If you find that your family resources, scholarships, grants and your earnings from employment still fall short of covering your college costs, you can turn to loans to make up the difference. If you need to borrow, you should first explore federal student loans, like Perkins, Stafford and PLUS. Federal loans typically offer lower interest rates and fees and greater repayment flexibility. If you max out your eligibility for federal loans and still come up short of meeting your tuition and related costs, consider private student loans. In addition, some states – such as Alaska – sponsor special loan programs for their students.

Learn more about the various student loan types and terms.