Postsecondary education is one of the largest investments that students and their families make, with average yearly cost of attendance--including tuition, fees, room and board--of just under $17,000 to attend a public institution in the 2015-16 academic year. In the context of increasing college costs, aid dollars have failed to keep pace with the rising number of students requiring financial assistance. This leaves many students to rely on multiple sources of support to pay for their postsecondary experience. This primer explores the main sources of support--including federal grants, state assistance programs, loans and institutional aid--that are available to students today. Each type of program is explained in detail, with particular attention to the salient characteristics for state policymakers and the potential limitations of each stream of support.