Provisions in the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), passed in 2008, make it possible for students with intellectual disability (ID) who demonstrate financial need to take advantage of some kinds of federal financial aid to help pay for college. The HEOA describes a new type of college program, called a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP), that is specifically for students with ID. If a student with intellectual disability is attending an approved Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP), they can apply for financial aid to help pay for the cost of attendance at that program. This brief discusses how students with intellectual disabilities can utilize federal financial aid to help pay for college. This publication was originally released in 2012 as Insight Brief #16; it was updated to reflect current legislation and policy related to federal financial aid for students with intellectual disabilities.