Financial Aid: Where is the Money coming from?

It is no secret that a college education can be expensive, especially in a tight economy.  However, the good news for college students is that financial aid such as scholarships and grants has increased over the last decade.  Take a look at the following graph, which highlights financial aid to full-time college students individually.

As you can see, the federal government is the largest contributor of financial aid over the past 10 years.  Will this trend of financial assistance increasing continue?  I believe students hope so to make a college education more affordable in the future.

Contribution for graphic:

Source: College Board and NPR

Credit: Lam Thuy Vo / NPR