This guide describes federal student aid programs for postsecondary education and how to apply for them. It begins by outlining sources for learning about student aid, such as school financial aid administrators, state higher education agencies, foundations, organizations related to particular fields of interest, and toll-free telephone numbers for information on the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program and the AmeriCorps program. The guide presents general information about federal student aid, including eligibility in terms of need and dependency status, the application process, special circumstances, deadlines, and important phone numbers. It then provides more detailed descriptions of the Federal Pell Grant Program, Federal Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans (Loans for Parents), Consolidation Loans; and the following campus-based programs: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work-Study, and Federal Perkins Loans. The guide concludes with a discussion of borrower responsibilities and rights, procedures for loan deferment, discharge/cancellation, and a glossary of important terms. A Free Application for Federal Student Aid is included. (KG)