Types of Financial Aid
Learn about grants, loans (subsidized and unsubsidized), Work Study, and application procedures for veterans, study abroad, certificate programs, summer aid, and more. (For scholarship information, visit the Scholarships section of this site.)
Grants
A grant is free money that you do not have to repay as long as you meet all requirements. Most grants are awarded based on financial need. For some grants, a minimum grade point average is also required. Some programs have a limit on how long you can receive the grant.
Loans
A loan is an amount of money that you borrow and repay at a later date, usually with interest. SDSU students may apply for the following loans:
- There are 4 federal Direct Loan options:
- Subsidized (undergraduates only)
- Unsubsidized
- Grad PLUS
- Parent PLUS
- Alternative (private) loans
Work study
Learn about Federal Work Study (FWS), a part-time employment program with a flexible schedule, that helps students meet their cost of attendance. Find out how you can get a job, how much you can work and earn, and learn about summer work study. Includes information for Department Coordinators who work with students and departments to facilitate FWS on campus.