Most students receive some form of financial aid to help pay for the cost of their education, including:

• Scholarships are money for college given by businesses, individuals, organizations, or universities to students with good grades, athletic ability, community service, or other qualities.
• Grants are called gift aid because grants do not have to be paid back if students successfully complete the courses they were enrolled in. They are usually based on your family’s financial need (or what your family can afford to pay).
• Loans are borrowed from a bank, government, or lending company. It must be paid back with an extra charge called interest. The federal government offers low-interest loans to students with financial need.
• Work study jobs pay your child for part-time work, often on campus.

Often, the greatest fear about pursuing an education after high school is the cost. The main expenses include tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation. The published price of attending college is not usually what students pay. Thanks to financial aid, they often pay less. The Washington College Grant (WA Grant) is one of the country's most generous and flexible financial aid programs. People of all ages from low—and middle-income families may qualify to get money for college, career training, and apprenticeships. Funding is guaranteed to eligible students.

The actual, final price (or net price) students pay for a specific college is the published price (tuition and fees) to attend that college, minus any grants, scholarships, and education tax benefits for which they may be eligible. The difference between the published price and the net price can be considerable. While the prices published on college websites can be discouraging, many students will find that the net price for them is lower.

Colleges are now required to post a net price calculator tool on their websites. You can also visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Net Price Calculator Center at https://collegecost.ed.gov/net-price, and/or you can estimate your financial aid award with WSAC’s financial aid calculator.

Find the right fit. Search and compare colleges: their fields of study, costs, admissions, results, and more with the US Department of Ed College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/