The financial aid package a college offers you may be less than the total cost of attending that college, which means you’ll have to come up with the remaining amount. Even if you and your family don’t have the money to pay the remaining amount, you have a lot of options. You can:

• Apply for scholarships. Many scholarships are meant specifically to bridge the gap between the money you need to go to college and the money provided by state and federal financial aid packages. (See list of scholarships available for DC students.)
  
• Get a summer or part-time job, which might provide enough income or savings.
• Find ways to keep costs down while in school — maybe by getting a roommate to decrease living expenses or living close to campus to reduce transportation costs — which will help you in the long run.
• Consider taking out additional loans, like a PLUS loan or private loans, although private loans should be considered only as a last resort. Before you apply for a private loan, be sure to talk to the college’s financial aid office about other options and the impact a private loan may have on your financial aid.