questions & answers

Will I Be Notified If I Don’t Earn a Scholarship I Applied To?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

After applying for a scholarship, you just can’t wait for that all-important award or rejection notification to arrive informing you whether or not you won the scholarship. As time goes by, anxiety starts to creep in. You start wondering whether no notification means there is still hope or whether it means your application was not …

questions & answers

Should I Apply to One Big Scholarship or Many Smaller Scholarships?

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

Many of us dream about having enough money to pay for all of college’s expenses. You know what I’m talking about: Buy that car, get a new computer, pay tuition. And to many of us, working toward a larger reward or a big scholarship so we can do it faster makes more sense. One big scholarship …

questions & answers

What’s the Difference Between an Independent and Dependent Student?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

When you go to fill out your FAFSA form for federal financial aid, one thing you will have to determine is if you’re a dependent or an independent student. This is crucial as it will affect how much money you can receive from the Department of Education. An Independent Student You must meet multiple criteria …

questions & answers

What are PLUS Loans?

By Morgan StaubLast updated on December 22, 2022

Despite what they say, many parents secretly dread the day their child walks out the door to head away to college. This is an emotionally trying time for both parents and their burgeoning students, even for the most experienced at sending kids to school. As the elder child in my family, I was the pioneer …

questions & answers

Should I Hire a Financial Advisor for College?

By Morgan StaubLast updated on December 22, 2022

There is no doubt that your college tuition payment method is one of the more important financial decisions you will make in your life. Prior to leaving for college, most students do not have experience in financial decision-making. Personally, before I left my parents’ house to attend college, the largest thing I’d ever paid for …

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America’s Student Loan Debt is $1.3 Trillion: How Much is That Exactly? (INFOGRAPHIC)

By Allison WignallLast updated on March 24, 2025

Many college-bound students turn to student loans as a way to pay for college, and while loans can certainly be helpful in that respect, they must first be understood. In 2016 the average college student graduated with about $37,000 in student loan debt. Collectively, Americans have about $1.26 trillion in student loan debt, across several …

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Should I Get a Federal or a Private Student Loan?

By Liz SkogerboeLast updated on March 24, 2025

Paying for college can be difficult because the cost is so high, and it can also be hard to understand. There’s a ton of terminology like loans, grants, scholarships, financial aid, file the FAFSA, etc. to learn about as well. If you are paying for college on your own, the entire process can be even …

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What is the Difference Between Gift-Aid and Self-Help Aid?

By Allison WignallLast updated on February 26, 2025

There are many different forms of financial aid out there to help students pay for college. A majority of that aid comes from the federal government and the colleges themselves, though aid can also come from private sources as well. There are two major categories of aid: gift-aid and self-help aid. But aid is aid, …

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What is a 529 Savings Plan?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on November 27, 2024

Key Takeaways: 529 College Savings Plans are tax-advantaged investment accounts that can be used for education-related expenses. All states have 529 Plans and you don’t have to live in the state in which you open an account. That gives savers a lot of options to find a plan that works for them. If a beneficiary …

questions & answers

What’s the Difference Between a Full-Ride and a Full-Tuition Scholarship?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on April 16, 2025

Full-ride scholarships cover everything related to your college expenses, from tuition to books. These awards are worth tens of thousands of dollars, if not more. Below, we highlight what you need to know about full-ride scholarships, how rare they are, how they compare to full-tuition awards, tips on applying, and some scholarships to get you …