Education
Four patterns that cover almost every student aid scam
Each has a tell that appears before any money moves, and every one of them is contradicted by something published for free.
A fee to file a free form. The federal application costs nothing to file, correct or re-file. Any service charging to submit it is charging for something you can do yourself at no cost. Some such services are lawful; none is necessary.
An award promised before you apply. Nobody can say what you will receive before an application exists, because the decision belongs to the programme and the school and is made on information not yet submitted. A promised outcome, or a figure attached to your name in advance, is the clearest single signal that something is wrong.
A request for your federal aid account credentials. No legitimate organisation needs them. Anyone holding them can alter an application and redirect money, and no service genuinely requires them to help.
A name or seal resembling a government agency, with urgency about a deadline that turns out not to exist. The agency does not telephone offering to secure a grant for a fee.
What to do next. When something arrives unsolicited, go to studentaid.gov directly rather than through any link you were sent, and ring your school's aid office.
studentaid.gov outranks this page. Rules, figures and dates change
between academic years. This is written to help you read the official sources, not to
stand in front of them. Start there.
Nothing here is a determination. We cannot tell you what you qualify
for, and no website can. The programme and the office that runs it decide that, after
you apply.
Still have a question?
Describe what you are trying to work out and a member of the team will answer, or direct you to the office that makes the decision.