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Grants

This is free money you don't have to pay back! Grants are usually given based on how much money your family makes.

Scholarships

This is also free money you don't have to pay back! Scholarships are given based on different things, like your good grades, your talents (like in sports or music), or what you want to study.

Loans

This is money you borrow and do have to pay back later, usually with a little extra money added (called interest).

Work-Study

This means you get a special job on your college campus. The money you earn helps you pay for school.

It's super important to fill out forms to get financial aid!

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

This is the most important form for most students. You fill it out online starting in October of your senior year in high school. It asks about your family's finances so the government can see how much help you might need.

California Dream Act Application

If you are an undocumented student or have a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status, you can't fill out the FAFSA. Instead, you can fill out the California Dream Act Application. This lets you apply for California state financial aid, like Cal Grants, and money from California colleges. You also fill this out online starting in October of your senior year.

CSS Profile

Some private colleges (not public ones) might ask you to fill out this extra form. Your school counselor can tell you if a college you like needs it.

Cal Grant

If you live in California, this is a special state grant that can help you pay for college. You need to fill out either the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application, and your high school will send your grades.

Other Scholarships

Look for scholarships everywhere! Your high school counselor, the college & career center at your school, groups in your community, and online scholarship websites are all great places to find more free money.

These are super important! The deadlines for financial aid are often different from the deadlines for applying to the colleges themselves, so make sure you keep track of all the dates!

To help you compare how much different colleges might cost, you can use a fillable spreadsheet: