All Financial Aid Articles

Scholarship for College
financial aid

Pros And Cons Of Front-Loaded Financial Aid Packages

Financial aid for college students comes in many different forms, from grants and scholarships to work-study and study loans. Each of these financial aid forms differs in terms of eligibility requirements and maximum aid offered.  In addition, schools differ in the way that they distribute financial aid to students. Front-loading is one way that financial …
SUNY New Paltz school building behind the pink flower tree.
financial aid

How I Paid for College: Financial Aid in Hindsight

When you’re 18, paying for college may sound like a scary prospect, especially if you know you’re going to have to take out loans. My story on how I paid for college is a bit more fortunate, but there are some things I know now that I wish I had known then. I Was Fortunate …
Don't forget about grants! Students can use grants to fund their education
financial aid

How To Use Grants To Fund Your College Education

Grants are definitely something you should consider applying to when you are looking for ways to get free money for your college education. Grants work much the same way as scholarships in that you do not have to repay any money you receive. You can use grants to fund your college education. Keep in mind, …
Students are posing in front of the chalkboard.
financial aid

How To Maximize Your Merit-Based Financial Aid

When it comes to merit-based financial aid, students are awarded based on their academic accomplishments, special skills, and demographics. You may qualify for merit-based financial aid if you’ve earned good grades in high school, or you’ve gained special recognition for your skills in any field, or for your dedication to community service, or belong to …
Five dollar bill burning with fire.
financial aid

Common Mistakes Students Make With Financial Aid

With the cost of college tuition increasing every year, it has become uncommon for families in America to self-fund their students’ college education. Most students need at least some financial aid to help cover their tuition fees. Fortunately, there is plenty of financial aid available in the form of scholarships, grants and loans. Unfortunately, many …
The FAFSA mobile app may be on the way
financial aid

A FAFSA Mobile App May be On the Way!

12/21/17 No one will deny that college is an expensive investment. But what people don’t talk about nearly as often are the financial aid opportunities available to students that can make college a reality. Conversations automatically go towards student loans and the astronomical national debt, but not towards federal student aid. In fact, studies have …
Overlay text "FAFSA STATS" against a grey background with a human cartoon that has a percentage in their head bubble.
financial aid

Interesting Stats About the FAFSA

You hear it time and time again during your senior year of high school: Complete your FAFSA! Your teachers and career advisors are not saying this idly. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Completing this application gives you access to multiple types of federal and institutional financial aid that could help lower …
Side view of student looking through the microscope.
financial aid

How Financial Aid And Work Study Affect Each Other

All students who submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), are awarded some sort of financial aid by the federal government. The financial aid offered is different for every student. Your package is calculated based on the information you provided on the FAFSA form.  The financial aid package typically includes a combination of scholarships, …
College graduate with her parents.
financial aid

How Student And Parent Assets Affect Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid towards college tuition starts with submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When filling in details of the family’s finances on the FAFSA, all assets owned by parents and dependent students must be reported separately. This is because the parent’s assets and the student’s assets are evaluated differently. Here’s …

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Join thousands of students and parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more.