Ways to pay · U.S. undergraduates
Paying for college as a U.S. undergraduate
By the Scholastic Leaders team · Last reviewed · How we research
Start with the FAFSA. It's the one form that unlocks federal grants, work-study and loans, most state grants, and much of colleges' own need-based aid.
1. File the FAFSA
File for the year you'll start college. U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens qualify. Apply on studentaid.gov
Many private colleges also ask for the CSS Profile or their own form to award their institutional grants. Each school's page here shows what we know about its forms.
2. Federal grants (no repayment)
- Federal Pell Grant: for undergraduates with financial need. Pell Grant rules
- FSEOG: extra need-based grant, given by participating colleges while funds last. FSEOG
- Other federal grants (TEACH and more): all federal grants
3. Federal Work-Study
Part-time jobs for students with financial need, arranged through your college. Work-Study
4. Your state's grants and scholarships
Most states have grants for residents who attend college in the state. Your state agency lists programs and deadlines (some are early):
- Alabama: Alabama Commission on Higher Education
- Alaska: Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
- Arizona: Arizona Board of Regents
- Arkansas: Arkansas Department of Higher Education
- California: California Student Aid Commission
- Colorado: Colorado Department of Higher Education
- Connecticut: Office of Higher Education
- Delaware: Delaware Higher Education Commission
- District of Columbia: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (District of Columbia)
- Florida: Office of Student Financial Assistance
- Georgia: Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
- Hawaii: Hawaii Post-Secondary Education Authorization Program
- Idaho: Idaho State Board of Education
- Illinois: Illinois Board of Higher Education
- Indiana: Indiana Commission for Higher Education
- Iowa: Iowa College Student Aid Commission
- Kansas: Kansas Board of Regents
- Kentucky: Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
- Louisiana: Louisiana Board of Regents
- Maine: Finance Authority of Maine
- Maryland: Maryland Higher Education Commission
- Massachusetts: Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
- Michigan: Michigan Student Aid
- Minnesota: Minnesota Office of Higher Education
- Mississippi: Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
- Missouri: Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
- Montana: Montana University System
- Nebraska: Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
- Nevada: Nevada System of Higher Education
- New Hampshire: Higher Education Commission
- New Jersey: Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
- New Mexico: New Mexico Higher Education Department
- New York: New York State Higher Education Services Corporation
- North Carolina: College Foundation of North Carolina
- North Dakota: North Dakota University System
- Ohio: Ohio Department of Higher Education
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
- Oregon: Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
- Rhode Island: Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner
- South Carolina: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
- South Dakota: South Dakota Board of Regents
- Tennessee: Tennessee Higher Education Commission
- Texas: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
- Utah: Utah System of Higher Education
- Vermont: Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
- Virginia: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
- Washington: Washington State Achievement Council
- West Virginia: West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board
- Wyoming: Wyoming Community College Commission
Agencies and websites as listed in the U.S. Department of Education state contacts directory (checked 2026-10-15).
5. The college's own aid
Need-based grants depend on your family's finances. Some colleges meet 100% of demonstrated need; others meet part of it. Merit scholarships reward grades, talent or other criteria, regardless of need.
On every school page you'll see the net price by income band, how many first-years got a grant from the school, and (where we verified the Common Data Set) the average % of need met and average need-based and merit awards.
6. Outside scholarships and loans
Outside scholarships usually cover a smaller share. We only show scholarships verified on the official page as open. Federal student loans have fixed rates and protections. Direct Loans
College costs by state
Browse cost of attendance and net price by state, with each state's grant agency.
We link only to official government, school and program pages and don't publish award amounts we haven't confirmed. Rules change every year, so check each official page before you rely on it.