Financial aid is money to help students and families pay for college expenses.
One out of every two students pursuing higher education receives some form of financial assistance to help meet college costs. In Maine, that number is even higher, with almost three out of every four students receiving some form of financial aid. Financial aid can be used to help pay tuition, room and board, books, supplies and living expenses associated with higher education. Financial aid can also be used to help pay for the cost of a college education at many different kinds of colleges, universities, and for educational programs. Grades, test scores, talents, and community service are all common types of merit based aid.