Grants can be given out by the federal government, your state, or the college and are based on your financial need. Grants do not need to be repaid. At UC Berkeley 27% of undergraduates qualified for the Pell Grant.

UC Berkeley offers a range of undergraduate merit scholarships with various eligibility criteria.

Student loans are sums of money given to students to help them pay for college now. The federal government or private banks can loan the money. At UC Berkeley, 17% of undergraduates are recipients of federal loans.

Work study typically refers to part-time on-campus jobs for students whose financial aid awards include this kind of financial assistance. The money you make can help offset the cost of attending college, if you’re willing to take on the part-time work!