Gift aid
Grants usually come from governments or schools and are often based on financial need. Scholarships are often based on merit or a specific characteristic. Neither is normally repaid, though conditions such as keeping a minimum grade can apply.
Aid you earn
Work-study lets a student earn money through a part-time job, usually on or near campus. It is paid in paychecks over time rather than as a lump sum.
Aid you repay
Loans must be repaid, and interest generally applies. Federal and private loans work differently, so the lender and terms are worth reading carefully.
Read the lines
An offer letter may bundle all three. A short habit is to underline each line as gift, earned or repaid, and bring questions to the aid office. We do not decide aid for anyone.
Semestelo is an information website, not a school, college, lender, scholarship service, or government agency. We do not hand out grants, process applications, arrange loans, or pass your details to schools, lenders, or programs. The guides are general information, not financial, legal, or admissions advice.