questions & answers

Why Do Some Merit Scholarships Require the FAFSA to be Filed?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 10, 2025

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to determine federal financial aid and need-based scholarships through schools and other organizations for college students. But did you know it’s also required for some merit scholarships as well? Generally, it’s required when funds are limited and to make sure that the money is going …

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Should You Crowdfund For Your College Tuition?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 4, 2025

You could always do with more money to cover your college expenses. Fortunately, you can get most of that money through scholarships, grants, work-study, and even student loans (as a last resort). But what if you need more? Crowdfunding has become a popular way to raise money for various reasons, whether it’s for personal reasons …

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What Should I Do If My Financial Situation Changes for College?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 9, 2024

A lot can happen between the time you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the time you receive a financial award letter. The FAFSA also uses the previous year’s taxes, which might not reflect your current situation. If your submission doesn’t accurately represent your finances or if you’ve had changes …

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How Do I Get A Federal Student Loan?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 24, 2025

Knowing how to go about getting a federal student loan is a crucial step in the college application process. College tuition fees are out of reach of most families in America. The only way most families can afford to send their children to college is by taking some type of loan. When it comes to …

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What Is Entrance Counseling For Federal Student Loans?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 28, 2025

Are you planning on taking out federal student loans for the first time? You’re going to have to complete student loan entrance counseling in order to receive that money. In this article, we outline what the student loan entrance counseling module covers, what you need to complete it, and more. What Is Student Loan Entrance …

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How Can I Increase My Chances Of Earning A Full-Ride Scholarship?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on February 26, 2025

Getting a full-ride scholarship is a dream come true for any student, regardless of their financial background. A full-ride is essentially a scholarship that covers all college-related expenses, including tuition, textbooks, housing, and other costs associated with attending college. With a scholarship of this type, you don’t pay a cent towards your education, and you …

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What are the Differences Between a Federal and a Private Student Loan?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on March 12, 2025

If you’ve just started filling out applications for loans or you’re receiving loan offers and you’re not quite sure what to choose, it’s important to know the differences between a federal and private student loan. Here are just a few examples of how they differ: Private Student Loans May Require Earlier Payment When it comes to …

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Are Student Loans Tax Deductible?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 25, 2025

It’s one of many questions that parents and students have on their mind—are student loans tax deductible? The answer is yes you can, under certain circumstances. Parents can claim a deduction of income of up to $2,500 if they are repaying interest on student loans on either their own or their children’s behalf. This means …

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Is It Better To Defer Student Loans, Or Pay Them Back During School?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 6, 2025

As a general rule, it is always better to pay back your loans as quickly as possible instead of opting for loan deferment. But “general” doesn’t apply to everyone. Why You Should Pay Back During School Paying back your loan while you are still in school gives you the benefit of eliminating, or at least …

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Can You Waive Student Loan Origination Fees?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 24, 2025

Most student loans, whether federal or private, come with origination fees. Processing a loan can be a long drawn out process with several hours spent gathering and organizing the necessary documentation, and verifying the accuracy of the information submitted. Lenders have to pay somebody to do all of this, and they recover the cost by …