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Federal Student Aid


Federal Student Aid
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Through Federal Student Aid (a performance-based organization), the U.S. Department of Education awards more than $120 billion a year in grants, work-study funds, and low-interest loans to approximately 13 million students.

Chief Operating Officer: Richard Cordray

     Federal Student Aid's Performance

     How we serve the public

  • Applying for federal grants, loans, and work-study costs nothing! More than 21 million students used the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) last year, and many of them apply online at FAFSA on the Web.
  • Visit StudentAid.gov for complete information on receiving federal financial aid for college. The Federal Student Aid Information Center helps students complete the FAFSA and provides the public with free information about our programs. Call 1-800-4-FED-AID to speak to a specialist about the programs.
  • The Knowledge Center website is an indispensable source of guidance for financial aid administrators, auditors, and others who are involved with the Federal Student Aid Programs. You will find Dear Colleague Letters, electronic announcements, the FSA Handbook and other publications, and much more.
  • Also for financial aid professionals is the Postsecondary Education Participants System or PEPS. At the PEPS website you'll find reports of closed schools, the Case Management and Oversight weekly institutional updates, and other information.
  • We have an Ombudsman's office to assist borrowers in resolving student loan issues.
  • The HEA authorizes an "experimental sites" initiative that allows schools that apply and qualify for participation to use alternative methods to meet some of the requirements for administering the Federal Student Aid programs. See the website for more information.

StudentAid.gov | Knowledge Center | Training for Financial Aid Professionals

Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA)
Page Last Reviewed:
May 22, 2023