Paying for college isn 't a simple process, but with the right resources, you can support your education in the best possible way. Let’s take a moment to figure out what options you have. As you prepare to go off to college, it’s very important to remember that the prices you might see listed for colleges is not the price you will have to pay. Most students will see these sticker prices and won’t even try applying for them. Do not make this mistake because sometimes the colleges with the highest sticker prices offer the lowest net prices to students who don’t have a lot of money (aka you). This is why net price is a more important number to consider than sticker price. There are several ways to help cover college: Student financial aid is funding that is available to students attending college. This financing is to offer assistance in covering the numerous costs that come with college. Financial aid is available from federal, state, educational institutions, and private agencies, and can be awarded in the forms such as grants, education loans, work-study and scholarships. In order to apply for federal financial aid, students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Being qualified for grants is usually determined by financial need and academic credit. The application process is set by the agency providing the funds and is based on information given by FAFSA. A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to help further their education.