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The first step is to figure out how much you and your family can contribute to the cost of your education. This is important because it will help you determine how much financial aid you need. Keep in mind that even small gifts can help with the cost of textbooks and school supplies. The government and organizations from which you request scholarships and loans will also want to know how much money you and your family have available, so this is information you should gather ahead of time.

Grants are a form of financial aid you do not have to pay back (unless you withdraw from school). They can be based on how much financial aid you need or on your high school grades, and they can come from colleges and universities, community groups, professional associations, private companies and federal and state governments.

• Federal Grants: The federal government offers grants based on need to undergraduates. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be used for federal grants and loans. Types of federal grants include:
  • Pell Grants
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs)
• State Grants: The Cal Grant is a grant funded by the state of California to help students pay for college expenses. They do not need to be paid back. Recipients must meet eligibility, income and academic requirements.
• School Grants: Many schools have scholarship funds that students can apply for using a form called the financial aid PROFILE. The PROFILE can be requested along with an application for admissions.
  • Community College Grants
  • Your School: Contact the financial aid department at your school directly to ask about scholarships and grants that may be available to you.
• Scholarships: Finding scholarships is an area where doing research really pays off. At a minimum, you should look into scholarships offered by federal and state governments and the colleges or universities you might attend. You can also find out about scholarships on the Internet; however, be careful of scholarship fraud. According to the U.S. Department of Education, families lose millions of dollars each year applying for phony scholarships. Visit our Health scholarships section to browse available scholarships.

Schools and employers located close to schools typically offer many jobs to students who need or want to work part-time to pay educational expenses. Part-time employment on campus is a great choice because it is easy to get there. Possible employment options on campus include jobs in a school’s libraries, cafeterias, departmental offices and laboratories, as well as work for individual teachers or professors. The Federal Work-Study Program also funds undergraduate and graduate students who work part-time in community service jobs on or off campus.

Loans are financial aid that must be repaid with interest. There are loan programs offered through credit unions, banks and the federal government.

• Federal Loans: The federal government is the largest source of student loans. Since applying for these loans is free, you should apply if you meet the basic qualifications. In general, a student must demonstrate financial need, be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and have a high school diploma or GED. The U.S. Department of Education then determines how much the student’s family can afford to pay and loans the student funds to cover the remaining costs at favorable interest rates. Learn more from the U.S. Federal Student Aid Web site or the Department of Education’s book Federal Student Aid at a Glance, which is available in English and Spanish. You can get a copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at studentaid.ed.gov.

Figuring out which financial aid options are right for you can be complicated. Here are some sites that can help you get started:

• ICanAffordCollege.com
• Federal Student Aid
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Cal Grant
• National College Access Network
• COPE Health Solutions Scholarship Programs
• FinAid
• Fast Web
• College Scholarships, Colleges and Online Degrees
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund
• Black Excel
• California Colleges
• College Board: Pay For College

Loan forgiveness programs are available to encourage students to pursue specific jobs. Some employers or government programs will pay for some or all of your loans as long as you fulfill certain work-related requirements.

• California Health Professions Loan Repayment Program
• California Bachelor of Science Nursing Loan Repayment Program
• California Licensed Vocational Nurse Loan Repayment Program
• California Licensed Mental Health Services Provider Education Program
• Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program
• National Health Service Corps
• Loan Forgiveness for California Nursing Faculty

Some employers — especially large employers like hospitals, medical centers and universities — will pay some or all of the costs of job-related education and training. Tuition reimbursement is available for employees who enroll in training programs or higher-education courses that will enhance their skills and knowledge related to the job. Tuition reimbursement programs differ by employer, so ask about eligibility before you are hired or once you have the job.