According to the U.S. Department of Education, many students-especially those whose parents never attended college-assume that a postsecondary education is out of their financial reach. While it is true that the costs associated with college keep increasing, the options for financing education have also increased. As the number of options have grown, however, so has the confusion, and many teens find themselves in a state of bewilderment when considering the vast array of scholarships, grants, loans, deferments, work-study programs, and education benefits associated with specialized interests.