All Financial Aid Articles

The ultimate college pro-tip: Always fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Around 90% of college students receive financial aid of some sort, and filling out the FAFSA is just one way to get some of that financial assistance. College can be expensive, but federal aid can help you out. The FAFSA …

In the next few weeks, financial aid packages for college-bound high school seniors will begin to roll through the door. Interpreting and comparing them is one of life’s bigger challenges. In part because financial aid has its own language, in part because each school might do things just a little differently, and in part because …

Once you hit send on those financial aid applications, what happens next? Money doesn’t suddenly fall onto your doorstep, so where does it come from? In being a good consumer, it is good to know this information. Where do financial aid dollars come from? There are 4 primary sources of financial aid: Federal Government State Government …

The financial aid equation You can run but you cannot hide. It’s time to face the finances. Before you get into the details of how and when to apply, it’s important to have some basic understanding of how the system works. I promise that it’s not as gruesome as you fear. In fact, the underlying principle …

Paying for college You need to understand the difference between sticker and net price before understanding how paying for college works. The amount left after you factor in merit and talent scholarships for the college, need-based aid from the college, and any federal grants for which the student may qualify is your net price. It …

You’ve no doubt heard horror stories about how difficult the process of applying for financial aid can be, especially with FAFSA and CSS. Applying for college financial aid certainly won’t be the most fun you’ve ever had. However, the process can be much more manageable by breaking it down into finite steps. EVERY college will …

So, in the alphabet soup of college financial aid, you (hopefully) learned that the grand-daddy of financial aid acronyms is the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  Every school uses the FAFSA in determining and awarding financial assistance for college.  Through the personal and financial information provided on the FAFSA, the federal government …

Over 80 percent of college students met some financial aid eligibility criteria and received financial assistance during the 2011-2012 school year. This means there is a good chance you can get financial aid. You may think that the only way to get financial aid is to be extremely smart or a stand-out athlete. But most …