Where Can I Find College Financial Aid? Part 2 – Grants and Loans!

Let’s face it, financing your college education can be stressful. Fortunately, students have a lot of options to finance their education both through their school and with external sources.

The most common are scholarships, grants, and loans. We covered scholarships in the first blog in this series, now let’s dive into grants and loans.

Grants

Like scholarships, grants generally do not require repayment. Grants are offered through the Federal Government, through your State, and even though colleges and universities. Grants help cover the costs of educational programs and other institutional costs for students.

Grants for college students generally fall into two broad categories, depending on the eligibility requirements.

• Need-based grants are awarded to students who have demonstrated financial need. Eligibility can be based on your FAFSA application or where you reside.
• Merit-based grants are tied to performance-like good grades and other personal achievements. Sometimes these grants are offered specifically through the school.

Certain grants target specific student populations to help them pay for college based on some existing circumstances. Examples include veterans, foster care youth, minorities, students with disabilities and students entering specific careers.

You can discover more information on grants by checking out the Federal Student Aid Grants website.

Loans

Federal Direct student loans are low-interest loans and are typically not based on credit history. There are different types of loans such as subsidized and unsubsidized loans, which have different eligibility requirements and interest obligations. Unlike scholarships and grants, loans must be repaid with interest upon leaving school or dropping below half-time.

Why Should You Care?

While looking for these financial aid opportunities may seem like a lot of work upfront, it ultimately can save you a lot in the long haul! If you can find a way to help finance your education, it can save you a lot of stress and money!

If you are still concerned about what funding your college education could look like, don’t worry. In addition to providing you with an admissions advisor, Herzing University provides you with a financial aid advisor who will work with you one-on-one through your education!