Diana Said:

loans free money for college?

We Answered:

There are three types of financial aid available: Scholarships, grants, and student loans. Scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back. Student loans however do.

Some scholarships are merit based. They are for academic and athletic achievements. Some are need based for students whose families can not afford to contribute to cost of education. The federal government has two major grants. They are based on your parents’ income as well as yours if you are under 24 and unmarried and childless. If you are 24 or older, under 24 and married or have a child, the government bases the eligibility on your income (and spouse if applicable) only.

The federal government has two major student loans: Subsidized and unsubsidized. Private lenders offer alterative student loans as well. I would recommend the federal government backed ones personally. With a federally backed student loan you can defer payments for six months after you leave or graduate college and incase you are not on your feet when repayment is to begin you can apply for forbearance and deferment based on income.

Many colleges have their own scholarships available. I would recommend looking at the financial aid section of the college's website that you are interested in attending. Very few people go off to college with a free ride. There are ways to cut back on how much money you will need to borrow such as attending a community college for two years and then going off to university for two years.