Almost two-thirds of full-time undergraduate students attending Minnesota State Colleges and Universities get help to pay for college. Depending on your family income and situation, you may be able to get financial aid to pay for a big partor even allof your college costs.
Financial Aid: What do you qualify for?
To find out what kind of financial help you can get, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form after January 1 of your senior year. you can complete the form online at www.fafsa.gov or get the form and get help filling it out from your guidance counselor. it may seem like a lot of work, but you won't know what you qualify for unless you apply.
Four kinds of aid.
Many students rely on a combination of these four types of aid to help pay for college. If you want to attend college, there is a way to do it.
| Scholarships | Grants | Work-Study | Loans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scholarships are a great source of aid, and you do not need to pay them back. You do not need to be in the top of your class to get a scholarship, and many are available for students in specific ethnic and racial groups. Talk to your guidance counselor about what kind of scholarships you can get. | You may be able to receive federal and state grants of $400 to $6,500 per year, which you do not have to pay back. | Work-Study programs give you the opportunity to work on campus or with approved off-campus employers to earn money to pay for college expenses. Work-study jobs are often very flexible, allowing you to work around your class and personal schedules. | You may also be eligible for student loans, which must be paid back. Student loans usually have a lower interest rate than other kinds of loans. |
