What federal student aid can I get?
The U.S. Department of Education has grants, loans, and other programs to help you pay for college.
Grants
Grants are different from loans because they usually don’t have to be paid back. You may have to pay back some or all of an education grant if you drop out of school, change your enrollment from full-time to part-time, receive too much financial aid, and other reasons.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
This grant is a “financial foundation” for students from low-income households. If you receive an FSEOG, you can still apply for other types of financial aid.
Who can apply
Students from low-income households enrolled in an undergraduate program who are U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens.Students who are already receiving a Pell Grant are given priority.
Award amount
Up to $4,000 per year.
How and when to apply
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by June 30 and contact your school’s financial aid office. Schools determine how much you can receive. Fill out the FAFSA form every year you’re in school.
Learn more
Find out more about FSEOG. If you receive a Pell Grant, you can apply for other types of financial aid. This is a grant, so it usually doesn’t have to be paid back. You will need to pay back some or all of it if you become a part-time student, drop out of school, or receive too much other aid.
Pell Grant
Who can apply
Students from low-income households enrolled in an undergraduate program who are U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens.
Award amount
Up to $7,395 a year. The amount may change for the next school year.
How and when to apply
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by June 30 and contact your school’s financial aid office. Schools determine how much you can receive. Fill out the FAFSA form every year you’re in school.
Learn more
Get details about the Pell Grant.
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
This grant was developed to honor the memory of U.S. military members.
Who can apply
- A student whose parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. military and died because of their service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001.
- Applicants are not eligible for a Pell Grant because they aren’t from a low-income household.
- Applicants must be less than 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of the parent's or guardian's death.
Award amount
The grant amount is the maximum amount of a Pell Grant for the award year but not more than the cost of attending the school.
How and when to apply
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by June 30 and contact your school’s financial aid office. Schools determine how much you can receive. Fill out the FAFSA form every year you’re in school.
Learn more
Learn about this grant and apply for it.
TEACH Grant
To get this grant, students agree to teach for four years at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency (ESA) after graduation. If they don't teach for four years, the grant becomes a loan that has to be paid back with interest.
Who can apply
The grant is for students who are enrolled, or plan to enroll, in a teaching program who:
- Score above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test or maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25.
- Are U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens.
Award amount
Up to $4,000 a year.
How and when to apply
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by June 30 and contact your school’s financial aid office. Schools determine how much you can receive. Fill out the FAFSA form every year you’re in school.
Learn more
Get details about the TEACH Grant.
Student loans
Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized loans
Here’s how these loans are different:
- Direct Subsidized loans are subsidized by the U.S. government, meaning the government helps pay the interest on the loan while you’re still in school.
- Direct Unsubsidized loans are not subsidized by the U.S. government. You pay or accrue interest while you’re still in school.
Who can apply
Students enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution who are U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens. Please find the amounts for dependent and independent students arranged by year and status.
Amounts for dependent students
- First-year undergraduate: Up to $5,500. No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
- Second-year undergraduate: Up to $6,500. No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
- Third-year and beyond undergraduate: Up to $7,500. No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
- Graduate or professional student: Not applicable.
- Total loan limit: $31,000. No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
Amounts for independent students
- First-year undergraduate: Up to $9,500. No more than $3,500 of this amount may be subsidized loans.
- Second-year undergraduate: Up to $10,500. No more than $4,500 of this amount may be subsidized loans.
- Third-year and beyond undergraduate: Up to $12,500. No more than $5,500 of this amount may be subsidized loans.
- Total undergraduate loan limit: $57,500 for undergraduates. No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
- Graduate or professional student: $20,500 per year (unsubsidized only).
- Total graduate loan limit: $138,500 for graduate or professional students. This amount includes ALL federal loans received for undergraduate study. No more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
How and when to apply
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by June 30 and contact your school’s financial aid office. Schools determine how much you can receive. Fill out the FAFSA form every year you’re in school.
Learn more
Get more info about subsidized and unsubsidized loans at StudentAid.gov.
Direct PLUS Loan
This fixed-rate loan from the U.S. Department of Education helps pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid.
Who can apply
Graduate and professional students who are U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens enrolled at schools participating in the Direct Loan Program.
Amount
The annual maximum is the cost of attending the school (COA) minus any other financial assistance you get.
How and when to apply
We recommend contacting your college’s financial aid office. More information about this loan and its current interest rate is available at StudentAid.gov.
Loans for families
PLUS Loan
This fixed-rate loan from the U.S. Department of Education helps pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid.
Who can apply
Parents apply for these loans to help pay for their child’s education.
Amount
You may borrow up to the full cost of your child’s education minus other aid each year.
How and when to apply
We recommend contacting your college’s financial aid office. Details about the PLUS Loan for parents, including its current interest rate, is available at StudentAid.gov.
Student loan forgiveness
Many people can have all or part of their federal student loans forgiven, canceled, or discharged. That means they don’t have to pay back some or all of their loan(s).
Who can apply
This program helps many types of borrowers, including people with public service jobs.
Amount
The amount varies based on your situation.
How to apply
Learn more
Get details about student loan forgiveness.
Work-study
Federal Work-Study
This program has part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students. It allows them to earn money while they go to school. The jobs are usually in community service or related to a student’s courses.
Who can apply
U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students who need to earn money to stay in school.
Amount
Varies, based on wages and hours worked.
How and when to apply
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by June 30 and contact your school’s financial aid office. Schools determine how much you can receive. Fill out the FAFSA form every year you’re in school.
Learn more
Visit the Work-Study page to learn more.