Category: Financial Aid


Infographic: Navigating the financial aid process

Posted on January 28th, 2015

Applying for financial aid can get confusing.

It can be difficult for families to keep track of all the different types of financial aid available, from grants to student loans.

But this helpful infographic from Southern New Hampshire University makes it a bit easier.

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A walkthrough of the FAFSA

Posted on January 15th, 2015

If you’re the a college-bound student or the parent of one, it’s important to file your FAFSA as soon as possible after Jan. 1.

For families who have never filled out the form before, filling out the FAFSA can be a daunting task. But it’s much easier than you think.

Thankfully, the folks at the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority have put together a great walk-through that shows exactly how to fill out the FAFSA, page by page.

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Don’t make these 6 common FAFSA mistakes

Posted on January 14th, 2015

If you have a child in college this coming year, it’s time to start filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov.

When completing the application, it’s important to make sure you’re not making any major mistakes that could jeopardize your student’s chances of receiving financial aid.

Check out the infographic from TurboTax to find out 6 most common mistakes people make on the FAFSA so that you can maximize your chance of receiving grants, work-study, and other forms of financial aid to help pay for college.

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What is the FAFSA and how does it work?

Posted on January 8th, 2015

How that January 1 has come and gone, it’s time for college-bound families to start filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The video below from Censtible Student clearly explains the basics of the FAFSA, including what you need to file and how to fill it out.

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Lawmakers vote to cut $303 million from Pell Grant program

Posted on December 18th, 2014

While the government claims to be working to make college more affordable for students, actions speak louder than words.

The House of Representatives voted last week to cut $303 million from the federal Pell Grant program–a program that provides low-income students with grants for college.

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Affluent students borrowing for college at higher rates

Posted on October 16th, 2014

Given the consistent rise in the cost of college over the past two decades, it’s no secret that student loan borrowing and student debt are at all-time highs.

As you might expect, the percentage of students from low-income families who take out student loans to pay for college is greater than their higher-income counterparts, with 77% of low-income students borrowing for college in 2011-12 vs. 50% for high income students.

However, according to Pew Research Center, the rate at which students from more affluent families are borrowing is increasing faster than that at which low-income students are taking out student loans.

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Colleges giving record discounts on tuition

Posted on August 27th, 2014

"Even as they raise their advertised prices faster than the rate of inflation, many colleges and universities are giving discounts so steep that they’re falling behind." -- Jon Marcus

While college costs have increased rapidly over the past few decades, financial aid, grants and scholarships have increased significantly as well. In fact, at some colleges, these tuition “discounts” have been so large that colleges are struggling financially, Jon Marcus reported in a recent Hechinger Report article. College costs are up, but so is financial aid According […]

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College costs have risen less than you think

Posted on August 11th, 2014

"Every measure shows costs increasing to some degree, but it’s clear that government’s measure follows the path of published prices. In reality, college tuition has risen less than half as much in the last two decades as the official data suggest." -- David Leonhardt

The general consensus among the public is that the cost of college has risen dramatically over the past few decades. We’ve reported how much the rise in college tuition has outpaced gas, cars and any other household item that the government tracks. According to the government, college tuition and fees have risen a shocking 107 percent since […]

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These 5 states have the best colleges for your money

Posted on August 6th, 2014

We recently wrote about a new set of college rankings based on which colleges provide the best value for your money.

A few states dominated the list and were home to several colleges that provide students with a great bang for their tuition buck. Watch the video to find out what they were.

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Should you use your full 529 fund to pay for college?

Posted on August 2nd, 2014

With the cost of college rising, many parents are turning to 529 plans to pay for their future children’s college tuition.

These plans allow families to put away money tax-free for future use. Like a 401K or IRA, funds are invested in mutual funds or similar investments.

When your child finally reaches college age, many parents wonder if they should put their entire 529 savings toward their student’s first year of tuition or save some for future years in order to allow the fund to grow even more.

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