Any student who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs, including free community college here in Massachusetts, should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Types of Financial Aid
Scholarships and Grants
Grants and scholarships are considered “gift aid” or free money, because they do not have to be repaid.
Federal Work Study
Federal work-study allows students to work part time on or near campus while in college. Federal Work Study is a part-time work program that allows college students to earn a paycheck throughout the academic year.
Students apply for work-study by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).
Federal Student Loans
Federal student loans are sums of money that help students pay for school and must be repaid.
If you’re planning to borrow for college costs, the first loans you should take are Federal Direct Student Loans, which we’ll shorten here to federal student loans, due to their many benefits and flexible repayment options.