From 2000-2001 to 2010-2011, the total amount of federal financial aid awarded to students under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) jumped from $64.0 billion to an estimated $169.1 billion, a 10-year increase of 164%. For 2010-2011, the Title IV programs accounted for 72% of the $235 billion in total financial aid received by college students. However, despite the increasing importance of federal student aid, the majority of Americans have little knowledge of the Title IV programs or the processes they need to follow to apply for these funds. To help increase knowledge of these vital programs, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) has produced the "National Student Aid Profile: Overview of 2012 Federal Programs." This report provides detailed information about the major programs authorized under Title IV of the HEA, including: (1) descriptions of the federal student aid programs; (2) recent trends in federal program appropriations; (3) income levels of students and families who receive aid; and (4) a description of the federal student aid application process. The information used for the National Profile is the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Education and The College Board. In some instances, the most recent funding data were for the FY2012 and recipient data were for the 2007-2008 academic year. In addition to the Title IV programs, college students and their families may qualify for financial assistance from other federal sources, such as tuition tax credits, tax-advantaged education savings accounts (including the Coverdell Education Savings Account), and grants and loans from other federal programs. While these other sources are important, they are not included in this report because the bulk of the federal funds provided to college students and their families is provided through programs authorized by Title IV of the HEA. (Contains 9 tables and 10 figures.)