Types of Aid

Scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study employment are all considered financial aid.


  • Loans & work-study employment – because loans must be repaid and student employment must be earned, they are sometimes referred to as “self-help.”
  • Scholarships and grants – because these do not have to be repaid, they are sometimes referred to as “gift aid.”

Typically, applicants are offered a financial aid package consisting of a combination of awards from various types of aid programs.