Federal State and Local Aid
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/fafsa.jsp
Start as early as possible. Tell Parents, apply before federal taxes are completed by listing estimated income. The first step in financial aid is to determine what funds you have and what funds you need. The initial step to determine your eligibility for federal aid and many of the state and institutional need-based aid programs is to complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your completed FAFSA is the primary source for computation of your Expected Family Contribution.
State Financial Aid
In addition to exploring all of the federal options for college funding, you'll want to examine the funding options at the state level. All states distribute money for undergraduate and graduate studies each year. While the feds give away the most money, the states (taken as a whole) also award billions annually. View the sites below for both the state you live in and the state you will attend college.
Alabama
State Education Department - Alabama State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Alabama Commission on Higher Education
Alaska
State Education Department - Alaska Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - University of Alaska Board of Regents
Arizona
State Education Department - Arizona Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education
Arkansas
State Education Department - Arkansas Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Arkansas Department of Higher Education
California
State Education Department - California Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - California Postsecondary Education Commission
Colorado
State Education Department - Colorado Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Colorado Commission on Higher Education
Connecticut
State Education Department - Connecticut State Education Department
State Higher Education Agency - Board of Regents for Higher Education
Delaware
State Education Department - Delaware State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Delaware Higher Education Commission
Washington D.C.
State Education Department - D.C. Public School Systems
Florida
State Education Department - Florida Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Florida Board of Governors
Georgia
State Education Department - Georgia Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - University System of Georgia
Hawaii
State Education Department - Hawaii State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Hawaii Board of Regents
Idaho
State Education Department - Idaho State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Idaho State Board of Education
Illinois
State Education Department - Illinois State Board of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Illinois Board of Higher Education
Indiana
State Education Department - Indiana Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Indiana Commission for Higher Education
Iowa
State Education Department - Iowa Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Iowa College Student Aid Commission
Kansas
State Education Department - Kansas State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Kansas Board of Regents
Kentucky
State Education Department - Kentucky Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
Louisiana
State Education Department - Louisiana Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Louisiana Board of Regents
Maine
State Education Department - Maine Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - University of Maine System
Maryland
State Education Department - Maryland State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Maryland Higher Education Commission
Massachusetts
State Education Department - Massachusetts State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
Michigan
State Education Department - Michigan Department of Education
Minnesota
State Education Department - Minnesota Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Minnesota Higher Education Services Office
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Mississippi
State Education Department - Mississippi State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
Missouri
State Education Department - Missouri Elementary and Secondary Education
State Higher Education Agency - Missouri Department of Higher Education
Montana
State Education Department - Montana Office of Public Instruction
State Higher Education Agency - Montana Board of Regents
Nebraska
State Education Department - Nebraska Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
Nevada
State Education Department - Nevada Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - University and College System of Nevada
New Hampshire
State Education Department - New Hampshire Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - University System of New Hampshire
New Jersey
State Education Department - New Jersey Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - New Jersey Commission on Higher Education
New Mexico
State Education Department - New Mexico State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - New Mexico Commission on Higher Education
New York
State Education Department - New York State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - NYSED Office of Higher Education
North Carolina
State Education Department - North Carolina State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - College Foundation of North Carolina
North Dakota
State Education Department - North Dakota Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - North Dakota University System (NDUS)
Ohio
State Education Department - Ohio Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Ohio Board of Regents
Oklahoma
State Education Department - Oklahoma State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Oregon
State Education Department - Oregon Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Oregon State System of Higher Education
Pennsylvania
State Education Department - Pennsylvania Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
Rhode Island
State Education Department - Rhode Island State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education
South Carolina
State Education Department - South Carolina Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
South Dakota
State Education Department - South Dakota Department of Education and Cultural Affairs
State Higher Education Agency - South Dakota Board of Regents
Tennessee
State Education Department - Tennessee State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Texas
State Education Department - Texas Education Agency
State Higher Education Agency - Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Utah
State Education Department - Utah Office of Education (K-12)
State Higher Education Agency - Utah System of Higher Education
Vermont
State Education Department - Vermont State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - Vermont State College System
Virginia
State Education Department - Virginia Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
Virginia Community College System (VCCS) - Virginia Community College System
Washington
State Education Department - Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
State Higher Education Agency - Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board
West Virginia
State Education Department - West Virginia Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
Wisconsin
State Education Department - Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
State Higher Education Agency - University of Wisconsin System Administration
Wyoming
State Education Department - Wisconsin State Department of Education
State Higher Education Agency - University of Wyoming
Local Financial Aid
Local awards are the most overlooked awards, but provide you the best chance to receive a scholarship.
Use each of these resources to reduce your college costs.
- Community foundations - Search the Internet. For example: you live in city Miami and county Dade. Search for Miami community foundation scholarships. Then search for Dade community foundation scholarships. It's worth a few minutes to find a scholarship that meets your needs.
- Local businesses - Call businesses you or your parents visit and ask if they offer scholarships. For example: banks, credit union, cable company, phone company, electric companies, law offices, etc. and ask if they offer scholarships.
- County - For example: you live in Moore county in Texas and plan to major in Art. Search the Internet for Moore county Art scholarships and apply.
- Local newspapers. Most cities have a newspaper on-line. On their web site, search for scholarships in your major.
- High school guidance office - stop by and ask for help, you may be surprised.
