All Programs

Educational assistance, including educational loans, scholarships, fellowships, grant monies, and work study, are exempt, regardless of the source. Loans for education, including loans from relatives or other people, are considered as educational assistance only if payment is deferred.

Educational assistance is:

any financial aid for vocational or educational courses from: an organization (such as fraternal, alumni, etc.); or a government program or agency (such as the U.S. Office of Education or Department of Veterans Affairs).

provided to students who are enrolled in a: program that provides for completion of a secondary high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a general equivalency diploma [GED]); school for people with intellectual or physical disabilities; or post-secondary institution.

Note: "Post-secondary" includes institutions of higher education and others not requiring a high school diploma (such as community colleges and vocational educational programs) authorized by the state to provide educational or training programs beyond secondary education.

The U.S. Office of Education under Title IV of the Higher Education Act administers most educational assistance programs. A few examples of the most common Title IV educational assistance grants include:

Pell Grants,

Stafford Loan Program,

Parent Loans for Students (PLUS Loans),

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants,

College Work Study, and

Carl D. Perkins Loans (Title IV, Part E) (formerly National Direct Student Loans).

The National Community Services Act (NCSA) program also provides educational assistance. Individuals are awarded from $1,000 to $4,000 per year of completed services to apply toward past or future educational expenses. The educational award is not counted, as it is always made payable directly to the financial institution or institution of higher learning.

The Department of Veterans Affairs administers education programs designed for veterans, reservists, members of the National Guard, and their widows and orphans. These include:

Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) Active Duty Educational Assistance Program,

Vocational Rehabilitation,

Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP),

Survivor's and Dependent's Educational Assistance (DEA), and

MGIB - Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program.