The good news: No matter what your financial circumstances are, you CAN afford college.

The federal government alone provides more than $80 billion in financial aid each year. Plus, the DC government provides much more. And there are hundreds of private scholarships available to all kinds of students:

• Low income;
• First in their family to attend college;
• Great athletes;
• Talented musicians; and
  
• Even special money for kids who are left-handed!

The four main types of financial aid are:

• Grants: Financial aid that does not need to be paid back.
• Scholarships: Financial aid that does not need to be paid back, usually based on academic or extracurricular achievement. (See the scholarships for DC students.)
• Loans: Borrowed money that must be paid back.
• Work-study: Part-time employment to help pay for college expenses.

• I want to find out more about paying for college but am not applying to college this year.
  
• I am planning to apply to college — and apply for financial aid — within the next year.