What is financial aid?
Financial aid is any money that helps you pay for college. There are various types of financial aid, some of which need to be paid back and some that are gift aid, such as scholarships and grants. This page will cover the most common types of financial aid, and the sources of aid.
If you have any questions about financial aid, reach out to your admissions counselor and they will be happy to help!
Sources of Aid
There are four main sources of financial aid:
This is the largest source of financial aid and we recommend every student apply for federal aid. You just need to complete the FAFSA to be eligible, which takes about 30 minutes. The FAFSA opens each year on Oct. 1 and you need to use Brenau’s code 001556 to release your FAFSA to Brenau.
Apply for Federal Aid at studentaid.orgGeorgia has various financial aid opportunities for students, including the HOPE Scholarships, the Zell Miller Scholarship and the Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant.
Apply for State Aid at gafutures.orgBrenau Aid, also known as institutional aid, comes in a variety of forms. Brenau provides merit scholarships based on academic performance to undergraduate students. Student athletes and performance or fine art students may receive additional scholarship funding through their team or academic department. Brenau has additional scholarship opportunities that are either based on a competitive application or awarded directly by academic departments.
Visit Our Scholarships PageVarious private organizations offer scholarships for students who meet a wide range of qualifications. These scholarships are not affiliated with Brenau, but can help fill in any gaps you may have in your financial aid package. To learn more about private scholarships, visit fastweb.com. If you have any questions about the legitimacy of private scholarships, reach out to Brenau’s financial aid team.
Visit fastweb.comTypes of Aid
Grants and scholarships are two types of financial aid that you do not need to pay back. Both of these are gifts from one of the financial aid sources to help support your college journey. Grants are typically given based on need and scholarships based on merit, academic performance or artistic or athletic talent.
The Federal Work-Study program helps students pay for college by working in an on-campus job funded by the federal government. Work-study opportunities are given based on financial need and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. You must file a FAFSA to be eligible for Federal Work-Study.
Learn More About Work-StudyMany students take loans to help fund some or all of their education. This is financial aid that you need to pay back, either while attending school or after. Each student must complete loan entrance counseling and sign their Master Promissory Note to accept their aid.
There are several types of loans available:
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- Direct Subsidized Loans – These loans are available to undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need. The federal government pays the interest on this loan as long as you are enrolled at least half-time and for the first six months after you complete your education.
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- Direct Unsubsidized Loans – These loans are available for undergraduate and graduate students regardless of financial need. You will be responsible for paying the interest on these loans at all times.
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- Direct PLUS Loan for Parents – These loans are designed to cover the costs for undergraduate students that are not covered by other sources of financial aid. The parent is the borrower and is responsible for repaying the loan (not the student). Parents must complete a credit check when applying for Parent PLUS loans.
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- Direct PLUS Loan for Graduate or Professional Students – These loans help graduate students cover cost of attendance not met by other financial aid. Graduate student must complete a credit check when applying for Grad PLUS loans
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- Note: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has ended the Grad PLUS loan program for new borrowers beginning on July 1, 2026.
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- Direct PLUS Loan for Graduate or Professional Students – These loans help graduate students cover cost of attendance not met by other financial aid. Graduate student must complete a credit check when applying for Grad PLUS loans
- Private Loans – A variety of private loan options are also available to help students and families cover additional education costs. Borrowers will need to complete a credit check while applying and interest rates are based on credit factors. Learn more about private loans.
To learn more about the various types of student loans, lifetime borrowing limits and how loans are distributed, visit studentaid.gov’s Federal Student Loans page.