Federal Student Aid for College or Career School - The U.S. Department of Education provides grants, loans, and work-study opportunities to eligible students attending participating colleges or career schools. The Department is the source of nearly 70 percent of all student aid awarded in the U.S. each year. The vast majority of the Department's aid is not based on academic merit. For further information and an online application, visit the Department's Web site at www.studentaid.ed.gov. Alternatively, you may call the Federal Student Aid Information Center toll free: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). TTY for the hearing-impaired is 1-800-730-8913. The inclusion of this link does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Department of Education. The Department of Education Student Aid on the Web site may contain information that is copyrighted by others. Proper written permission must be obtained from copyright holder prior to reproduction of such information in any form. References on this Web site to any specific companies, affiliations, organizations etc. do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Department of Education. Any links included within the U.S. Department of Education's Web pages may also point to government and non-government Web sites. The U.S. Department of Education is not responsible for the contents of any linked sites, or any link contained in a linked site, or changes/updates to such sites. The inclusion of any link does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Department of Education.

Free Application For Student Aid(FAFSA)

Should I pay for help to fill out my FAFSA?

No, you don't need to. If you apply using FAFSA on the Web at www.FAFSA.ed.gov, you get online instructions for each question, and you can “chat” live online with a customer service representative. Another source of free help is our online guide, Completing the FAFSA. Whether you apply online or use the paper FAFSA, you can get free help by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at the telephone number(s) listed below or by contacting the financial aid administrator at your college. Telephone Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC): 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) (TTY 1-800-730-8913) Various Web sites do offer help filing the FAFSA for a fee. These sites are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Department of Education. We urge you not to pay these sites for assistance that we provide for free.

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Federal Pell Grants are available to undergraduate students only. Grants do not have to be repaid. Federal

Stafford Loans are student loans that must be repaid and are available to both undergraduate and graduate students. If your school participates in the Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program, the federal government provides the funds for your Stafford Loan. If your school participates in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, a private lender provides the funds for your Stafford Loan, although the federal government guarantees the loan funds. First-year undergraduates are eligible for loans up to $2,625. Amounts increase for subsequent years of study, with higher amounts for graduate students. The interest rate is variable, but never exceeds 8.25 percent. If you qualify (based on need) for a subsidized Stafford loan, the government will pay the interest on your loan while you are in school, during grace periods, and during any deferment periods. You are responsible for paying all of the interest that accrues on an unsubsidized Stafford Loan.

Federal PLUS Loans are unsubsidized loans made to parents. If you are independent or your parents cannot get a PLUS loan, you are eligible to borrow additional Stafford Loan funds. The interest rate is variable, but never exceeds 9 percent.

Campus-Based Programs are administered by participating schools. There are three of these programs. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are grants available for undergraduates only; awards range from $100-$4,000. Federal Work Study provides jobs to undergraduate and graduate students, allowing them to earn money to pay education expenses. Perkins Loans are low-interest (5 percent) loans that must be repaid; the maximum annual loan amount is $4,000 for undergraduate students and $6,000 for graduate students.

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