financial aid

How Financial Aid and College Tuition Have Changed Over the Years

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on March 6, 2025

There is a lot of talk about how expensive college can be these days. As you head into your college career, it may help you financially to understand how financial aid and tuition have changed over the years. College Tuition Rates Have Gone Up There’s no doubt that college tuition rates have gone up, especially …

financial aid

5 Mistakes That Cost You Financial Aid Money

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 6, 2025

Getting any financial aid can help make it easier for you to attend the college of your dreams without falling too deep into debt. With several financial aid opportunities that you can pursue, your goal should be to get the maximum financial aid that you are eligible for. Unfortunately, many students decrease the financial aid …

financial aid

Pros and Cons of Work Study Programs

By Allison WignallLast updated on March 5, 2025

While researching financial aid, and ways to pay for college, you might have come across the federal work study programs. They are great opportunities for students to earn experience and get paid for their work, but what about the drawbacks? Is work study right for you? Pro: Financial aid Work study programs pay their student …

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 March 12, 2025

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 February 26, 2025

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 February 25, 2025

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 February 27, 2025

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 February 26, 2025

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 …