10/22/2026
h/t Life on the Spectrum
Many families never hear about this.
Students with an intellectual disability can get federal student aid for college through an approved Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) program. That includes many autistic students who also have an intellectual disability.
What it can include:
• Federal Pell Grants
• FSEOG grants ($100 to $4,000 a year)
• Federal Work-Study
None of it is a loan. It doesn’t have to be paid back.
How to get it:
1. Find an approved CTP program in Think College’s directory at thinkcollege.net
2. Fill in the FAFSA. No high school diploma or GED needed.
3. The college’s financial aid office works out the package
Grants may not cover the full cost, and the student must have left high school.
Federal student loans aren’t included.
Is your family starting to think about life after high school?
Federal Student Aid, Think College