Canada and US · Free
Student aid you may be missing
Some aid only reaches students who fill in the form. Check each item, tap through to the official site, and tick it off. Your ticks stay in this browser; we don’t collect anything. Your country choice is kept in this browser too. Ticks on cards for a particular group are kept only while the page is open. Answer a few quick questions and we sort the list for you.
Which of these could be for you?
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The full list
Showing 18 of 18 items.
Ontario
Apply for OSAP
OSAP is Ontario's help paying for college or university. You apply online with an OSAP account. If it's your first full-time application, a short information module (about 15 minutes) comes first. You may qualify; OSAP decides.
- Who it may be for
- Students in Ontario. For 2025-26 and 2026-27, OSAP is paused for students at Ontario private institutions.
- The form
- The OSAP application, online with an OSAP account.
- What to have ready
- An OSAP account (register on the OSAP site)
- About 15 minutes for the information module, if it's your first full-time application
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
Canada
Canada Student Grants come with your provincial application
There's no separate federal form. Full-time students in financial need are assessed automatically when they apply for student aid with their province or territory (OSAP in Ontario). If you never apply, you're never assessed.
- Who it may be for
- Full-time students in financial need. Not for students from Quebec, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut, which have their own programs. Most students at private, for-profit schools are no longer eligible.
- The form
- No extra form. It's part of your provincial application (OSAP in Ontario).
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
Ontario
Apply before your OSAP deadline
For full-time OSAP, apply no later than 60 days before the end of your study period. Your own date depends on when your study period ends, so check the OSAP page and your school. OSAP decides who qualifies.
- Who it may be for
- Students applying for OSAP. For 2025-26 and 2026-27, OSAP is paused for students at Ontario private institutions.
- The form
- The OSAP application.
- What to have ready
- Your study period end date (from your school)
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
Ontario
Ask your school about bursaries
Many Ontario schools have their own bursaries for students with financial need, and some ask you to apply for OSAP first and use their own application. Funds are limited and each school sets its own rules and deadlines. Check your school's financial aid page, or ask the financial aid office. You may qualify; your school decides.
- Who it may be for
- Students at any Ontario college or university.
- The form
- Your school's own bursary form (each school is different).
- What to have ready
- Whatever your school's bursary page asks for
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
Canada
Aged 18 to 20? You can apply for the Canada Learning Bond yourself
The Canada Learning Bond is federal money paid into an RESP. If it was never requested for you, you can apply yourself from age 18 until the day before you turn 21. You don't have to put your own money into the RESP. Some RESP providers charge fees, so ask first. You may qualify; the Government of Canada decides.
- Who it may be for
- People born on or after January 1, 2004 who live in Canada, have a SIN, and whose family income met the program's income test for at least one year.
- The form
- A bank, credit union or other RESP provider that offers the Canada Learning Bond can help you open the RESP and apply.
- What to have ready
- Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- An RESP in your name (the provider helps you open one)
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
United States
In the US? The FAFSA is the door
One free form, the FAFSA, is what the federal government, your state and your school use to decide what aid you may get, including the federal Pell Grant. Your school and state deadlines usually come before the federal one, so check those first. You may qualify even if you think you won't.
- Who it may be for
- US students going to college, career school or graduate school.
- The form
- The FAFSA, free on StudentAid.gov.
- What to have ready
- A StudentAid.gov account
- Your school's and your state's FAFSA deadlines (each is different)
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
United States
Don't skip the Pell Grant because you think you earn too much
A Federal Pell Grant usually doesn't have to be paid back. It's mostly for undergraduates with financial need, and you apply for it with the FAFSA. Need isn't just income: family size counts too. You may qualify; the US Department of Education decides.
- Who it may be for
- Undergraduate students who don't yet have a bachelor's, graduate or professional degree, and who have financial need.
- The form
- No separate form. It comes with your FAFSA.
- What to have ready
- Your FAFSA (your Submission Summary shows an estimated Pell Grant, if any)
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
United States
Your state's grant deadline may come first
Many states give their own grants and scholarships using your FAFSA, and each state sets its own deadline. Some are early, and some give aid only while funds last. Look up your state before you file.
- Who it may be for
- US students. Check your state's rule on which state counts as yours.
- The form
- The FAFSA, plus any extra form your state's education agency asks for.
- What to have ready
- Your state's FAFSA deadline, from the StudentAid.gov list
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
Canada
Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities
A federal grant for students with financial need who have a disability recognized by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program. Apply for student aid with your province or territory, and include a document that shows you have a disability. Your student aid office can tell you which documents it accepts. You may qualify; the program decides.
- Who it may be for
- Students with financial need who have a disability recognized by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program. Not for students from Quebec, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut, which have their own student aid programs.
- The form
- Your province's or territory's student aid application, with a document that shows you have a disability.
- What to have ready
- A document that shows you have a disability (ask your student aid office which ones it accepts)
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
Canada
Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants
A federal grant for full-time students who have a dependant under 12 years old at the beginning of the study period, or over 12 with a permanent disability. You are automatically assessed when you apply for student aid with your province or territory. There is a family income test. You may qualify; the program decides.
- Who it may be for
- Full-time students in a qualified program at a designated school who have a dependant and whose family income meets the program's test. Not for students from Quebec, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut.
- The form
- No extra form. It's part of your provincial or territorial student aid application.
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
Canada
Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students
A federal grant for part-time students whose family income meets the program's test. Apply for student aid with your province or territory. You need to have successfully completed the courses you have been given a grant for in the past. Part-time students with dependants can be looked at for a second grant when this one doesn't meet their need. You may qualify; the program decides.
- Who it may be for
- Part-time students whose family income meets the program's test. Not for students from Quebec, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut. In Ontario you apply through OSAP, which is paused for students at private postsecondary institutions for 2025-26 and 2026-27.
- The form
- Your province's or territory's student aid application (OSAP in Ontario).
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
Canada
Post-Secondary Student Support Program
For First Nations students. It is run by First Nations and First Nations organizations, so your First Nation or band education office can tell you if you can apply and when. Funding is limited and not all students may be funded. Inuit and Métis students: Inuit-led and Métis Nation programs fund post-secondary students. Start with the Inuit and Métis links on this card.
- Who it may be for
- First Nations students. Inuit and Métis students have their own programs, linked here.
- The form
- Contact your First Nation, First Nations-designated organization, local band office or Indigenous Services Canada regional office to find out when to apply.
- Inuit post-secondary funding on sac-isc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Métis Nation post-secondary funding on sac-isc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
Canada
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit): file a tax return, even with no income
The Canada Revenue Agency pays this benefit. In most cases there is no application: you file a tax return every year, even if you had no income. If you are new to Canada, you may need to apply the first year. You may qualify; the Canada Revenue Agency decides.
This comes through the tax system, not from your school. Not tax advice.
- Who it may be for
- Residents of Canada for tax purposes who are at least 19. Under 19, it can still fit if you have (or had) a spouse or common-law partner, or you are a parent living with your child.
- The form
- Your yearly tax return. In most cases, no separate application.
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
United States
Ask your school about Federal Work-Study
Federal Work-Study is for undergraduate, graduate and professional students with financial need, whether they study full-time or part-time. Your school has to take part, and funds are limited, so apply early. Fill out the FAFSA form, then ask your school's financial aid office about work-study. You may qualify; your school decides.
- Who it may be for
- Undergraduate, graduate and professional students with financial need, full-time or part-time, at a school that takes part.
- The form
- The FAFSA. Then ask your school's financial aid office about work-study.
- What to have ready
- Your FAFSA
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
United States
FSEOG: an extra federal grant some schools give
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Schools must first consider students with the most need who also get a Pell Grant. Not all schools take part, and the funds run out. You must fill out the FAFSA, and each school sets its own deadlines for campus-based funds. You may qualify; your school decides.
- Who it may be for
- Undergraduates with exceptional financial need who don't yet have a bachelor's degree, at a school that takes part.
- The form
- The FAFSA. Ask your school's financial aid office about its own deadline.
- What to have ready
- Your FAFSA
- Your school's deadline for campus-based funds
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
United States
Paying tuition? Check the American Opportunity Tax Credit
A federal tax credit for education costs, only while the student hasn't completed the first 4 years of postsecondary education. The student has to be working toward a degree or other credential and be enrolled at least half-time for at least one academic period. The student can be you, your spouse or a dependent you claim. There is an income limit. After the first 4 years, the same IRS page covers the Lifetime Learning Credit. The IRS decides.
This is a tax credit, not aid from your school. Not tax advice.
- Who it may be for
- Students in their first 4 years of postsecondary education, enrolled at least half-time, or the person who claims them on a tax return.
- The form
- Your federal tax return. Your school sends Form 1098-T.
- What to have ready
- Form 1098-T from your school
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
United States
Veteran, service member or military family? Check VA education benefits
VA education benefits include the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30) and the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606). For family members, VA lists transferred education benefits, Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA or Chapter 35) and the Fry Scholarship. Apply on VA.gov, then follow the next steps VA gives you.
VA decides who can use these benefits. VA.gov lists them.
- Who it may be for
- Service members, veterans and some of their spouses and children.
- The form
- The education benefits application on VA.gov.
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
United States
SNAP food help has student rules, with exceptions
SNAP helps people buy food. Students enrolled at least half-time in college usually have to meet one of the student exemptions as well as the income and resource limits. The official page lists the exemptions, for example working at least 20 hours a week, taking part in work study, or caring for a young child. You apply in the state you live in.
Your state's SNAP office decides. The student rules have exceptions; the official page lists them.
- Who it may be for
- Students who meet the income and resource limits. If you study at least half-time, you usually also need one of the exemptions on the official page.
- The form
- Your state's SNAP application.
Last checked 2026-11-13 on the official page. Confirm there; the program decides who qualifies.
Education only, not financial, tax or legal advice. WealthNutz is not the government or your school. You may qualify; the program decides, so always confirm on the official page. Taps on most official links are counted as page views that show which link was opened, never your name or your answers; the disability grant link is not counted.