The United States government provides a number of grants to help pay for college tuition. These grants include the Pell grant, the Academic Competitiveness Grant, the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant and the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant.
Scholarships, like grants, do not require repayment. Most scholarships are awarded based on merit and they require an application along with an essay detailing reasons you should be awarded funding.
Loans available to a number of prospective college students include Stafford loans (both interest and interest free), Federal Plus loans and Federal Perkins Loans. A number of banks offer private loans to fund education.
Grants are basically free money for school; they need not be repaid. Loans require that all funds loaned are repaid, many with interest.
Although some believe finances are standing in the way of higher education, federal programs make it possible for people in the lower income brackets to receive federal financial aid for college.