So you need financial aid. How's it work? The crucial first step is to fill out and file the U.S. Department of Education's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. FAFSA asks all kinds of questions aimed at determining Expected Family Contribution.

From there, the formula for financial aid success looks like this:

Total Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution = Financial Need

Total Cost of Attendance includes room and board, books and some living expenses and varies from college to college. Expected Family Contribution is the same no matter where you go.

Here's where the financial aid Counselors at Iowa Private Colleges and Universities swoop in like a pack of F-16s looking for bogies. They're extremely motivated to find aid sources that add up to that magical Financial Need number. So get with them. They're good people who will find you every dollar they can.

What's included in a typical aid package? Packages are highly individualized things, but here are some sample packages from some Iowa private colleges and universities.

Amy's Package
Need level: $16,975

Community Scholarship	$200
Corporate Scholarship	$500
Federal Direct Loan	$2,625
Federal Work Study Program	$1,700*
Institutional Grant	$1,500
Iowa Tuition Grant	$4,000
Federal Perkins Loan	$2,000
Federal Pell Grant	$2,950
Federal Supplemental Grant	$1,500
TOTAL	$16,975

Bob's Package
Need level: $13,922

Academic Scholarship	$1,750
Federal Direct Loan	$2,625
Federal Work Study Program	$1,047*
Baseball Grant	$1,000
Institutional Grant	$1,500
Iowa Tuition Grant	$4,000
Federal Perkins Loan	$2,000
TOTAL	$13,922

Rhonda's Package
Need level of $14,890

Institutional Aid	$3,010
Federal Grants	$2,200
State Grants	$4,000
Federal Work Study Program	$1,280*
Loans	$4,400
TOTAL	$14,890

Jim's Package
Need level of $12,098

Presidential Scholarship	$6,250
Federal Direct Loan	$2,625
Federal Work Study Program	$1,223*
Federal Perkins Loan	$2,000
TOTAL	$12,098

* Amount based on approved hours eligible to work and is not credited to bill. Student responsible for finding job.