Funding We can help make your education affordable! The Department's Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs are the largest source of student aid in America. If you're interested in financial aid for college or a career school, you've come to the right place. These programs provide more than $60 billion a year in grants, loans, and work-study assistance. Read on to find out more and to find out how to apply for this aid. U.S. Department of Education student aid is the largest but not the only source! You can find out here about other sources of federal aid and about scholarships. Nonfederal financial assistance programs and requirements often vary from school to school, so check with the schools you're interested in for information about state and institutional aid.

Student Aid Eligibility Find out what determines eligibility for FSA programs. Get a PIN If this is your first time filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and you haven't applied for a PIN (Personal Identification Number), you should do so now. Your PIN is what allows you to complete the FAFSA paper-free! You'll need your PIN to make online corrections to your FAFSA, including changing your name and address, or adding/changing the name of a school to receive your application data. The PIN is also your identifier to let you access personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems. For more information about the PIN, check out the "Applying" section of The Student Guide. Apply for Aid—Free! To apply for aid from our programs, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can complete this free form online here, without having to hassle with paperwork. Filing online is faster than using the paper version—you'll usually get your results in just a few days, especially if you have a PIN (see above). You can get FREE help to complete your FAFSA; that help includes “chatting” live online if you need personal assistance. Remember, the Department's assistance is always free; you don't have to pay us—or anyone else—for help. Transfer your MyFSA profile to FAFSA on the Web If you've already created a MyFSA account, click here to automatically transfer much of your MyFSA profile to FAFSA on the Web so you won't have to repeat this information when you apply. If you haven't created a MyFSA profle yet, we encourage you to click on the MyFSA icon in the left margin of this Web site. With MyFSA, you can create a personalized “folder” to record your career and college searches, track your progress in the college planning and application process, and much more! Student Aid Report (SAR) Have you already filled out the FAFSA and received your Student Aid Report (SAR)? The SAR contains the information you reported on your FAFSA. Here's a description of the SAR and how it's used. Your SAR must be complete and correct before you can receive federal student aid. Federal Student Aid Programs If you're eligible, the Federal Student Aid office has a variety of programs to help you pay for your college education after high school. Find out more about Pell Grants, campus-based aid, Stafford Loans, and PLUS Loans (parent loans) here.  For information on Consolidation Loans, click on the "Repaying" tab and go to "Loan Consolidation." Borrowing Responsibly If you decide to take out a federal student loan to help pay for school, you're taking on certain serious obligations. Find out what they are and how to maintain your account in good standing. Understanding Federal Financial Aid Our booklets Funding Your Education and The Student Guide will answer any questions you might still have. Funding Your Education gives an overview of federal student aid and is designed primarily for students below 12th grade. The Student Guide is a comprehensive source of information about the Department's federal student aid programs and includes more detailed information on the application process and student loans, for example. Whatever your questions, you'll find the aid information you need in these publications. Other Sources of Federal Student Aid We encourage you to explore other federal Web sites to find out about additional aid sources. For example, veterans and their dependents, students training in various medical fields, and persons interested in earning funds in exchange for community service may link to other federal agencies for program descriptions and qualifications. State Aid Even if you're not eligible for federal aid, you might be eligible for financial assistance from your state. Contact your state higher education agency for more information. Finding Scholarships FSA programs don't include scholarships, but they are available throughout your college education. You can find out about them and other nonfederal sources of aid in several ways, including contacting the financial aid offices at the schools you plan to attend and checking information in a public library or online. But be careful. Make sure scholarship information and offers you receive are legitimate. Don't get scammed: You don't have to pay to find scholarships. Check out our information on nonfederal sources of aid and how to avoid scholarship fraud. Sample Award Package Most schools will prepare an "award letter" that will inform you of the types and amount of student aid you will receive at that school. Once you've selected the types of aid you want to receive, that selection is referred to as an "award package." Financial Aid Wizard Explore your financial aid needs and options with a step-by-step process for calculating your cost of attendance and expected family contribution, and discovering potential scholarships and loans available to you. If you're planning on going to college in the future, we can't predict what you might be awarded then, but you can find out what you'd get if you applied this year. Use that as a guide as you prepare for the time you enter college. Tax Break Find out how the Hope and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits can help with education costs by reading IRS Publication 970, "Tax Benefits for Education." Saving Money for College Paying for college is easier when you can invest money in a Coverdell Education Savings Account (formerly an Education IRA) that will accumulate interest tax free, and when you can withdraw money from this account without penalty. Also, it's possible to put money into a state- or institution-sponsored prepaid tuition plan and not pay taxes on it until you withdraw the money. Reducing College Costs The typical cost of attendance includes not just tuition, but room and board, fees for special programs or activities, books, personal items, and traveling to and from college. Here are 34 tips for reducing your college costs.