Grants
Grants are free money that you don’t have to repay. They are usually based on financial need.
Scholarships
Scholarships are also free money, but they are usually based on merit, such as academic achievement or athletic ability.
Loans
Loans are money that you have to repay, with interest. They can be either subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans have lower interest rates and are based on financial need. Unsubsidized loans have higher interest rates and are not based on financial need.