Financial aid · Updated October 13, 2026
Know what is in an aid offer
An aid offer can combine different kinds of funding. Read each item’s conditions and compare the offer with the full cost of attendance.
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Start with the details
Identify grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans as separate items.
Check which amounts are confirmed, which are estimates, and which have conditions or repayment obligations.
Ask the school’s financial aid office about deadlines, renewal, and costs the offer does not cover.
Questions worth asking
- Which amounts are available this year only?
- What do I need to do to keep or accept each item?
- What costs remain after confirmed aid is applied?
A detail to keep in mind
We are not a school or government agency. Use Federal Student Aid and your school’s official channels for current eligibility, applications, and deadlines.
Continue with an official resource
For current information and the next steps that apply to your situation, visit Federal Student Aid: Types of aid. These resources are educational links, not endorsements or guarantees.