All Financial Aid Articles

Overlay text "SAR" against a yellow paper with lines to separate the letters.
financial aid

A Breakdown Of The Student Aid Report

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 …
A woman is smiling with two speech bubble beside in front of her.
financial aid

What Is Your Student Aid Report Telling You?

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 …
A stack of coins with more coins scattered around it.
financial aid

Why You Should Consider NOT Taking Your Full Student Loan Award

For many students, being awarded financial aid from a school can be a lifesaver. College, as everyone knows, is very, very expensive, and any extra penny helps make it more affordable. However, some decide to forego their full financial award and pay more out of pocket. This may seem ridiculous on the surface, but there …
Kansas University Union building.
financial aid

What To Do After Receiving The SAR

Your SAR, or Student Aid Report, is compiled based on the information you provided on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA form. If you included your email address while filling the form, you will receive your SAR by email a few days after your application is processed. If you did not include …
Multiple colorful envelope icon together.
financial aid

How to Compare and Contrast Offer Letters from Different Colleges

Opening your first college acceptance letter will be, without a doubt, one of the most gratifying and exciting moments of your academic life. While most students have an idea of which colleges will accept them, it doesn’t feel real until you hold proof in your hand, showing that a university looked over your transcripts, letters, …
Coffee from a blue cup spilled on the paper.
financial aid

Common FAFSA Errors Parents Make

Considering your FAFSA application will ultimately impact the amount of financial assistance you may receive, it is crucial to make sure that it is filled carefully, correctly and completely. If there are mistakes or missing information, your child may not get the complete financial assistance that they are entitled to. Make sure to avoid these …
Race track lanes numbered from one to five.
financial aid

How to Prioritize Your Financial Aid Opportunities

There is most definitely an order to go through when doing a financial aid search. Seeking out aid in the right way can save you thousands of dollars and reduce your loan debt substantially. So check out our list below to see how to prioritize your financial aid opportunities! 1. Federal Aid: Scholarships & Grants …
financial aid

How To Appeal An Offer Letter for More Financial Aid

Your financial aid letters aren’t (always) written in stone. There may actually be some flexibility in the money a school grants you. It may only take a phone call to get a higher financial aid package, or it might require a longer appeals process. If your financial aid is less than you thought it would …
A white mailbox with "20" printed on the side.
financial aid

Can You Appeal An Offer Letter For More Aid?

The short answer is yes, you can appeal an offer letter. You can appeal an offer letter. What many students do not realize is that a financial aid offer letter is not a final decision. It is, in fact, an offer that is made by the prospective college. You are under no obligation to accept …

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

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