NORMAL - Students thinking about college should head into the process like the movie character Jerry Maguire: "Show me the money."

Financial aid can be given based on need, or skills in academics, sports or other talents.

Aid experts say high schoolers should start by meeting with school counselors. But people with younger children also can start exploring how to cover the cost.

The Pantagraph area is home to seven higher education institutions, but comparing prices is difficult because of different financial assistance models. On the public side, there's Heartland Community College and Illinois State University. Privates include Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington; and four colleges Lincoln College, with campuses in Normal and Lincoln; Lincoln Christian College, in Lincoln; and Eureka College.

Each has different pricing, so comparisons are difficult - but costs to attend range from about $6,400 for a year at Heartland, to about $18,200 at ISU; and roughly $40,000 at Illinois Wesleyan.

Scholarships are offered through schools, community groups, employers and affinity groups, and there are work-study plans and loans. The federal Pell and Illinois' Monetary Assistance Program are two of the most well-known of a multitude of government grants.

Institutions increasingly are setting aside blocks of money to help students. Illinois State University blocked off $5 million last year to boost aid to MAP grants. Eureka College spent $2.6 million on private scholarships for the 2007-08 year.

Loans don't need to be repaid until after graduation. Most schools help students access government-regulated direct-lending programs, which have better interest rates, said Jana Albrecht, ISU director of financial aid.

Every school's financial aid office has students begin with Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as FAFSA.

"You can't get any aid unless you apply," said Cheryl Schaffer, Heartland Community College financial aid director.

Another important factor is deadlines. Once available money is gone for the semester, you're out of luck.

People intending to enroll in college any time in 2009 can begin filling out FAFSA forms after Jan. 1.

The earlier you apply for FAFSA, and other information required by a college, the sooner you'll know the true dollar amount you'll need to attend college.

"I recommend students do that as soon as they get their taxes done," said Schaffer. Every school has different priority filing deadlines. At Heartland, it's May 1 for fall semester, she said.

Echoed ISU's Rosenthal: "The No. 1 thing to do is fill out the FAFSA, and fill it out early. Some programs have limited amounts of money to pass out. And when it's gone, it's gone," he said.