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Financing College
Paying for college can be overwhelming, but there are many ways that you can finance your education. Check out the list of ideas below or see a list of other funding options.
Cost of Attending a CES Institution
The price of tuition for each CES institution is different. You can compare the cost of each institution's tuition here.
Savings
Many students save money during high school. Learn about savings plans and investment options to make the most of the money you save.
Student Employment
More and more students are working to pay for college. For most students, part-time work will not hurt your grades, especially if you work on campus.
Family Contributions
Parents and/or other family members may be willing to financially contribute to your college education.
Federal Financial Aid
Federal financial aid can come through various grants and loans. To apply for federal financial aid, you will need to fill out the FAFSA. Doing so will determine your eligibility for the different forms of federal financial aid. Types of federal financial aid that exist can be broken down into grants and loans. Grants do not need to be repaid if rewarded.
Grants |
Loans |
|---|---|
| Pell | Stafford |
| ACG | PLUS |
| SMART |
FAFSA
Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid will ensure that you are considered for two important forms of government financial aid. Federal aid is determined by a student’s level of financial need. As a college student, you must update your FAFSA every year.
Pell Grants
What is a Pell Grant? The U.S. Department of Education awards federal Pell Grants based on financial need. They are not loans and do not need to be repaid.
Eligibility
In addition to the general federal requirements in the section on federal aid, you must:
- Be admitted as an undergraduate to a BYU degree-seeking program for a current or future enrollment period during the academic year.
- Not already have a baccalaureate degree. (If you pay graduate tuition, you are not eligible.)
Payments
If you qualify for a federal Pell Grant, we will post your annual award information to your student account. The actual amount you receive will depend on the number of hours you take each enrollment, as follows:
| Credit Hours Payment | Payment |
|---|---|
| 12 or more semester hours Full-time payment | Full-time payment |
| 9–11.5 semester hours | Three-quarter-time payment |
| 6–8.5 semester hours | Half-time payment |
| Fewer than 6 semester hours | Less than half-time payment |
ACG
Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG) are awarded based on fina
ncial need and a set of qualification criteria. These grants are not loans and do not need to be repaid. ACG are for up to $750 for the first year of academic study and up to $1,300 for the second year of academic study.
SMART
The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants are awarded based on financial need and a set of academic qualification criteria. These grants are not loans and do not need to be repaid. National SMART Grant recipients may be awarded up to $4,000 per academic year for the third and fourth years of academic study.
Stafford Loan
Federal subsidized Stafford Loans are low-interest, federally subsidized loans made available to eligible students from lending institutions to assist in paying educational expenses. If you have previous federal subsidized Stafford Loans from an out-of-state lender, we advise you to continue to use the same lender. Before applying for a subsidized Stafford Loan, you should first consider other forms of aid, including savings, family assistance, part-time employment, grants, scholarships, and awards.
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan—Students who do not qualify for a full Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan may borrow under the Unsubsidized Loan program. The government will not pay the interest on your Unsubsidized Stafford Loan.
Plus Loans
The Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is a loan that a parent may obtain on behalf of a dependent undergraduate student.
Scholarships
Research all your options for scholarships. You may find scholarships on the Internet, through your parents’ work, in your community or state, or at the college you will be attending. Contact the Scholarship Office for more information.