If you’re not sure how you’ll pay for college or what you can afford, taking it one step at a time can help. That’s why we’ve partnered with Sallie Mae® to bring you their 1-2-3 approach to paying for college.

1) Start with money you won’t have to pay back—apply for scholarships.

Get the most free money possible. Scholarships aren’t just for straight-A students or athletes. They can be awarded for a number of criteria:

Organization memberships
Community leadership
Financial need
Ethnic, religious, or national background

2) Apply for federal and state aid—complete the FAFSA®.

Make sure to fill out and submit the FAFSA® to apply for federal and state financial aid.

You may qualify for several types of federal and state aid, including work-study and grants— which you won’t have to pay back.
There are several types of federal student loans, including Direct Subsidized Loans, which are based on financial need, and Direct Unsubsidized Loans, which are available regardless of income.

3) If you still need money for school, consider a responsible private student loan.

If you still have a gap, a private student loan can help. Private loans are different from federal student loans in

several ways:

They generally come from banks, credit unions, and fintech organizations.
They’re credit based: the lender may review your credit score, history, and other information to determine if you qualify. A cosigner—parent, guardian, or other adult—may improve the chances of approval. Some lenders offer a cosigner release option.
Your interest rate may be based on several factors, including your creditworthiness.
Like federal student loans, private student loans need to be paid back with interest.

Get started by clicking here.

Borrow responsibly: We encourage students and families to start with savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans to pay for college. Evaluate all anticipated monthly loan payments, and how much the student expects to earn in the future, before considering a private student loan. Sallie Mae does not provide, and these materials are not meant to convey, financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult your own attorney or tax advisor about your specific circumstances. Sallie Mae, the Sallie Mae logo, and other Sallie Mae names and logos are service marks or registered service marks of Sallie Mae Bank. All other names and logos used are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. FAFSA is a registered service mark of U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid.

SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank, are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America. © 2026 Sallie Mae Bank. All rights reserved. W767650 0925

2026 Scholarship Winners