Financial Assistance for Continued Education

There are many options for financing continued education. Those options include scholarships, grants, internships and loans. Financial assistance is available from the federal government and other organizations.

FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that needs to be completed to receive funding from the U.S. government. Fill out the FAFSA online by a certain date. There is a federal and state deadline.

Scholarships

Scholarships are financial awards given to students. Schools, local governments, churches and organizations can give out scholarships. Some scholarships look at students' grade point averages, financial need, and volunteer and extracurricular activities.

Grants

A grant is a monetary award that does not need to be paid back. The federal government and many organizations offer grants.

Loans

The federal government gives out loans for paying for continued education. Banks also give out educational loans. Government loans include no-interest loans, low-interest loans and loans in which financial need is not considered. Unlike grants and scholarships, loans do need to be paid back.

Internships

Internships are a great way to earn extra money for paying for continued education. However, not all internships are paid. A law student could intern at a law firm or local government office. Some internships may give out an educational award or stipend at the end of the internship.

Other Options

Students can ask family members to help them pay for their education. Many employers also offer funding for employees who continue their education.

References

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Resources

• College Board
• Student Aid on the Web
• Fastweb