Other Resources

Other Types of Financial Aid

You might be interested in participating in a program during or following college that will provide funds to pay for college:

  • Armed Forces. The military has programs that provide you with money for college in exchange for service. The Montgomery GI Bill provides money that active-duty members of the armed forces can use towards higher education. The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) also gives you money to pay for college. You learn skills for the military while in college and serve for four years after graduation. Each branch of the service also offers its own scholarships.

Get Help from the Federal Government

Beyond the tools and links within this site, the federal government has additional resources to get you direct feedback on your specific questions.

  • Phone-based Financial Aid Help. Want to talk to a real person? Call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) to ask about federal student aid programs, funding your education or applying for financial aid with the FAFSA. TTY users can call 1-800-730-8913.
  • Help for Students with Disabilities. Don’t let anything hold you back! Students with disabilities, as well as their parents and educators can visit the Education Page at DisabilityInfo.gov for resources to help make the transition to post-secondary education, including preparing and paying for college. And make sure you know your rights. Federal laws protect students with disabilities from discrimination. Get complete details from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
  • Help for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth and Youth in Foster Care. Even if you don’t have parents or a permanent family to speak of, or even if you don’t have a home, you can still go to college. The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth has tips to help you.

Seek Help from Other Places

There are a number of organizations that want to help you go to college. There are scholarship opportunities, free test preparation, advice and more. Some examples:

  • Number2.com. This site offers free online prep courses for the SAT or ACT.
  • Scholarship and Grant Resources: Visit the Scholarships & grants page on students.gov. There you’ll find links to an extensive list of financial aid resources, including a comprehensive directory of private scholarship and government grant programs. Keep in mind that many students have told college.gov that they found money to help pay for college simply by applying for every scholarship and grant for which they qualified.