In 2024 the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) underwent changes to make the form simpler for students and their families. These efforts toward simplification made it easier for students to fill out the form, and thereby qualify for financial aid. The following changes were made to …
Search Results for: graduate school
Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment allows high school students to take college courses for both high school and college credit. These courses can be completed at a high school, on a college campus, or online, and are taught by either high school teachers or college faculty. How Does Dual Enrollment …
Federal Student Aid: Independent Student Status for FAFSA
What is an Independent Student? An independent student, for federal financial aid purposes, is a student who does not rely on parents for support and does not include parent information on the FAFSA. To qualify as an independent student on the 2026–27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid …
Q&A: Is Tuition Insurance Really Necessary?
I was talking to our college counselor for my daughter who is going to be a freshman in college. He recommended that we buy insurance to protect tuition fee in case of any emergency or illness etc. Is it really necessary? Insurance packages exist for just about every large purchase you make in …
Can I Start Paying on a College Loan Before Graduation?
Question: I was wondering if I can start paying off a student loan before graduation? My daughter is currently a college junior and has a student loan. I’d like to begin paying on the loan before she graduates. Any information would be helpful. Paying on student loans before college …
Early Awareness Programs
There are significant differences in college matriculation rates among lower, middle and upper income students. While 48% of upper income students will have earned a college degree at a four-year college by age 24, only 7% of lower income students will accomplish the same goal. Even when one …
Helping Students use Finaid.org
Financial aid administrators and guidance counselors often find Finaid to be an invaluable tool for advising families about financial aid and related issues. Students and parents want instant answers 24 hours a day. Finaid provides the answers they need and even answers the questions they have not …
Professional Associations
Professional Associations National, regional and state professional organizations allow financial aid officials and educators to network, gather information and share ideas. Financial Aid National Professional Associations National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators …
Account Ownership: In Whose Name to Save?
The financial aid formulas used by the federal government and the schools assess a portion of the family's assets when computing eligibility for financial aid. Under current financial aid formulas, there are significant benefits to saving the money in the parents name, despite the …
Grants
Both scholarships and grants are types of financial aid to pay for college, they’re not the same. Grants are a form of financial aid, based on need, which you do not have to repay. Grants are generally awarded by federal and state governments for students attending colleges, career schools, and …
