Disclaimer and How We Make Money
Last updated: October 19, 2026. First published April 20, 2018.
You should always do your own research before signing up for any product or service online.
How we make money
GrantOwl is free to use. To keep it that way, we earn money in a few ways:
- Advertising. We show ads from third-party ad networks. Ads are labeled "Advertisement".
- Partner links and offers. Some links and offers on our site go to partners, such as schools, lenders and other services. If you click one and sign up or buy something, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Partner offers are labeled with the partner's name.
- Sponsorship. We may also accept sponsorship or other forms of paid placement. Paid placements will always be clearly identified.
Our content stays independent
The money we earn never influences what we write, which topics we cover or what our guides say. We don't accept payment for positive reviews, and our advertisers and partners don't review or approve our guides before we publish them.
The views and opinions on this site are our own. Any claim, statistic, quote or other statement about a product or service made by an advertiser or partner should be checked with that company.
Information, not advice
Our guides are general information to help you understand your options. They are not financial, legal or tax advice, and they don't take your personal situation into account.
Financial aid and student loan rules change often. We work hard to keep our guides accurate and up to date, but we can't guarantee that every detail is current. Always check important information, such as eligibility rules, interest rates and deadlines, with official sources like studentaid.gov, or with a qualified professional.
We're independent
GrantOwl is an independent website. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the U.S. Department of Education or any other government agency.
Applying for federal student aid is always free. You never have to pay to fill out the FAFSA at studentaid.gov.
Questions
If you have questions about this disclaimer, please contact us or email [email protected].