All Financial Aid Articles

As part of the admission process, colleges send out award letters to all applicants who they have accepted into their college. This college award letter is usually sent a week or so after sending out the acceptance letters. Here’s what you’ll find in a college award letter (hint: it’s more than just what scholarships you …

The transition into college means thinking about factors you might not have considered before: one of the largest factors is money. The college financial aid process can be complex, especially if you’re new to it. Not taking the time to understand how it works or how much financial aid you are eligible for could result …

If you are applying to college, you are sure to be looking for advice about student loans. While there is plenty of really good advice out there, we’ve come across some bad advice that you would do best to avoid. Filing the FAFSA is a waste of time if your family income is above average …

Completing the FAFSA is the first step towards getting any type of financial aid towards college. Unfortunately, every year too many families across the US don’t file the FAFSA because they presume that they are not eligible for financial aid, so why bother with the formalities? The single biggest mistake you can make with getting …

A work-study program is a type of financial aid that allows students with financial need the opportunity to earn money that can be used to cover part of their educational and living expenses. It is offered to eligible students as part of their financial aid package. Do all students automatically qualify for work-study?   No, …

A front-loaded financial aid package is one in which the college offers a generous financial aid package to first-year students and then reduces it over the subsequent years. The reason why colleges front-load their financial aid packages is simple—they do it to offer aid and attract more students with it. But what’s in it for …

When you’re 18, paying for college may sound like a scary prospect, especially if you know you’re going to have to take out loans. My story on how I paid for college is a bit more fortunate, but there are some things I know now that I wish I had known then. I Was Fortunate …

Grants are definitely something you should consider applying to when you are looking for ways to get free money for your college education. Grants work much the same way as scholarships in that you do not have to repay any money you receive. You can use grants to fund your college education. Keep in mind, …

While researching the financial aspect of applying to college, you will come across the term FAFSA several times. If you are new to the whole college application process, you would probably not be familiar with the term. However, you cannot afford to ignore it. Understanding the FAFSA is crucial. It can make a major difference …

When it comes to merit-based financial aid, students are awarded based on their academic accomplishments, special skills, and demographics. You may qualify for merit-based financial aid if you’ve earned good grades in high school, or you’ve gained special recognition for your skills in any field, or for your dedication to community service, or belong to …