ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Student financial aid

Student financial aid is like a helper for students who need help paying for college. It is like borrowing money from someone who is nice enough to let you pay it back later.

There are different types of financial aid available to students. The first one is called grants. A grant is like a gift given to students who qualify for them. You can think of it as a present that you don't have to pay back. You get to keep the money and use it to pay for your college fees and expenses.

The second type of financial aid is called loans. A loan is like borrowing money from someone who is nice enough to let you pay it back later. But you can only borrow money from the government or banks that offer student loans. You have to pay interest on the money you borrow, which means you have to pay more money back than you borrowed. So, it’s important to only borrow what you really need to pay for your college fees and expenses.

The third type of financial aid is called work-study. Work-study is like having a part-time job that helps you pay for college. You can work on campus or off-campus and earn money to pay for your college fees and expenses.

To get financial aid, you have to fill out something called the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA asks questions about you, your family, and your finances. The information you provide helps the government figure out how much financial aid you qualify for.

Remember that financial aid is not just free money. You have to be responsible and pay it back if you borrow loans. So be wise and borrow only what you need.