myths

5 Myths About College Costs & Financial Aid Every Parent Needs to Know

By Tyler HakesLast updated on December 22, 2022

When it comes to the cost of college, there are a lot of myths out there. Many times, these myths can scare students and families away from colleges that might have been very affordable, or even cost that family thousands of dollars in lost financial aid opportunities. Understanding how both the cost of college and financial …

financial aid

Financial Aid and Unique Family Circumstances: How to Let Colleges Know About Your Financial Situation

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the federal government’s attempt to put every American family on a level playing field in an effort to award aid fairly. What happens, however, when the FAFSA does not adequately allow you to express your family’s unique financial circumstances? For example, the FAFSA asks you to submit …

myths

College Myth: Most Colleges Are Way Out of My Price Range

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022

If you’ve just started your college search, you may be shocked to discover that the cost of attendance at your dream school is tens of thousands of dollars per year outside of your price range. How does anyone afford college at this price? Very few students pay the sticker price to attend college Nearly all …

myths

College Myth: Financial Aid is Only for Poor Students

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022

Many students from middle class and upper middle class families assume they won’t receive any need-based financial aid. This isn’t necessarily the case. Need-based financial aid Colleges and the government decide how much need-based financial aid you’re eligible for by subtracting your expected family contribution (EFC) from your college’s cost of attendance. If there’s a …

myths

Why You Should Fill Out the FAFSA Even if You Think You Won’t Qualify

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on November 27, 2024

There are students who think they won’t get financial aid from the federal government. Therefore, they sometimes don’t see the point in filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). However, these students don’t realize that they may be missing out on grants and scholarships from their college. They’re even missing out on low-interest-rate …

myths

College Myth: College is for Rich Kids

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022

You’ve probably heard horror stories about students who pay $60,000 plus every year to attend college. If you’re an average middle-class college hopeful, this can be disheartening. It seems like college is for rich kids only, and not as accessible to other students. The good news is that the most-often quoted price–the sticker price–is paid …

myths

College Myth: I Could Never Afford to Pay for an Ivy League College

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022

Most students who consider attending an Ivy League college, like Harvard and Stanford, think of them as dream schools. Even some well-qualified students shy away from applying. They think they could never afford an Ivy League college. The good news is that, for most students, Ivy League colleges and other elite, selective universities are often actually …

myths

College Myth: I Should Wait Until I’m Accepted to Apply for Financial Aid

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022

Applying for financial aid can be tough. Beyond the complicated jargon and long forms, financial aid is tricky. Not only that, there’s a lot of conflicting and misguided advice. For example, most people think that they should apply for financial aid after they get accepted. However, this isn’t usually the right approach. We broke down …

myths

College Myth: I Have to Fill Out Hundreds of Applications and Essays to Try to Get Scholarships

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022

Teachers and counselors encourage many of their students to search the internet and apply for as many scholarships as possible. Teachers and counselors push students to get scholarships — as many as they can. This can be helpful for some students, but it’s usually not the most efficient way to reduce your cost of college. …

myths

College Myth: College Isn’t Worth the Price

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022

Accounting for inflation, the annual cost of college has more than doubled since 1980. With the average cost of attendance at private colleges now at $42,419, it’s no wonder people question the investment value and think college isn’t worth the price. Not only is the cost of college rising, many students are forced to take …