Where to start As daunting as applying for financial aid may seem, the potential payoff is worth it. Some schools may also require that you file a state or institutional financial aid application. Your award may include various scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study offers.
Compare aid offers More schools are using financial aid as a recruiting tool.
Making a decision requires asking schools well-informed questions about their aid policies, to avoid unpleasant surprises a few years later. We've surveyed high school counselors, college aid officers, consultants, and other experts to dig out the answers to some common questions. World Report Inc. All rights reserved. Read our information page .