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Federal Student Aid

Federal Student Aid (FSA), an office of the U.S. Department of Education, plays a central and essential role in America's postsecondary education community.

Federal Student Aid's core mission is to ensure that all eligible Americans benefit from federal financial assistance—grants, loans and work-study programs—for education beyond high school. The programs FSA administers comprise the nation's largest source of student aid: during the 2004-05 school year alone, FSA provided approximately $74 billion in new aid to nearly 10 million postsecondary students and their families. FSA's staff of 1,100 is based in 10 cities in addition to FSA's Washington headquarters.

Among FSA's most visible and essential services are the development, distribution, and processing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the fundamental qualifying form used for all federal and government-guaranteed commercial lenders' programs—as well as for many state, regional and private student aid programs. By filling out the online or paper FAFSA, applicants start the process of qualifying for aid. Each year FSA's staff processes approximately 14 million FAFSAs.

Because FSA oversee $391 billion of outstanding student loans, it's FSA's job to ensure that all of FSA's partners in the student aid community—schools, lenders, servicers and guaranty agencies—operate fairly, honestly and efficiently. Another key role FSA perform is to make students and their families aware that financial aid is available and is a necessary first step to further education. As America's premier source of federal student aid information, FSA distribute numerous publications, host multiple FSAb sites and run several customer call centers. Most of these services are provided in Spanish as FSAll.

The Federal Student Aid team is passionately committed to making education beyond high school more attainable for all Americans, regardless of socioeconomic status. By championing access to postsecondary education, FSA uphold its value as a force for greater inclusion in American society and for the continued vitality of America as a nation.

Federal Student Aid is financial help for students enrolled in eligible programs at participating schools to cover school (a fFSA's-year or two-year public or private educational institution, a career school or trade school) expenses, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. Most federal aid is need-based. The three most common types of aid are grants, loans, and work-study.

Grants are a type of financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Generally, grants are for undergraduate students and the grant amount is based on need, cost of attendance, and enrollment status. Federal Pell Grants for the 2006-2007 school year will range from $400 to $4,050. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants will range from $100 to $4,000.

Loans are borrowed money that must be repaid with interest. Both undergraduate and graduate students may borrow money. Parents may also borrow to pay education expenses for dependent undergraduate students. Maximum loan amounts depend on the student's year in school.

Federal Stafford Loans are made to students and PLUS Loans are made to parents through two loan programs:

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program: Eligible students and parents borrow directly from the federal government at participating schools. Direct Loans include Direct Stafford Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and Direct Consolidation Loans.

Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program: Private lenders provide federally guaranteed funds. FFELs include FFEL Stafford Loans, FFEL PLUS Loans, and FFEL Consolidation Loans.

Federal Perkins Loans are offered by participating schools to provide students who demonstrate the most need with low-interest loans.

Work-study lets you earn money while enrolled in school to help pay for education expenses.

Note: Not all schools participate in all FSA programs. Ask the financial aid administrator at your's school about the programs that are available.

State Student Aid

Alabama Commission on Higher Education
The Alabama Commission on Higher Education's home page provides comprehensive information to help Alabama residents plan and pay for college, including links to state student aid programs, distance learning programs, and more.

Alabama Commission on Higher Education
Telephone: (334) 242-1998
Fax: (334) 242-0268

AlaskAdvantage Programs (AK Commission on Postsecondary Education)
Alaska's student aid website provides residents with the most comprehensive information and resources available on student assistance programs, loans, grants, and scholarships, as well as information on how to apply.

AlaskAdvantage Programs
Juneau Office
3030 Vintage Boulevard
Juneau, AK 99801
Customer Service
907-465-2962 or 800-441-2962
907-465-5316 Fax (24/7)
907-465-3143 TTY
Business Hours:
M-F 8:00am-5:00pm

Arizona College Answer (Financial Aid Information)
The "Planning for College Destination", where Arizona residents will find a wealth of planning and financial aid resources at their fingertips - everything from choosing a college to funding your higher education.

Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education (ACPE)
ACPE's mission is to expand access and increase success in higher education for Arizona citizens by helping students and families plan, enter, and succeed in college and making more student financial aid available. Find out more here!

Arizona Student Information Center (AZ Board of Regents)
For current or prospective student at Arizona's Public Universities - this web site from the Board of Regents should be the first place you turn for information on college admissions, tuition, financial aid, transfers, and much more!

Arkansas Financial Aid (Arkansas Department of Higher Education)
Arkansas' financial aid website provides students with the most comprehensive information about Arkansas student aid programs, loans, grants, and scholarships - plus links to other resources and information on how to apply.

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF)
Arkansas offers Single Parent Scholarships in 66 counties to help impoverished single parents attain self-sufficiency through post-secondary education. Search for your county and find out how to apply for a single parent scholarship.

Arkansas Scholarship Connection
The Arkansas Scholarship Connection helps Arkansas students find useable and accurate financial aid information by providing a clearinghouse of available resources in the community. Resources for students and parents, tips, and more!

California Student Aid Commission
A great place to start for California residents seeking financial aid for higher education. Get the facts you need to learn how to apply for the Cal Grants program.

California Governor's Scholarship Programs (State of California)
California students who demonstrate high academic achievement in math and sciences can earn scholarships for college from the state! Get more information on how to qualify for these scholarships.

Golden State ScholarShare College Savings Trust (State of California)
California offers families a college savings program based on IRS rules for qualified tuition programs that can help California families and others save in order to meet the increasing costs of higher education.

Maryland Higher Education Commission
The State of Maryland has a vast array of financial aid programs in the form of grants, scholarships and other awards for students who want to further their education beyond the public school system.

Financial aid is based upon either an idividual's scholastic Merit or Financial need. Merit-based financial aid is aid given to students who have special abilities, or who have earned scholastic achievements. Need-based financial aid is given to students who demonstrate that they have financial need. Financial aid can come in the form of grants, work, student loans, parent loans, scholarships and other awards. Please click on the hyperlink above to find out more about our programs.

Maryland Higher Education Commission
Office of Student Financial Assistance
839 Bestgate Road, Suite 400
Annapolis, MD 21401-3013
410 260-4565
800 974-1024
TTY 800 735-2258

E-mail us at: osfamail@mhec.state.md.us