Student Aid and Scholarships in the United States
Grants, loans, savings schemes and scholarship searches for students in the USA, from official sources.
Start with the FAFSA: it is the single form for federal grants, work study and loans, and most states and colleges use it too.
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FAFSA
CollegeThe Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The form for each school year opens in the autumn before it starts. Fill it in every year you study, as early as you can, because some state and college aid runs out.
Official siteGrants and Bursaries
Federal Pell Grant
UndergraduateMoney you do not repay, for undergraduates with financial need. The maximum award for 2026-27 is $7,395.
Official siteWorkforce Pell
Short coursesFrom 1 July 2026, Pell Grants can pay for approved short job training programs, some as short as 8 weeks, in fields your state says are in demand.
Official siteTEACH Grant
Future teachersUp to about $4,000 a year (slightly less after automatic federal budget cuts) if you agree to teach a high need subject full time in a school serving low income students for four years within eight years of finishing. If you do not, it turns into a loan.
Official siteState Grants
CollegeMost states have their own grant programs, often using the FAFSA. Your state higher education agency lists them.
Official siteLoans
Federal Student Loans
CollegeDirect Loans have fixed rates and income linked repayment. For loans from 1 July 2026, Grad PLUS closes to new borrowers; graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 a year ($100,000 in total), professional students $50,000 ($200,000), and Parent PLUS is capped at $20,000 a year and $65,000 per student. Undergraduate limits did not change.
Official siteWork While You Study
Federal Work Study
CollegePart time jobs for students with financial need, often on campus.
Official siteSaving for Study
529 Education Savings Plans
School to collegeState run investment accounts where growth is tax free if spent on qualified education, including some K to 12 tuition.
Official siteFind More
CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder
All levelsA free Department of Labor search of thousands of scholarships, fellowships and grants.
Official siteChecked October 2026. Rules and amounts change, so confirm on the official page before you rely on a figure. Who to check with in the United States.