Federal Student Aid at a Glance

Federal student aid comes from the federal government, specifically, the U.S. Department of Education. It’s money that helps a student pay for higher education expenses (i.e., college, career school, or graduate school expenses).

Federal student aid covers such expenses as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation.

There are three main categories of federal student aid: grants, work-study funds, and loans. Check with your school’s financial aid office to find out which programs the school participates in.