FEDERAL STUDENT AID AT A GLANCE 2018–19

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WHAT is federal student aid?

Federal student aid comes from the federal government—

specifically, the U.S. Department of Education. It’s money that 

helps a student pay for higher education expenses (i.e., college, 

career school, or graduate school expenses).

Federal student aid covers such expenses as tuition and fees, 

room and board, books and supplies, and transportation.

There are three main categories of federal student aid: grants, 

work-study, and loans. Check with your school’s financial aid 

office to find out which programs the school participates in.

WHO gets federal student aid?

Every student who meets certain eligibility requirements can 

get some type of federal student aid, regardless of age or family 

income. Some of the most basic eligibility requirements are that 

you must

• demonstrate financial need (for most programs—to learn

more, visit StudentAid.gov/how-calculated);

• be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen;

• have a valid Social Security number;

• register (if you haven’t already) with Selective Service if

you’re a male between the ages of 18 and 25;

• maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career

school;

• sign the certification statement on the Free Application for

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form stating that

○ you are not in default on a federal student loan and do

not owe money on a federal student grant, and

○ you will use federal student aid only for educational

purposes; and

• show you’re qualified to obtain a college or career school

education by

○ having a high school diploma or a General Educational

Development (GED) certificate or a state-recognized

equivalent; or

○ completing a high school education in a home-school

setting approved under state law; or

○ enrolling in an eligible career pathways program.

Find more details about eligibility criteria 

at StudentAid.gov/eligibility.

HOW do you apply for federal student aid?

1. To apply for federal student aid, you need to complete the

FAFSA® form at fafsa.gov. If you plan to attend college from

July 1, 2018–June 30, 2019, you’ll be able to submit a

2018–19 FAFSA form beginning on Oct. 1, 2017. You’ll be

required to report income and tax information from 2016.

Schools and states often use FAFSA information to award

nonfederal aid, but their deadlines vary. Check with the

schools that you’re interested in for their deadlines, and find

state deadlines at fafsa.gov.

2. Students and parents are required to use an FSA ID, made

up of a username and password, to submit their FAFSA

form online and to access sensitive information on U.S.

Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID is used to

confirm your identity and electronically sign your federal

student aid documents. Your FSA ID has the same legal

status as a written signature. Don’t give your FSA ID to

anyone or allow anyone to create an FSA ID for you. To

create an FSA ID, visit StudentAid.gov/fsaid.

3. After you apply, you’ll receive a Student Aid Report, or SAR.

Your SAR contains the information reported on your FAFSA

and usually includes your Expected Family Contribution

(EFC). The EFC is a number (not a dollar amount) used

to determine your eligibility for federal student aid. Review

your SAR information to make sure it’s correct. The

school(s) you list on your FAFSA will get your SAR data

electronically.

4. Contact the school(s) you might attend. Make sure the

financial aid office at each school you’re interested in has

all the information needed to determine your eligibility. If

you’re eligible, each school’s financial aid office will send

you an aid offer showing the amount and types of aid (from

all sources) the school will offer you. You can compare the

aid offers you received and see which school is the most

affordable once financial aid is taken into account.

5. Completing and submitting the FAFSA form is free and

quick, and it gives you access to the largest sources of

financial aid to pay for college or career school—federal,

state, and school sources. If you need a paper FAFSA form,

request one at edpubs.gov or call toll free at 1-877-433-7827.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Contact or visit the following:

• StudentAid.gov

• a college financial aid office

• studentaid@ed.gov

• 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) toll-free

• 1-800-730-8913 (toll-free TTY for the hard

of hearing)
FEDERAL STUDENT AID AT A GLANCE

Program and Type of Aid Program Information Annual Award Amount (subject to change)

Federal Pell Grant

Grant: does not have 

to be repaid

For undergraduates with financial need who have not earned bachelor’s or 

professional degrees; in some cases, a student enrolled in a 

postbaccalaureate teacher certification program may also receive a Federal 

Pell Grant.

A student can receive a Federal Pell Grant for no more than 12 semesters or 

the equivalent (roughly six years).

Amounts can change annually. For 2017–18 

(July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018), the award 

amount was up to $5,920.

Visit StudentAid.gov/pell-grant for more information. 

Federal Supplemental 

Educational Opportunity 

Grant (FSEOG)

Grant: does not have 

to be repaid 

For undergraduates with exceptional financial need; Federal Pell Grant 

recipients take priority; funds depend on availability at school. 

Up to $4,000.

Visit StudentAid.gov/fseog for more information.

Teacher Education 

Assistance for College and 

Higher Education (TEACH) 

Grant

Grant: does not have to 

be repaid unless converted 

to a Direct Unsubsidized 

Loan for failure to carry out 

teaching service obligation 

as promised

For undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, and graduate students who are 

completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career in 

teaching. As a condition for receiving this grant, a student must sign a TEACH 

Grant Agreement to Serve in which the student agrees to perform four years of 

qualifying teaching service and meet other requirements.

Up to $4,000.

Visit StudentAid.gov/teach for more information. 

Iraq and Afghanistan 

Service Grant

Grant: does not have to 

be repaid

For students who are not Pell-eligible only because they have less financial 

need than is required to receive Pell funds. A student’s parent or guardian 

must have died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after the 

events of 9/11.

A student can receive an Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant for no more than 

12 semesters or the equivalent (roughly six years).

The grant award can be equal to the maximum 

Federal Pell Grant amount (see above), but 

cannot exceed your cost of attending school.

Visit StudentAid.gov/iraq-afghanistan

for more information. 

Federal Work-Study

Work-Study: money is 

earned; does not have 

to be repaid

For undergraduate and graduate students; part-time jobs can be on campus 

or off campus. Money is earned while attending school. 

No annual minimum or maximum amounts.

Visit StudentAid.gov/workstudy for more 

information.

Direct Subsidized Loan

Loan: must be repaid 

with interest

For undergraduate students who have financial need; U.S. Department of 

Education generally pays interest while the student is in school and during 

certain other periods; a student must be enrolled at least half-time. Interest 

rate is 4.45% for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2017, and before July 

1, 2018, and fixed for the life of the loan. Visit StudentAid.gov/interest for more 

information.

Up to $5,500 depending on grade level and 

dependency status.

Visit StudentAid.gov/sub-unsub for more 

information.

Direct Unsubsidized Loan

Loan: must be repaid 

with interest

For undergraduate and graduate or professional students; the borrower is 

responsible for interest during all periods; a student must be enrolled at least 

half-time; financial need is not required. Interest rate is 4.45% (undergraduate) 

and 6% (graduate or professional) for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 

2017, and before July 1, 2018, and fixed for the life of the loan. Visit 

StudentAid.gov/interest for more information.

Up to $20,500 (less any subsidized amounts 

received for same period), depending on grade 

level and dependency status.

Visit StudentAid.gov/sub-unsub for more 

information. 

Direct PLUS Loan

Loan: must be repaid 

with interest

For parents of dependent undergraduate students and for graduate or 

professional students; the borrower is responsible for interest during all 

periods; a student must be enrolled at least half-time; financial need is not 

required; the borrower must not have an adverse credit history. The interest 

rate is 7% for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2017, and before July 1, 

2018, and fixed for the life of the loan. Visit StudentAid.gov/interest for more 

information.

Maximum amount is the cost of attendance 

minus any other financial aid received.

Visit StudentAid.gov/plus for more information.

Federal Perkins Loan

Loan: must be repaid 

with interest

For undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. 

Eligibility depends on the student’s financial need and availability of funds at 

the school. For questions on Perkins Loan eligibility, students must contact 

the school’s financial aid office. The interest rate is 5% and fixed for the life of 

the loan. 

Undergraduate students: up to $5,500; 

graduate and professional students: up to 

$8,000.

Visit StudentAid.gov/perkins for more 

information. 

Note: The information in this document was compiled in spring 2017. For updates or additional information, visit StudentAid.gov.

2018–19

Page 2 of 2 LOOKING FOR MORE SOURCES FOR FREE MONEY?

Try StudentAid.gov/scholarships for tips on where to look and for a link to a free online scholarship search.

SEPTEMBER 2017