Most state aid is unlocked by the FAFSA, and deadlines are often earlier than the federal one. Each guide covers that state's need-based grants, merit scholarships, promise/free-college programs, 529 plan, and loan-forgiveness options — plus the state agency to apply through. A living reference, updated as programs change.
All states & D.C.
The Student Assistance Program & Student Grant
The Alaska Performance Scholarship & Education Grant
The Arizona Promise Program & Teachers Academy
The Academic Challenge Scholarship & ArFuture Grant
Cal Grants, Middle Class Scholarship & California College Promise
The Colorado Student Grant & COSI
The Roberta B. Willis Scholarship & PACT
The SEED & INSPIRE scholarships
Bright Futures, the FSAG & EASE grants
HOPE & Zell Miller scholarships and grants
The Hawai'i Promise & UH scholarships
Idaho LAUNCH & the Opportunity Scholarship
The MAP Grant & AIM HIGH
21st Century Scholars & the O'Bannon Grant
Future Ready Iowa & the Iowa Tuition Grant
The Comprehensive Grant & Kansas Promise Scholarship
KEES, the CAP Grant & Work Ready Scholarship
TOPS, the GO Grant & M.J. Foster Promise
The Maine State Grant & Free College Scholarship
Rawlings grants & the Community College Promise
MASSGrant, the Adams Scholarship & free community college
The Achievement Scholarship & free community college
North Star Promise free tuition & the State Grant
The HELP Grant, MTAG & Eminent Scholars Grant
Access Missouri, Bright Flight & the A+ Scholarship
The MUS Honor Scholarship & Higher Education Grant
The Nebraska Opportunity Grant & Career Scholarship
The Millennium Scholarship, Silver State Grant & Nevada Promise
The Governor's Scholarship & Granite Guarantee
TAG, free community college & the Garden State Guarantee
The Opportunity Scholarship (free tuition) & Lottery Scholarship
TAP, the Excelsior Scholarship & NYS merit awards
The Next NC Scholarship & community-college aid
The Academic & CTE Scholarship & Career Builders
The Ohio College Opportunity Grant & Choose Ohio First
Oklahoma's Promise & the Tuition Aid Grant
The Oregon Opportunity Grant & Oregon Promise
The PA State Grant & PA-TIP
The RI Promise & Hope Scholarship
Palmetto Fellows, LIFE & HOPE scholarships
The SD Opportunity, Dakota Corps & Build Dakota
Tennessee Promise, HOPE & Reconnect
TEXAS Grant, TEOG & the Tuition Equalization Grant
The Utah Promise & Opportunity (Regents') Scholarship
The Vermont Grant & 802 Opportunity Grant
VGAP, the Commonwealth Award, VTAG & G3
The Washington College Grant & College Bound
DCTAG, DC Futures & Mayor's Scholars
The PROMISE Scholarship & WV Invests
The Wisconsin Grant & Talent Incentive Program
The Hathaway Scholarship & Wyoming Works