financial aid

How GPA and Test Scores Affect Financial Aid Opportunities

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on March 4, 2025

Over the course of your high school career, people have probably told you to make sure you keep your grades up. You’ve probably stressed about your standardized test scores and your GPA. Those two factors play a very large role in the college admissions process. But do better grades result in better financial aid opportunities? …

financial aid

Bad Excuses for Not Filing for Financial Aid

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 26, 2025

No matter the reason, everyone should be filling out the FAFSA, or Free Application For Federal Student Aid, each year. Here are a few bad excuses we’ve heard students give when asked why they didn’t complete the application: I Won’t Qualify The number one reason that students or parents don’t complete the FAFSA is that …

financial aid

How Will My Parents’ College Savings Affect My Financial Aid?

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

You’re applying to colleges and finally got to the part about financial aid. Calculating financial need is a complicated process. There are so many factors that go into it that families might not always expect. One of these factors, your parents’ college savings accounts, is frequently an area of great concern to parents and students …

financial aid

I Didn’t Apply for Financial Aid Last Year, Will that Hurt My Chances for Next Year?

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on February 26, 2025

Financial aid is always a tricky business. There are so many questions surrounding the process: How do I apply? When are the deadlines? How do I complete the FAFSA? And what if you didn’t apply last year? Some students may be concerned about their chances of receiving financial aid awards if they didn’t apply for them the year …

financial aid

What are Front-Loaded Financial Aid Packages?

By Morgan StaubLast updated on December 22, 2022

A vast majority of students in the United States receive some sort of financial aid when paying for college. This aid can come in many different forms, from scholarships, both private and publicly funded, grants, federal aid, and private aid companies. Needless to say, students should be 100% certain of where their money is coming …

financial aid

Why EVERYONE Should Apply for Financial Aid—Yes, EVERYONE!

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

When you first hear the word ‘college’ what do you think of? A place for higher education? A chance to earn a degree and get a great job? The price-tag everyone has associated with it? For many people, it’s the last item on that example list—which is understandable given that the cost of college has …

financial aid

Fun Facts about Financial Aid in America!

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

Many students are anxious when it comes to financial aid. How do I find it? Do I qualify for any? When are the deadlines? While applying for financial aid should be taken seriously—you don’t want to be lax about your applications—it’s always good to step back a little, take a deep breath, and keep these …

financial aid

Finding Extra Financial Aid as an Out-of-State Student

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on July 28, 2023

When searching for colleges and universities that interest you, affordability is often a large concern. Among private universities, it doesn’t much matter: they don’t receive state funding, and therefore charge their students the same for tuition regardless of which state they reside in. Public universities are different. Because they receive state funding that comes from …

financial aid

What Does it Mean When a School Has a “No Loan” Policy?

By Liz SkogerboeLast updated on December 22, 2022

You may find yourself reading the title of this post and thinking, “Wait, what?” How could a college not have students taking out loans to pay for their education? Is it even possible to pay for college without a loan? However, once you learn more about how and why colleges have a “no loan” policy, …

financial aid

Questions to Ask Your College’s Financial Aid Office

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

A college visit is a prime time to ask any burning questions you have. You can ask your guide about the best study spots on campus, you can ask professors about class size, and you can ask the financial aid office questions about paying for college. College finance is often at the forefront of people’s …