financial aid

How to Use a Net Price Calculator 

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Figuring out the actual cost of attending any particular college can be tricky. More often than not, students do not pay the published tuition fee amount or the ‘sticker price’. The actual amount they end up paying could be a little or a lot lower, depending on the scholarships and grants that they have been …

financial aid

Understand The Language of Financial Aid

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

One of the biggest obstacles students encounter in trying to get the financial aid due to them, is understanding the very formal and utterly complicated language used in describing the application process and many the terms and conditions. Many students, who are otherwise eligible for financial aid, end up not availing of a large portion …

financial aid

FAFSA Deadlines You Need to Be Aware of

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on November 15, 2024

Key Takeaway: When you file FAFSA, the Federal FAFSA deadline (June 30 of the award year) isn’t the only important date to consider. You also need to factor in the College’s FAFSA deadline and the State FAFSA deadlines. These dates vary by institution, state, and program, so check with your school’s and state’s websites to …

financial aid

What Are Financial Aid Refunds?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Financial aid refunds are refunds that are given to students when the amount of loan given to a student is more than what the student needs for the cost of education. Here’s how it works. The FAFSA and Financial Aid Packages After you submit your FAFSA, you will receive a financial aid award letter. This …

financial aid

How Divorced Parents Affect Student Loans

By Morgan StaubLast updated on December 22, 2022

A common proverb reminds us that half of marriages end in divorce. To be more exact, approximately 42% of married couples are divorced. It should be noted that the divorce rate for couples without children is 40% higher than those with children. It’s often said, for good reason, that divorce is hardest on the children. …

financial aid

A Guide to Funding the Financial Aid Gap

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on March 1, 2023

Although many schools offer financial aid packages to help make college more affordable for its students, some individuals find themselves unable to cover the entire cost of their education even with these packages. This is what they call a financial aid gap. If a student is in this situation – what are their options? Finding …

financial aid

Scholarships vs Grants: The Similarities And Differences

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on July 28, 2023

In your search for financial aid to pay for college, you’ve likely come across the terms “grants” and “scholarships”. In fact, these two terms are often grouped together in most discussions related to financial aid, and there’s a reason for this. Grants and scholarships are the only two types of free financial aid available to …

financial aid

Use Summertime to Search for Financial Aid Opportunities

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Summer is a great time to relax, catch up on your reading list, play a few video games, or take on a part-time job. Before college starts up again though, you may want to consider using some of your summer to expand your search for financial aid opportunities. Here are a few things you should be …

financial aid

A Breakdown Of The Student Aid Report

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

The SAR or Student Aid Report is a detailed document full of abbreviations and numbers. Making sense of it all can be challenging, especially for those who are seeing one for the first time. This short breakdown aims to simplify this document so you can better understand the SAR. EFC EFC stands for Estimated Family …

financial aid

What Is Your Student Aid Report Telling You?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

The SAR or Student Aid Report is a document you will receive after you have submitted your FAFSA application. This document is based on your answers to the questions on the FAFSA and includes information regarding the type and amount of financial aid that is available to you from the federal government and the schools …