, assistance in completing
the FAFSA, and information about FAFSA on the Web are available through the Federal
Student Aid Information Center
|
1-800-4-FED-AID
(1-800-433-3243)
|
|
TTY users (for the hearing-impaired) can call
|
1-800-730-8913
|
|
Callers in locations without access to 800 numbers may call (this is not a toll-free
number)
|
1-319-337-5665
|
|
To report fraud, waste, or abuse involving federal student aid funds
|
1-800-MIS-USED
(1-800-647-8733)
|
|
Information on the Direct Consolidation Loan Program
|
1-800-557-7392
|
|
TTY number for Direct Consolidation Loan information
|
1-800-557-7395
|
Useful Web Sites
|
FAFSA on the Web (info & technical assistance)
|
www.fafsa.ed.gov
|
|
Help in completing the FAFSA
|
www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/FAFSA/
|
|
Federal school codes (used to complete the FAFSA)
|
www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/FSLookupServlet
|
|
Federal government resources for education
|
students.gov/
|
|
College Opportunities Online (COOL database)
|
www.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool/
|
|
U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook
|
www.bls.gov/oco/
|
State Agency Telephone Numbers
These agencies provide information on state education programs, colleges and universities,
student aid assistance programs, grants, scholarships, continuing education programs,
career opportunities, and some guaranty agencies. You can search the U.S. Department
of Education’s database at
www.studentaid.ed.gov, for contact information and Web site addresses. At
the site, click on "Funding," then click on "State aid." You can also contact the
agency by calling the telephone number listed below:
|
Alabama
|
1-334-242-1998
|
|
Alaska
|
1-800-441-2962
|
|
Arizona
|
1-602-258-2435
|
|
Arkansas
|
1-800-547-8839
|
|
California
|
1-888-224-7268
|
|
Colorado
|
1-303-866-2723
|
|
Connecticut
|
1-860-947-1855
|
|
Delaware
|
1-800-292-7935
|
|
District of Columbia
|
1-202-727-6436
|
|
Florida
|
1-888-827-2004
|
|
Georgia
|
1-770-724-9030 (Hope Scholarship/Tuition Eq. Grant)
|
|
|
1-404-656-5969 (Robert C. Byrd Scholarship information)
|
|
Hawaii
|
1-808-956-8213
|
|
Idaho
|
1-208-334-2270
|
|
Illinois
|
1-800-899-4722
|
|
Indiana
|
1-317-232-2350
|
|
Iowa
|
1-800-383-4222
|
|
Kansas
|
1-785-296-3421
|
|
Kentucky
|
1-800-928-8926
|
|
Lousiana
|
1-800-259-5626
|
|
Maine
|
1-800-228-3734
|
|
Maryland
|
1-410-260-4565
|
|
Massachusetts
|
1-617-994-6950
|
|
Michigan
|
1-877-323-2287
|
|
Minnesota
|
1-800-657-3866
|
|
Mississippi
|
1-601-432-6997
|
|
Missouri
|
1-800-473-6757
|
|
Montana
|
1-800-537-7508
|
|
Nebraska
|
1-402-471-2847
|
|
Nevada
|
1-702-486-7330
|
|
New Hampshire
|
1-603-271-2555
|
|
New Jersey
|
1-800-792-8670
|
|
New Mexico
|
1-800-279-9777
|
|
New York
|
1-888-697-4372
|
|
North Carolina
|
1-919-549-8614
|
|
North Dakota
|
1-701-328-4114
|
|
Ohio
|
1-888-833-1133
|
|
Oklahoma
|
1-800-858-1840
|
|
Oregon
|
1-800-452-8807
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
1-800-692-7392 (loan information)
|
|
|
1-800-692-7435 (state grants)
|
|
Rhode Island
|
1-800-922-9855
|
|
South Carolina
|
1-803-737-2260
|
|
South Dakota
|
1-605-773-3455
|
|
Tennessee
|
1-800-342-1663
|
|
Texas
|
1-800-242-3062
|
|
Utah
|
1-800-418-8757
|
|
Vermont
|
1-800-642-3177
|
|
Virginia
|
1-804-225-2600
|
|
Washington
|
1-360-753-7800
|
|
West Virginia
|
1-888-825-5707
|
|
Wisconsin
|
1-608-267-2206
|
|
Wyoming
|
1-307-777-7763
|
|
American Samoa
|
1-684-699-1141
|
|
Guam
|
1-671-475-0457
|
|
Northern Mariana Islands
|
1-670-234-6128
|
|
Puerto Rico
|
1-787-724-7100
|
|
Virgin Islands
|
1-340-774-4546
|