A plain-English library of money for college

Why sort by who gives the money

An aid offer can mix money from four or five places, each with its own rules. A federal grant follows the FAFSA, a state grant follows the state's deadline, a college award follows the college's renewal terms, and a local scholarship follows whatever its sponsor decides.

Student Lift Network is a free library that keeps those sources apart. Its 63 articles are sorted into 6 sections, one for each source plus one on keeping the money, and 6 guides cut across all of them.

What the library offers

• Sorted by who gives the money

  Each source has its own form, dates and renewal rules, so the library keeps them apart: federal, state, college, private and local, and service and work.

• Checked against the source

  Articles follow what each agency, state, college and sponsor publishes, and name who sets a rule when it changes from place to place.

• The office decides

  Student Lift Network explains and points the way. The college, state or organization that holds the money makes every decision about it.