financial advice & planning

A Look at How Much it Costs to Apply to College

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

When calculating the cost of college, what most students and their parents forget to take into consideration is how much it costs to apply to college. This could be a mistake if you are on a tight budget and have to account for every dollar spent. The fact is you could end up spending upwards …

financial aid

Understand The Language of Financial Aid

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 12, 2025

One of the biggest obstacles students encounter in trying to get the financial aid due to them, is understanding the very formal and utterly complicated language used in describing the application process and many the terms and conditions. Many students, who are otherwise eligible for financial aid, end up not availing of a large portion …

scholarship search & applications

Your Complete Guide to Scholarships: Commonly Asked Questions

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on April 8, 2025

Key Takeaway’s Scholarships are a type of financial aid that allows you to earn money to pay for college expenses that does not need to be paid back. Scholarships generally fall into two main categories: merit-based (awarded for academic excellence) and need-based (awarded based on finances). When applying for scholarships, it’s important to carefully follow …

scholarship search & applications

The Three Best Tips for Winning a Scholarship

By Morgan StaubLast updated on December 22, 2022

According to statistics from the 2014-2015 educational year, over half of all college students took advantage of either a grant or a scholarship. Perhaps more interestingly, in that same time-frame, nearly $3 billion in scholarship money was left on the table by students. The reasons for this are complex and can’t be easily discerned, but …

myths

Myth: Only Students With Good Grades Get Financial Aid

By Morgan StaubLast updated on March 4, 2025

As senior year goes by and the reality of college gets closer, financial aid might be on your mind. College is expensive, and financial aid is the best way of paying for a higher education. But what if your grades aren’t so stellar? Do only students with good grades get financial aid? Do only students …

scholarship search & applications

How to Determine if a Scholarship is Worth Your Time and Effort

By Morgan StaubLast updated on March 5, 2025

As a senior in high school, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Between pep rallies, acceptance letters, anxiously checking the mailbox, ceremonies, graduation parties, crying parents, plans for the summer, and nerves for the upcoming fall semester of college, you’ve got a lot on your plate. Without a doubt, it’s best to decide what exactly is …

financial aid

FAFSA deadlines you need to know

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on June 26, 2026

Key takeaways The federal government requires the FAFSA be completed by the end of the academic year (June 30th) for federal student loans. Colleges often have priority FAFSA deadlines in November for early decision and early action students, and in February for regular decision applicants. Some state grant programs are first come, first serve, so …

questions & answers

Is There Any Way To Switch Your Student Loan Servicer?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 25, 2025

When you take a federal student loan, it is generally handled by a loan servicer who manages the loan and answers any questions you might have. This loan servicer is assigned to you. You cannot choose one neither can you switch the servicer assigned to manage your loan. In most cases it does not matter …

financial aid

What are financial aid refunds?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on March 27, 2026

Key takeaways:  A financial aid refund is money that’s left over from a financial aid package after a college tuition bill is fully paid.  Colleges will send financial aid refunds through direct deposit or check, or the student can keep it in a school account for future expenses.  Some forms of aid have restrictions on what they …

financial advice & planning

14 Ways to Stretch Your Dollar in College

By Jessica HerbineLast updated on December 22, 2022

You work hard for your money, and when you’re a broke college student, you need to save just about every cent of it. But cutting costs in college doesn’t mean you’re locked away in your dorm or holding out on the things you want. Saving money as a college student doesn’t have to be difficult. …