A college education represents a major investment of time and money – a powerful investment in your future. The basic costs every student faces can be broken into two categories: direct and indirect costs. Direct costs are comprised of your tuition, student fees and books.… Continue reading
Did you know that only about 40 to 50 percent of college students will get some type of financial assistance in the form of grants and scholarships in 2011 and 2012? According to experts, there are six steps that all college students should take to increase their chances of being among the lucky ones to receive such aid.… Continue reading
California Gov. Jerry Brown recently expressed his support for the ideals of the California Dream Act, a bill that offers financial aid to undocumented college students.
The California Dream Act, like the federal DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act, is meant to extend support to undocumented residents of the United States, particularly young college students.… Continue reading
One question that some students and parents have is whether to make up the difference between total cost of attendance and financial aid with a private student loan or a credit card. Generally, using a credit card to pay for your tuition is not advised.… Continue reading
Financial-aid experts typically advocate putting more money into the federal Pell Grant program. But now, with cuts very much on the table—the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget resolution for the 2012 fiscal year on Friday that would take the maximum grant back to pre-stimulus levels—they are making recommendations for how to trim it.… Continue reading
Many students believe that scholarships aren’t open to students already enrolled in college, but that’s actually a misconception. In fact, there are many scholarships available to current college students. If you’ve been forced to take out loans to pay for college, don’t pass up the opportunity to lessen your loan burden by researching and applying for scholarships out there for undergrads.… Continue reading
Although the state and the federal government may soon be slashing student financial aid–something not at all advisable, given the importance of an educated workforce to keep the economy going–there is still some sources of aid available, if only for a limited time.… Continue reading
Some schools, though not many, claim to be able to meet their students’ full financial need. Determining your financial need begins with calculating your expected family contribution (or EFC) using information you provide on the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).… Continue reading
President Obama proposed a 2012 Department of Education budget on Monday that would, if approved, significantly increase federal spending for public schools, and maintain the maximum Pell grant — the cornerstone financial-aid program — at $5,550 per college student.
With the new year upon us, now’s the time to start preparing for your 2011-2012 financial aid. If you know you’ll need to find financial aid, take the time to consider all of your options, and make finding free money (grants and scholarships) your top priority.… Continue reading