Paying for college (and private K-12) is a maze — and it just changed a lot: the FAFSA now uses the Student Aid Index, and the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act reshaped grants, loans, and repayment starting July 2026. These guides explain it in plain English and point you to the official sources. New guides are added in batches.
Financial Aid Basics
The free form that unlocks federal, state & college aid — the SAI, how to file, and the 2026-27 changes.
Grants, scholarships, work-study & loans — how they differ and which to seek first.
The extra application ~200+ colleges use to award their own institutional aid.
How to read and compare offers — separating gift aid from loans to find your real net cost.
Federal & State Aid
Pell, FSEOG & TEACH — free money you don't repay, and the 2026-27 Pell changes.
Subsidized, unsubsidized & PLUS — plus the major 2026 loan-law changes.
How they differ from federal loans, and when they make sense.
Earn money for college through a part-time job, often on campus.
The grants & scholarships your state offers its residents.
Scholarships
Where to search, why local awards have the best odds, and how to apply — free.
Merit, need-based, athletic, talent, identity & field — target what fits you.
How to write essays that win, reuse them smartly, and handle recs & deadlines.
Spot the red flags — legitimate scholarships (and the FAFSA) are always free.
State Financial Aid
Saving & Specific Groups
Tax-advantaged saving — how 529s work, what they cover, and the new Roth rollover.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon, transferring benefits, and tuition assistance.
First-gen, undocumented, international, adult, foster youth & disability aid.
Assistantships, fellowships, loans (Grad PLUS ended 2026), and employer help.
Repayment plans (the new RAP), PSLF, and the 2025-26 changes.