Financial aid is money to help meet school costs. All colleges and universities and many vocational schools provide financial aid to students who need help paying for school. The money for financial aid comes from the federal and state governments, banks, the schools, and private donors. You must apply for financial aid to get it.
Job Corps 
is a U.S. Department of Labor program which offers
free education, leading to a high school diploma or GED. The program offers career training and assistance in finding and keeping a job. Eligible youth must be at least sixteen. Resources are available for English Language Learners as well. Visit the Job Corps website to find out if you are eligible, and select from 122 locations across the country.
To search for Financial Aid programs and scholarships in the State of Illinois, visit the
Illinois Career Information System ,
College Zone , or
FastWeb . You can also visit the
U.S. Department of Education Application for Federal Student Aid web site .
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Where does most financial aid come from?
Most of the aid that students get comes through the schools' financial aid programs. You must apply for this aid. The application is completed separately from the admission application. The amount and kind of aid you get is based on your financial need, your academic record, and on the kinds of aid available at the schools you apply to.
Are there other sources of financial aid?
Financial aid is also available through many other sources that are not related to the schools to which you are applying. For these, you apply directly to the award sponsor. CIS's Financial Aid File provides information about many of these sources. College Zone provides information and links to the different State of Illinois financial aid programs available for Illinois resident college students.
How much financial aid can I get?
When you apply for financial aid, the school figures out how much you and your family are expected to be able to pay. This amount is called the Expected Family Contribution. Then, the school compares the EFC to the amount they think that it will cost you to pay for tuition, fees, books, and living expenses. If the EFC does not cover all the costs, the school will try to make up the difference with financial aid. Calculators are available on the Internet to estimate eligibility for federal need-based financial aid and costs of attending specific institutions. One such calculator is available through the ACT Financial Aid Need Estimator . Also College Zone provides a list of related calculators, such as the State & Federal Aid Estimator, College Cost Calculator, and many others.
What can I use financial aid to pay for?
In many cases, your financial aid package will just be used to pay the bill for tuition and fees. Any money left over will be given back to you to pay for other expenses such as books and living expenses. However, this is not always the case. Some scholarships are reserved for specific types of expenses. Some scholarships can be used to pay tuition and not fees, and some scholarships are only for books. Be sure to look at each scholarship you are applying for to see what costs it covers.