Hopefully, within a few minutes, your main questions will be answered and you can begin the process of obtaining money that will make the next four years a bit more bearable. To begin, call the financial aid office at the college your child will be attending. There you can gather information about federal aid, state aid, and college aid. Some loans you may qualify for are the Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Perkins Loans, and Federal Work-Study. Remember, most of the loans are awarded based on financial need instead of scholastic ability.
State aid is also available.
Contact your state s education agency to obtain free information. You can find the phone number for your state by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center at the number above or by finding its web site. Before paying for a service, it is wise to contact the Better Business Bureau to ensure the service is reputable. In order to apply for financial aid, you should have a valid social security number and your most recent U.S. income tax return. Hopefully, this information will head you in the right direction.