Financial Aid for Adult Students

Financial aid for adult students and graduate students is designed to help bridge the gap between college costs (tuition, fees, books, etc.) and what you are able to pay for those costs. It is important to understand the difference between the types of financial aid, as well as research all available options to maximize your investment.

• Scholarships — Because scholarships are a type of aid that does not require repayment, you should explore the full range of scholarship opportunities for your degree program. Adult student scholarships may be offered directly by the college/university, or they may be offered through other venues, such as scholarship search engines.

• Grants — Similar to scholarships, grants are a type of aid that does not need to be repaid. Grants are typically offered by the government, both federal and state. To be considered for any type of grant, like a federal Pell Grant, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early in their college search process as possible.

• Education Loans — Students may need to consider borrowing money from a lender to help pay for their education. Education loans are a type of aid that must be repaid and often come with considerable interest rates, therefore, they should be considered after exploring scholarship programs and grant opportunities.
Be sure to research financial aid options and available tuition assistance to receive the greatest value for your college investment. Start with Applying for Financial Aid.