Paying for College
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Most college financial aid offices will put together a personal package of financial aid for each eligible student. That package will include financial aid funds that may come from federal, state, institutional, and private sources. The package of financial aid may include dollars from gift funds (money that does not have to be repaid) along with money from loans that do have to be repaid. Let's look at sources and specific programs.

The dollars from the following two programs are outright gifts that do not have to be repaid. To investigate these grant programs, begin by filing the government's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The forms are available in college financial aid offices and on the FAFSA Web site (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov).

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
These awards supplement the Federal Pell Grant, and are a special help to students from low-income families or those having exceptional financial need. Students who file the annual FAFSA are automatically considered for these grants.

State Student Incentive Grants
These awards are made through a combination of state and federal funds and are aimed at low-family-income students or students with a significant financial need as measured by FAFSA formula calculations.