Many students rely on financial aid in order to attend college, but. While researching financial aid, you may have come across the term “front-loaded.” But what is it? Is it good or bad? Are there other options available? Here’s what you need to know about this front-loaded financial aid.
What is Front-Loaded Financial Aid?
Front-loaded financial aid packages may offer aid for freshman year alone. Or, offer a bulk of the aid at the beginning and less as time goes on. This can leave students in a bind in their later years if they find themselves unable to afford their classes.
Schools tend to offer these types of packages in order to attract more students to the college, increasing application and acceptance rates. However, it’s not just a recruitment tactic – the reduction in financial aid can happen for a number of reasons. Some include an increase in tuition, changes in government funding, the student’s financial situation, and scholarships only pertaining to the first year of school.
Students should always read the fine print when it comes to financial aid and carefully review what they’re signing. You should never just accept what is offered to you without a closer look.
Pros and Cons of Front-Loaded Aid
Front-loaded financial aid isn’t all bad. There are some benefits to it for some students. Some students only have a temporary need for financial aid, perhaps due to a family situation or the specific kind of program they will be entering. They will not be liable in the future for excess funds that they don’t require.
However, as stated before, these financial aid packages are not optimal for students who need financial aid for all four years of college. Or for those who have difficulty budgeting. It can cause many students to look elsewhere for college after their freshman year or require private student loans.
What Should You Do?
It’s important to weigh your own circumstances before taking a front-loaded financial aid package. Review the terms and conditions carefully before agreeing and be sure to explore all financial aid offers.
In addition, to avoid accepting one of these packages (in the event the agreement doesn’t make it clear), you will want to check a school’s first-year retention and transfer rates. If it has a high transfer rate and low first-year retention percentage, it could be due to a significant drop in financial aid come sophomore year.
What You Should Know about Front-Loaded Aid
Front-loaded financial aid can be disappointing if you don’t plan ahead for your tuition and other costs. It’s essential to understand exactly what you’re signing before agreeing to any package, whether it’s from a college, the state, or the federal government. That said, though, some students may find that these front-loaded financial aid options can work in their favor. It really depends on your individual circumstances.
- Want to know what financial aid you could receive from the colleges on your list? Check out your personalized estimates with a free College Raptor account!
| Lender | Rates (APR) | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
5.50%-16.12%* Variable
3.99%-15.61%* Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CITIZENS |
|
|
5.54% - 15.70% Variable
3.99% - 15.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT SALLIE MAE |
 |
4.63% - 17.99% Variable
3.49% - 17.99% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CREDIBLE |
 |
6.00% - 13.75% Variable
3.99% - 13.75% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT LENDKEY |
 |
5.66% - 14.72% Variable
3.69% - 14.56% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ASCENT |
 |
3.70% - 8.75% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ISL |
 |
5.62% - 16.85% Variable
3.69% - 16.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT EARNEST |
 |
5.00% - 14.22% Variable
3.69% - 14.22% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ELFI |
