financial advice & planning, questions & answers

College Affordability: How Community College Can Help Fill the Gap

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on July 14, 2023

Financial stress and college affordability is a huge factor when choosing where to further your education. In fact, 70% of teens in 2023 (vs. 61% in 2022) have financial concerns about pursuing higher education.  This begs the question: Is making college affordable a real option for upcoming and current college students? We believe the answer …

questions & answers

Understanding Enrollment Deposits (What To Know Before You Pay)

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on May 9, 2023

Your college acceptance letter should contain detailed information about your financial aid package as well as the costs you’re expected to cover. One of the items you’ll find included in the list of costs is an enrollment deposit. You’ll also see that this money must be paid much before all other fees. So, what is …

questions & answers

Can You Return Unused Student Loan Money?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on February 26, 2025

Have you borrowed more than you need and are wondering what happens to unused student loan money? You may or may not be able to return the excess amount without paying interest or fees depending on your lender and type of loan. Let’s walk through the different scenarios.  Why You May Have Unused Student Loan …

questions & answers

Preparing for Loan Forgiveness You May Not Actually See

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 24, 2025

Is President Biden’s promised student loan forgiveness coming through or not? Is it on hold temporarily or permanently? What happened? Those are just some of the many questions on all student loan borrowers’ minds.  If you are one of the many students eligible for student loan debt forgiveness, here’s what you need to know.  President …

questions & answers

Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid: Making the Most of It

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on February 26, 2025

Every year, hopeful students and their families face a common question: “How are we going to pay for college?” While a college degree can certainly open doors for future career opportunities, the fluctuating college tuition pricing trends can make the decision to attend college more difficult, especially if you don’t qualify for student aid. Fortunately, …

questions & answers, scholarships

9 Flexible Jobs for College Students

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 24, 2023

Making money in college is a must for many students – it’s necessary to afford tuition, fees, food, books, and every other cost that comes with higher education. And even if your tuition is already covered, a job during school could help you save up for fun, or for the future. However, finding jobs with …

questions & answers

Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan: What it Means for You

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on July 5, 2023

On June 30th, 2023, the United States Supreme Court released its decision regarding the Biden Administration’s plan for student loan debt relief.  Under the original plan, those with student loan debt would be able to cancel up to $20,000 of the amount. It used the HEROES Act of 2003 which gives permission for the education …

questions & answers, scholarships

Why College Athletes Should be (or Should NOT be) Paid

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on September 22, 2023

The debate over why college athletes should be paid vs. why they shouldn’t, has been ongoing for several years. This conversation raises a lot of interesting and persuasive arguments on both sides. College athletes claim that their efforts contribute a lot to the sport as well as to their school’s reputation, often boosting enrollment rates. …

financial aid, questions & answers

How to Check Your FAFSA Status

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 24, 2023

Once you submit your FAFSA application, you may be tempted to check its status frequently. Here’s how to quickly check your application status online.  Log in to your FAFSA account Click the My FAFSA page See your current application status Now that you know the quick and easy steps on how to check your FAFSA …

financial aid, questions & answers

Can I Delete My FAFSA?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on June 4, 2025

Key takeaways: You can only delete your FAFSA if you haven’t submitted it yet. You can’t delete your FAFSA if it’s under review or has been processed. Most students can make submission edits and corrections through their StudentAid.gov account. Whether you can delete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) depends on where you …