See your state's department of education website for more information. Most colleges and universities offer some financial aid to students who need it. This can take a number of forms. Some offer scholarships based on academic performance, artistic or athletic skills, personal characteristics, or other special criterion that rely only in part or not at all on the financial standing of you or your family. These are good choices if you need money but believe that a school will not believe this from looking at income and wealth statistics about your family.
Schools also offer financial aid in the form of grants, loans, and work-study programs.
If you plan on applying for school funded income based financial aid, you will have to file federal financial aid forms. Also, check with your school to find out if admissions are need-blind. If they are not, applying for financial aid can jeopardize your chances of admission if you are a borderline applicant. Private scholarships and interest free loans. These organizations range from local school districts and chambers of commerce to national religious organizations, from endowments in memory of a special person to multinational corporations.