• Grant programs

Scholarships
Awards based on some kind of special achievement, either academic, athletic, or service. These are merit-based and do not need to be repaid. Many schools and local organizations also provide scholarships.

• Scholarship programs
• Scholarship scams: Student financial aid involves billions of dollars. And where there's that much money, there are lots of people who will try to make money of unwary students and parents. Read this section so you don't get taken in by scams.

Work-study
Part-time employment that lets a student earn money toward a college education either on or off campus. This can be through the Federal Work-Study Program or a college's work-study program.

• Work-study programs

Student loans
Money borrowed, either from a bank, the government, or a school. A student loan must be repaid. However, low interest rates are available, and repayment doesn't start until you've either left school or graduated. The major loan programs are Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Stafford Loans and Federal PLUS Loans (for parents). In addition, some schools have their own loan programs, and some lenders offer alternative, or private, loans.

• Student loan programs
• Glossary of technical terms: About two-thirds of all students who get a higher education will have to take out student loans, which means you need to know student loan terms. These definitions will help.
• Managing your student loan: After you've finished your higher education, you have to pay back any student loans you received. If you don't you can get into a lot of trouble. Here's advice on how to keep out of trouble — or what to do if you're already in trouble.
• Tips for student loan borrowers: If you have to borrow student loans to pay for school, borrow wisely. These tips will help.

Conversion scholarships/loans
Scholarships that require you to provide certain services for a period of time. If you don't, you have to repay the money with interest. These include the Alabama Nursing Scholarship.

• Conversion scholarship/loan programs

Waivers
An arrangement offered by some schools to eliminate certain costs for students who meet certain qualifications. These include waivers for dependents of blind parents and survivors of police officers and firefighters killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.

• Waiver programs

Military benefits
Financial assistance offered to individuals (or their dependents) who either were or are going to be in the U.S. Armed Forces.

• Military benefit programs

Prepaid tuition
A contract guaranteeing fully paid tuition for a fixed number of credit hours at a participating school. You have to pay a certain amount up front. The Alabama Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (PACT) is such a program. Alabama also has a college-savings program, the Alabama Higher Education 529 Fund. Both are administered by the State Treasurer's Office.

• Qualified state tuition programs

National service award
An award received for education expenses in return for national or community service. AmeriCorps is such a program.

• National service award programs