There has been a lot of discussion of simplifying the FAFSA. The argument is that too many low-income students don’t apply because they are intimidated by the process, don’t understand that they can qualify for significant grant aid, or don’t have all of the required information. All of these are legitimate concerns that can be … Read more
Get the information on how to find and pay for the college right for you.FREE for Subscribers:Financial Aid TimelineBest Free Resources for Finding and Paying for College GuideSpreadsheet to Track Your College Application DeadlinesEmails When Website is UpdatedCheat sheet listing of 400+ 50-50 College
Parents of High School students-Don’t miss this FREE class: Where to Look for College Money. If you’re planning on sending your kids to college, there’s no point in sticking your head in the sand about how you’re going to pay for it. Just like when parents tell their kids what they do as freshman and … Read more
When I went to college, back in the 80’s, my Pell Grant covered my tuition. My parents were usually able to help pay for books and my student loans and part-time jobs paid for room and board. Thanks to financial aid, I was able to graduate from an honors program at my state flagship university … Read more
Sometime ago, I listed 15 schools to avoid if you’re making a list of affordable colleges. After all, just as there are colleges that are known for their generosity, there are expensive colleges that you should avoid if you’re looking for significant help in cutting the cost of college. Since I’ve just recently updated the … Read more
Financial aid is money students are awarded to pay college. There are two forms of financial aid: gift aid and self-help aid. Gift aid is money that the student doesn’t have to repay. It can take the form of scholarships or grants. Self-help aid is money the student will be responsible for repaying such as … Read more
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be filed any time after October 1st of the student’s senior year. You should submit your FAFSA as early as possible since many schools distribute certain types of financial aid on a first come, first served basis. Since the FAFSA requires information from both the student’s … Read more
Financial aid consists of all awards from government sources, private organizations, and colleges themselves. Therefore, eligibility for financial aid will depend on the source of the aid. For federal financial aid and most state programs, besides demonstrating financial need, students must meet the following requirements: be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen; have a … Read more
Colleges and universities award students financial aid packages to help cover the cost of attendance. The package is typically made up of combination of aid types. Some aid types are better than others. There are two broad categories for financial aid: self-help and gift. Self-help aid is money that has to be earned through work-study … Read more
