Financial Aid

Financial aid usually refers to tuition assistance from the government or an academic institution. This "institutional assistance" is usually paid from a college's endowment foundation, and is usually made possible by donations from previous graduates. Government financial aid usually refers to Pell Grants, Stafford Subsidized loans, and other programs that a student can apply for through filing a FAFSA report.

Financial aid is usually dependent to some extent on the student and/or family's income (depending on the student's age and legal status). Students with lower incomes, fewer assets, and higher tuition bills typically get the most financial assistance from the providing sources. Some schools are "need-blind" in admissions but unfortunately that sometimes means that they will accept students who ultimately cannot afford to attend.

In this section you will find free advice for tuition aid through government and university sources. Find out how to apply, when to apply, and why you should apply even if you're pretty sure you won't qualify for the more well-known programs.

Introduction Obtaining a higher education can be a costly endeavor, especially for international students. With the rising cost of tuition, housing, and other expenses, many international students are turning to financial aid as a means to help fund their education. However, navigating the complicated world of financial aid can be daunting, particularly for international students […]

John on February 4th, 2025

Introduction to Merit-Based ScholarshipsMerit-based scholarships are financial aid packages that are awarded to students based on their academic, athletic, or artistic achievements. These scholarships are highly competitive and are awarded to a limited number of students each year. They are often offered by colleges, universities, and private organizations as a way to recognize and reward […]

Institutional financial aid is a type of financial assistance that is provided by colleges and universities to help students cover the cost of attending their institutions. This aid can come in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs. Unlike federal financial aid, which is funded by the government, institutional financial aid is offered […]

John on February 3rd, 2025

Title: The Role of Financial Aid in College Admissions Introduction:Obtaining a college education is a significant financial investment for many families. With the rising cost of tuition and living expenses, it has become increasingly challenging for students to attend college without some form of financial assistance. This is where financial aid plays a crucial role […]

John on February 2nd, 2025

The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a crucial tool for students and their families when it comes to obtaining financial aid for college. This comprehensive guide will break down everything you need to know about the FAFSA, including what it is, how to apply, and what types of aid you may […]

Introduction When it comes to financing a college education, finding the right financial aid resources can be a daunting task. With the rising cost of tuition and fees, it’s important for students and their families to be proactive in researching and applying for financial aid. Fortunately, there are a variety of options available to help […]

John on February 1st, 2025

Introduction As the cost of higher education continues to rise, many students are looking for ways to offset the expenses through scholarships and grants. While there are many options available for financial aid, institutional scholarships and grants can be particularly beneficial as they are specific to the school you are attending. In this blog post, […]

Introduction Graduate school is an important step in achieving your academic and career goals, but it can also come with a hefty price tag. Many students rely on financial aid to help cover the costs of tuition, fees, and living expenses. While most people are familiar with the process of securing financial aid for undergraduate […]

Title: Understanding Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Introduction:Undocumented students face unique challenges when it comes to pursuing higher education. One of the biggest barriers is the cost of tuition, as most financial aid options are not available to them due to their immigration status. However, there are still some options available for undocumented students to […]

John on February 1st, 2025

Introduction As the cost of higher education continues to rise, many students and their families are looking for ways to finance their education. One option is to apply for state financial aid. Each state has its own programs and requirements, so it’s crucial to do your research and understand the application process. In this blog […]

John on February 1st, 2025

Maximizing Your Financial Aid Offer: Tips and Tricks As the cost of higher education continues to rise, more and more students are relying on financial aid to help fund their college expenses. While receiving a financial aid offer can be a relief, it’s important to understand that there are ways to maximize your offer and […]

Federal student loans are a type of financial aid provided by the US government to help students pay for their college education. These loans offer low interest rates and flexible repayment options, making them an affordable way to finance higher education. What Are Federal Student Loans? Federal student loans are loans provided by the US […]

John on May 27th, 2012

Understand the different sources and types of financial aid available to college students. Federal aid can take the form of grants or subsidized loans, and institutional financial aid programs will have their own need-based and merit-based policies.

John on May 21st, 2012

Learn about the top five ways to get more money to help with paying for your college and tuition expenses.

John on January 8th, 2012

2012 is here and that means it is time to start thinking about financial aid and funding for the 2012-2013 school year. Learn more about the FAFSA, why it is important, and how you can apply online at no charge today!

Federal financial aid applications for the 2011-2012 academic year are available online, and there is no reason to delay when it comes to completing yours. If you or anyone you know is headed to college in the fall, be sure to familiarize yourself with this application process.

Budget problems in the federal government could soon lead to lower Pell Grant awards for students in college. Several proposals have been floating around in Congress, and every one would freeze or slash spending on these financial aid awards.

John on January 23rd, 2011

Federal financial aid is the best source of free money for college students in the USA. Click here to find out more about how you can apply for free, online.

John on February 7th, 2010

Every year, some individuals and businesses try to profit from uninformed students who don’t know how to get started with their Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Fortunately, you don’t need to spend a penny in order to apply for this financial assistance program.

John on January 22nd, 2010

How should students prioritize the process of applying for financial aid, scholarships, and grants? Here is a time frame for helping students put funding opportunities in the right order of importance.

John on January 2nd, 2010

A new year marks a new season for federal financial aid. All college students should spend a bit of time ensuring their FAFSA profiles are up to date for 2010!

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has often been criticised for inefficiency and redundancy – but thanks to some recent reforms the process may become easier than ever.

Some college scholarships and university endowment funds are sharing troubles with the banks and finance houses that invest money for colleges and provide cash for financial aid opportunities.

John on January 23rd, 2009

Almost a month has passed since federal financial aid applications became available, but it isn’t too late for students to register to complete a FAFSA profile online. But, just because the final deadline is still a few months out doesn’t mean it would be a safe plan to wait much longer before completing the necessary paperwork. In all probability, all of the free federal money will be spent or allocated by the official June deadline date.

John on January 2nd, 2009

2009 FAFSA applications – tips and advice. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is your ticket to free money for college courtesy of the federal government. Click here to learn more about filling for financial aid in 2009

John on November 18th, 2008

It may seem like November 2008 is too early to be planning for 2009-2010 financial aid deadlines, but with increased competition and a busy holiday season coming, it is the perfect time to start taking inventory of the required documents and procedures.

John on August 17th, 2008

Money for college students is in short supply – as a result dorm capacity and financial aid applications are up from last year.

Stanford’s multi-billion dollar endowment will be used to provide free college to students with annual family incomes under $60,000

John on January 27th, 2008

Whatever the economic reason, not every student is going to qualify for federal grants or subsidized loans – But even if you’re absolutely sure that you can’t get federal help, its still worthwhile to take an hour to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

John on January 20th, 2008

Yale’s financial aid changes will allow lower-income students and middle-class students a better chance of affording tuition.

John on January 13th, 2008

Examining scholarships, grants, and the many different types of college financial aid available for students.

John on January 2nd, 2008

Is college tuition too expensive, or just too confusing? We review a few opinions on the web and help students get the best financial aid assistance they can.

John on December 30th, 2007

Harvard cuts tuition and expands its financial aid assistance, but not everyone is happy about it as secondary effects may spill over into other colleges.

John on December 30th, 2007

College tuition is expensive out of state – make sure to review your choices and consider local, cheaper schools.

John on December 28th, 2007

These are some classic examples of bad ideas students had when it came to paying for college tuition. We don’t recommend the methods described here..

John on December 27th, 2007

How to quickly file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online.

John on December 14th, 2007

Complicated income regulations may mean that your student isn’t eligible for federal financial aid.

John on December 3rd, 2007

Fall is a busy time of year for scholarship applications. Apply early and beat the rush.

John on November 5th, 2007

Hobbies and other interests aren’t just for entertainment, sometimes they can be turned to professional use, or at least help pay for college with scholarships

John on November 5th, 2007

Its never too early to start planning financial aid and paying for college tuition. Even if you aren’t in high school yet, there may be contests you can enter

John on October 6th, 2007

Welcome to Free College Blog! We’ll be exploring different ideas for paying for school. Tuition is rising so financial aid and scholarships are more important than ever