Which type of aid should be your last resort to paying for college?

Asked by: Reed Murray  |  Last update: October 5, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (48 votes)

Of course, loans should be your last resort for paying for school. However, we do not have enough funds to award grants to all of you, so we end up awarding some loans to help you meet your financial need. We encourage students to fully utilize grants, scholarships and employment wages before considering loans.

Which type of student aid should be your last resort for funding?

Direct Loans

The Federal Direct Loan program is a federally-funded loan program available to students (and/or their parents) who need additional resources to pay for educationally related expenses. This loan program should be considered only as a last resort after all other options have been considered.

What is the best type of financial aid to accept?

Grants and scholarships are the most desirable forms of financial aid because they come in the form of free money, often with no strings attached. Some grants and scholarships are applied right to your bill - you often see this with federal and school-based aid.

Should student loans be a last resort?

Private loans generally should be taken out only as a last resort. Here are some steps you should complete before taking out a private loan: Research the various loans that are available. Carefully compare the terms and conditions of each loan, from interest rates and borrower benefits to fees and repayment plans.

What type of financial aid for college must usually be repaid?

A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. If you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your school's financial aid offer. When you receive a student loan, you are borrowing money to attend a college or career school. You must repay the loan as well as interest that accrues.

3 FAFSA secrets to help you get the most financial aid

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What type of aid needs to be repaid?

Grants and work-study typically don't require reimbursement. Federal student loans, on the other hand, are borrowed from the U.S. government and must be repaid, usually with interest. All federal undergraduate loans have a fixed interest rate, determined by Congress.

What are 4 types of financial aid?

Learn about the most common ways to get help paying for college and trade or career school. Options include grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study.

What type of student loan should be your last resort when searching for loans?

Unlike federal subsidized and unsubsidized student loans, private student loans require an application process, and approval is not always guaranteed. Private student loans should be the last option you consider after maximizing all other types of financial aid.

Who is the last resort to get a loan?

The Fed, or the Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States, is the nation's lender of last resort because it has the ability to support financial institutions in distress by providing them with financial assistance, usually loans, to prevent their collapse and economic contagion.

Which type of aid always requires that you fill out the FAFSA?

You need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to be eligible for federal student aid such as federal grants, work-study funds, and loans.

What type of financial aid must be paid?

Grants: Financial aid that generally doesn't have to be repaid. Loans: Borrowed money for college or career school; your loans must be repaid with interest.

Which type of aid is the least desirable?

"The rule is: free money first (scholarships and grants), then earned money (work-study), then borrowed money (federal student loans)," the US Department of Education writes on its website, adding that private loans should be the last resort.

Which financial aid should you accept first?

Subsidized loans don't generally start accruing (accumulating) interest until you leave school (or drop below half-time enrollment), so accept a subsidized loan before an unsubsidized loan. Next, accept an unsubsidized loan before a PLUS loan.

Why are private student loans the last type of financial aid you should utilize?

Students should not use private student loans until their federal loan options have been exhausted, as federal loans typically have lower interest rates. There are a variety of private student loan options, and students must research which option is best for them.

Which is the best kind of financial aid?

Tier 1: Grants and Scholarships

Grants and scholarships are the most desirable forms of financial aid because they come in the form of free money, often with no strings attached. Some grants and scholarships are applied right to your bill - you often see this with federal and school-based aid.

What's the difference between need and merit-based aid?

Qualifying for need-based aid depends entirely on the family's financial circumstances. Merit aid is awarded based on a student's academic, athletic, artistic, or other abilities and achievements, regardless of their financial circumstances.

What is the loan of last resort?

A facility, often referred to as lender of last resort, where banks can borrow short term from the Federal Reserve to meet their liquidity needs, normally using Treasury securities as collateral. The interest rate charged for these advances, a tool of monetary policy, is called the “discount rate.”

What is an example of a lender of last resort?

The Federal Reserve System serves as a “lender of last resort” for insured financial institutions in the US by providing liquidity to commercial banks, thrift institutions, credit unions, or US branches and agencies of foreign banks.

What is the last resort money?

During times of financial stress, such as bank runs or liquidity shortages, the lender of last resort steps in to provide financial institutions with the liquidity they need to meet their obligations and maintain stability. This assistance can take various forms, including loans, advances, or open market operations.

What is the best type of student loan to get?

A subsidized loan is your best option. With these loans, the federal government pays the interest charges for you while you're in college. Here are the types of student loans. (Keep in mind that not all students are eligible for every loan.)

What is a parent loan in EverFi?

In some cases, the cost of attendance at these institutions balloons beyond the amount covered by a student's financial aid package, and parents may fill the gap with a PLUS (parent loan for undergraduate students), an unsubsidized federal loan issued directly to parents that accrues interest while a student is in ...

What is lender of last resort in?

In India, RBI is the lender of last resort.

How to qualify for pell grant?

Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or eligible noncitizen. Have a valid Social Security Number. Have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate OR demonstrate “ability to benefit” by passing an approved test. Meet satisfactory academic progress.

How much does the average student pay after applying for gift aid?

In general, after a student applies gift aid to public college fees, they get to pay less than $3,000. Gift aid refers to financial support towards one's education that they do not have to pay back.

What are the two main types of aid?

Types of aid
  • Bilateral aid (also known as 'tied aid') - the country receiving the aid must spend the money on goods and services from the country providing it.
  • Multilateral aid - high-income countries donate money through organisations such as the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank.