All Financial Aid Articles

Student thinking about offer letters
financial aid

FAQs About College Financial Aid Offer Letters

When you receive an acceptance letter to a college, you’ll also receive a customized financial aid package. This is known as a college offer letter, though it can also be called a merit letter or financial aid award letter. Regardless of the exact name they use, all acceptance letters serve the same purpose – they …
High school student thinking about financial aid
financial aid

3 Critical Financial Aid Tips For High School Seniors

Financial aid may be the last thing on your mind when you’re in high school. You’re already juggling a lot. But the sooner you understand how financial aid works, the better. Here are 3 critical financial aid tips for high school seniors. Why it’s So Important to Start Exploring Financial Aid in High School College …
Student updating their FAFSA online
financial aid

When and How to Update Your FAFSA Information

The FAFSA is the form college students fill to get financial aid from the federal government. All personal and financial information that you fill in your form must be accurate at the time of submitting of your FAFSA. The federal government uses this information to calculate your EFC or Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your EFC is …
Appeal Award Letter
financial aid

7 Steps To Appealing An Award Letter For More Aid

When a college accepts your application, they will send you an award letter (also known as an offer letter). This will detail the amount of money a school is willing to give you in financial aid. If you think you didn’t get enough financial aid, you can appeal for more. Just to be clear, you cannot …
college award letters
financial aid

College Award Letter Mistakes To Avoid

An award letter contains detailed information about how much financial assistance a college is offering you. It includes all grants, scholarships, student loans, and work-study programs that you’re being offered. Along with the breakdown of the different types of financial aid, the award letter also contains the respective award amounts. You will receive an award …
College offer letters
financial aid

The Importance Of Understanding Your College Offer Letters

Once a college accepts your application, the first thing they do is to put together a customized offer letter. These offer letters contains all information about financial aid awards the school is willing to offer you. Understanding the different components of each offer letter is key to being able to make an informed decision about …
College student researching financial aid on her laptop at campus.
financial aid

What Is Financial Aid?

College fees can be shockingly expensive. High school seniors may feel overwhelmed by all the cost talk. Fortunately, there is some good news. Asking yourself “what is financial aid?” Let’s break it down. What is Financial Aid? There are several forms of financial aid to help cover the cost. The five main types of financial …
dependent and independent students in college
financial aid

How Does FAFSA Dependency Work?

Filling out the FAFSA is the first step to getting financial aid for college. This is not an easy form to fill out but it’s absolutely crucial that you do it. Without the FAFSA you may lose out on certain types of financial aid. One of the more complex questions on this application is related …
Student renewing his FAFSA
financial aid

What You Need To Know About the FAFSA Renewal Process

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is vital to qualify for low-cost financial aid towards college. You won’t be eligible for federal or state financial aid without filing this application. Many scholarships and grants also require recipients to have filed the FAFSA. The information on the form determines your eligibility for …
Pencil erasers to edit mistakes
financial aid

Can I Edit The FAFSA After I Submit It?

Yes, in most cases, you can edit the FAFSA after you’ve submitted it. And, you should edit it if any information is inaccurate or outdated. However, there are some exceptions. When filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you are required to enter information that’s correct as of the day you sign …

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