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For students who need some sort of financial assistance to attend college, it’s a good thing grants are no longer limited to just the one that was offered by Lady Anne Mowlson in 1643. She is credited with offering the first ever college grant of 100 pounds to Harvard in that year. Now, a little exploration of grants will show federal SEOG Grants, Pell Grants, and Federal PLUS loans. Those are only the tip of the financial aid iceberg.

If you were part of the moneyed class during pre-revolutionary times and even quite a bit beyond, Harvard was your only choice for college. If someone didn’t qualify, they worked as an apprentice for someone who could teach them a trade. For children, education was often interrupted during the spring (for planting) and the fall (for harvesting). For most, the idea of a college education simply didn’t exist.

To answer the financial needs of students who would like to attend college, the Department of Education has a dedicated database service that lets students apply for a multitude of grants, scholarships and loans, including National Direct Student Loans. Private institutions also offer financial assistance, and of course, there is the well-known Pell Grant.

So, with all the information out there, where should a student start looking for the assistance they need to realize a college dream? Begin with FASFA4Caster, a service offered by the Department of Education. Students will create an account, their own MyFASFA, which will assist them as they navigate the financial aid options available for which they qualify.

The simple truth is that unless a student’s last name is Gates, Buffet, or Jobs or if that student has hit the Lotto, the student will need some sort of financial assistance. By that we don’t mean robbing a bank either!. USA Today recently reported that the annual cost of higher education is over $15,000 a semester. The maximum the Pell Grant currently delivers is $5,350.

If you’re talented enough to get into a school like Harvard, or even Harvard itself, you may find they are one of the few that adjust their tuition based on a student’s need. Yet, every college and university, both on-campus institutions and those online, are staffed with financial aid officers who have been trained to assist students in finding the monies they need to go to college. While there is information on the Department of Education’s website, students will find exploring this information on their own may turn up unexpected resources.

Are you over the age of 25? One in four new and returning students are. Are you a single mom or dad? A military veteran? A member of an ethnic group, such as Native American? A financial officer will be able to find assistance for these groups as it applies to their individual situation. They’ll also help with the paperwork, usually substantial, and will with each new and returning student to meet their education needs.

So, the general overview is times have changed considerably since Lady Mowlson. It costs a lot more than 100 pounds to go to Harvard. At the same time, there are a lot more Mowlsons out there in the world, and a number of fine institutions besides America’s first college. A little work looking into online schools information, some help with financial aid options, and you will find them.