Federal Student Aid

If your VA education benefits are not enough to cover your education expenses, you may also apply for federal student aid. This comes in the form of grants, loans, and work study programs.

Grants: Grants are similar to scholarships in that they do not have to be repaid. They are awarded by federal and state government or individual colleges and are usually need based.

Loans: The federal government offers loans to those with financial need. These loans are low-interest and may be subsidized by the federal government so you don't accrue interest until after you graduate or stop attending school. Also, some federal loans require no payments until after graduation.

Work: Work-study programs are federally funded and give students the opportunity to work part time to help meet their financial need. Work opportunities are generally on-campus jobs, giving students an opportunity to serve their campus community.

Here is a list of helpful resources when researching Federal or state financial aid:
Guide to Federal Financial Aid: www.studentaid.ed.gov/  
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): www.fafsa.ed.gov
Going2College.com (A state-by-state guide to financial aid): www.going2college.org
Financial Aid Fact List: www.knowhow2go.org