All Paying for college Articles

A student's hand with leather bracelets giving a thumbs up in the sky.
questions & answers

How Do I Discover My Financial Aid Eligibility?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
Many, if not most, students depend on some financial aid to help them cover the cost of college. Determining financial aid eligibility, however, can be confusing. What do you qualify for? How much can you earn? This article covers the general eligibility requirements for the 3 main types of financial aid available to students—federal student …
Gavel and two law books on wooden table.
student loans

Betsy DeVos in Trouble for Violating Student Loan Court Order

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim has found that Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos violated her court order to stop going after the debts of former students of defunct Corinthian Colleges. Instead, DeVos continued telling them to make payments toward debt they had accrued. There would be nothing unusual about this if the school was still …
College student filing the FAFSA on his phone.
financial aid

What You Need to Know About the 2020–2021 FAFSA Updates

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
If you’re looking into financial aid for the upcoming 2020–2021 school year, you should be aware of important FAFSA updates. There are a number of alterations from last year’s form—from question eliminations to some much-needed updates.  Here’s what you need to know about the 2020–21 FAFSA.  Why is it Updating? There are two main reasons …
Scholarship winner Bronwyn Mogck holding her official certificate
scholarships

Chatting with $2,500 Scholarship Winner Bronwyn Mogck! 

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
The winner of the latest College Raptor $2,500 scholarship is Bronwyn Mogck! I got the chance to interview Bronwyn about her college search journey. We discussed the challenges she faced within the college prep process as well. Bronwyn’s scholarship winner interview is chock full of helpful tips, heartfelt advice, and a great story about searching …
College student holding out a fan of student loan money, all $100 bills.
student loans

Do Student Loans Help or Hurt Your Credit Score?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 18, 2024
Building good credit is a vital part of a person’s financial future. So students – if you aren’t thinking about your credit score now, you should be! Your credit score could affect everything from your ability to buy a car to qualifying for a mortgage. And much of a person’s credit history starts in college …
High school student working on an art piece to apply for a merit based scholarship
scholarship search & applications

What Are Merit Based Scholarships?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on November 26, 2024
Merit based scholarships are monetary awards given to students who have a history of high grades, strong SAT or ACT scores, participation in their community, or other, similar achievements. They can be offered by individuals, businesses, schools, organizations, non-profits, and government agencies. Merit based scholarships are different from need based scholarships, which are awards given …
Speech bubble with text: parents and students should talk about money
financial advice & planning

Let’s Talk About Money: 6 Conversations Families Should Have Before College

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
Nobody really likes talking about finances and budgets, especially when things are tight. Money discussions between parents and their college-bound students navigate several delicate issues. Students may have their heart set on attending their ‘dream’ school. But what if mom and dad just can’t afford the high tuition fees? Should their child give up on …

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