Things You'll Need:
- computer
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Step 1
Apply for student aid. Once you have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, you will be eligible to receive student loans. A Student Aid Report (SAR) will then be sent to you in the mail helping you determine which loans you are eligible for.
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Step 2
Contact the schools you may attend. Research the financial aid options at those schools. Find out information to determine eligibility for student loans. Financial aid administrators will review your SAR upon request.
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Step 3
Know the difference between the federal loans. A Stafford Loan is available to nearly all students, with a maximum of either $23,000 for dependent students, and $46,000 for independent students. The Perkins Loan is awarded to students with exceptional financial need. A limited amount of money is allocated to the school and then distributed by the school to the most needy students.
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Step 4
For subsidized Stafford loans, the U.S. Department of education pays interest while the student is in school. For unsubsidized Stafford Loans, the borrower is responsible for the interest.
PLUS loans are available for parents of dependent undergraduates.
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Step 5
The Federal Pell Grant is available to undergraduates with exceptional financial need and does not need to be repaid.
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Step 6
PLUS Loans are available to qualifying parents. These are federal loans aimed at helping parents subsidize their children's education.
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Step 7
Work study is availble for both undergraduate and graduate students.
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Step 8
Identify and research which loans are available through private lenders.










