The U.S. government provides grants, scholarships and loans for students enrolled in a higher education or vocational program. You apply for this aid by filling out the FAFSA, a form that determines how much money you'll need to pay for each year of school. Once this form has been reviewed, you'll be notified of your Expected Family Contribution, the amount of money you and your family are expected to put toward college each year (EFC). Because the FAFSA doesn't take debt into account when calculating a student's EFC, the EFC is often more than the student's family can actually afford. Most schools will make up the difference between a student's EFC and estimated college expenses through a combination of grants, loans and work study programs. These loans are backed by the government and usually have low interest rates and options to defer payments while you're in school. Most loans will accrue interest if you're not paying while you're in school, which will make your future payments higher.
Most schools will have scholarships for minority students, students with financial need and students who have demonstrated high academic potential. Though some will also have scholarships for students with particular interests or talents, scholarships can be very competitive and criteria can be strict. Some departments may also offer scholarships, though these will often require a high GPA or a polished application essay.
There are thousands of private scholarships offered by companies and organizations. Some require an essay or creative project, so if you're applying for many this can get time-consuming. Others are intended for students associated with particular cultures or groups and are therefore selective. Some are random drawings for which you need to provide your contact information. Websites like FastWeb and Peterson's provide searchable scholarship databases for this type of aid. Private scholarships are usually very competitive.
Private loans are the least desirable type of financial aid because they often have higher interest rates than government aid and less opportunities for deferment. They are also often the easiest type of financial aid to get. Many students use this type of aid to meet the difference between what they can pay and what they've received in scholarships and government aid. Many well known companies like Sallie Mae, Chase and Wells Fargo offer student loans. Be sure you understand what you're committing to before taking this route.
Even if you're not offered work study through your school, there are still lots of student jobs available in and around campus. These will often limit the number of hours you can work and usually pay minimum wage or a little above. Though you won't generally be able to make tuition payments from a part-time job, many students secure them to make spending money.