financial aid

Everything You Need to Know About the CSS Financial Aid Profile

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 24, 2025

The CSS Profile is a financial aid application offered by the College Board and used by around 270 participating colleges, universities, and scholarship programs. The CSS Profile asks for more information than the FAFSA, which could result in additional institutional financial aid for students who complete the application. Students should submit the FAFSA even if …

questions & answers

Should I Attend Community College First?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Most community colleges are two-year institutions. There are many reasons that attending community college for two years and then transferring to a 4-year university is a good idea. However, there may be a few circumstances in which choosing this path may not be beneficial for you. Understanding the benefits and downsides of attending community college …

student loans

The Importance Of Student Loan Interest Rates

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 5, 2025

When you take out a student loan, you have to pay it back with interest. Think of interest as the cost of borrowing money. As you’re applying for a student loan—either federal or private—you’ll come across an interest rate. In fact, the interest rate is one of the most important elements of a student loan. …

questions & answers

How Are Student Loan Interest Rates Calculated?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 24, 2025

If you took out student loans, you know that you have deal with interest rates. Interest rates have a big affect on the overall cost of your student loan. But how the interest rates are calculated for each type of student loan? We outline the answers below: How Federal Loan Interest Rates are Calculated The …

student loans

Pros And Cons Of Paying Off Student Loans Early

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on February 25, 2025

If you have the money, (maybe you got a generous birthday gift or a bonus at work), should you use it to pay off your student loan early or should you look into investing it? It’s a good, solid question and one that most new grads ask when they come into some extra money. The first …

questions & answers

Federal Student Loan Interest Subsidy: What Is It?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 24, 2025

When it is time to start repaying your federal student loans, if you are not earning enough to cover your monthly payments, you have the option of choosing an income-driven repayment plan. While researching these, you may have come across the term ‘federal student loan interest subsidy.’ Let’s dive into what that means. Income-Driven Repayment …

scholarship search & applications

Why You Should Apply To Renewable Scholarships

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Ideally, you should apply to any and all scholarships that you qualify for, whether they are one-time or renewable. Winning any scholarship is cause for celebration – it’s free money to put towards college and reduces your overall student debt by the award amount.   The Appeal of Renewable Scholarships What makes renewable scholarships particularly …

student loans

How To Avoid Taking Out Too Much In Student Loans

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

While many college students will graduate with some amount of debt, you should at least consider different ways in which to minimize your potential student loan debt. Here are 8 things you can do to help you reduce the amount you need to borrow towards the cost of college. How To Get Out Of Student …

student loans

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Deferring Your Loans

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

When it comes to managing your student loan payments, deference and forbearance are popular options. But before you decide to defer your loan payments, there are a few things you should learn. About deferring your student loans: Deferring your loan allows you to pause payments temporarily till you manage to get back on your feet. …