Money for College – where is it and how do I get it? College is ... – but money is ... to help you pay the way! By doing a little research and filling out a few forms, you can find money
Money for College – where is it and how do I get it?
College is expensive – but money is available to help you pay the way! By doing a little research and filling out a few forms, you can find money through scholarships, grants, loans, and tuition assistance such as work study.
Scholarships
There are more than one million scholarships available each year to reward students who have distinguished themselves academically, athletically, musically, or in some other way. Scholarships pay for some or all of a student's college costs through cash or tuition reimbursements.
The primary government counterpart for scholarships is the Reserve Officers' Training Corp (ROTC) program. Through ROTC, military branches offer full scholarships to students who agree to serve in the military for a certain number of years after graduation. Religious groups, professional associations, and civic organizations are other sources of scholarships.
Grants
Grants are financial aid awards that do not need to be repaid. There are Federal, state, and private grants available.
Federal: There are two main types of Federal grants:
-The Pell Grant is the largest federal grant program. It provides up to $3000 per year based on financial need
-The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant provides from $100-$4,000 per year, depending on when you apply, your level of need, the funding level of the school you're attending, and the policies of the Financial Aid Office where you attend school
Special grant programs through the National Health Services Corps and the Armed Forces are available for students entering the health and medical field.
State: All states provide some type of grant, scholarship, or tuition assistance programs.
Your state's higher education agency can give you information about state grants, including the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program. This program is funded jointly by individual states and the U.S. Department of Education.
Private: Many private grants are available. Your university may offer institutional grants from its own resources.
Loans
Once you have exhausted all the scholarships and grants available to you, it is time to look at loans. Federal loans are the largest source of financial aid available. Check the information below for information about the major types of Federal loans:
A Perkins Loan is need-based and you must be at least half-time student. The interest rate is fixed at 5 percent and you can borrow up to $3,000
A Subsidized Stafford Loan is need-based and you must be at least half-time student. The interest rate is variable with 8.25% cap. You can borrow up to $2,625 year 1, up to $3,500 year 2, and $5,500 for years 3-5
An Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is available for any student who is at least a half-time student. The interest rate is variable with 8.25% cap. You can borrow up to $2,625 year 1, up to $3,500 year 2, and $5,500 for years 3-5
A Parent PLUS Loan is for the parent of a dependent attending at least half-time. The interest rate is variable with 9% cap and it can cover the cost of attendance less total financial aid offered. It is available year round and can even pay for back expenses.
If you don't qualify for Federal loans, private loans are also available through banks and credit unions.
Work Study
The Federal Work-Study Program provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses.
So how do I get all this financial aid?
Your first step in applying for any government money, whether federal or state, is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information about the FAFSA and how to apply, you can visit NextStudent's “FAFSA On The Web” section located here: https://www.nextstudent.com/fafsa/fafsa.asp .
Other ways to find out about financial aid sources include:
-Check with state agencies in both your home state and the state in which you will attend college to find out about grant opportunities
-Check with your college Financial Aid Office about institutional grants and scholarships
-Check with your high school career counselor about grants and scholarships you may be eligible for
-Search the internet for student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid opportunities
-Check with the your parents' employers to see if they offer any scholarships
-Check with the advisors of any clubs you belong to, about scholarships that might be available
As you can see there are many ways to get money for school. Make sure you cover all bases and try to get the free money first, and use student loans if the need arises, and you will end up paying for school in the most efficient manner possible.
This article is distributed by NextStudent. At NextStudent, we believe that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we're dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding as easy as possible. We invite you to learn more about how to get money for college at NexStudent.com.
How to Search for Scholarships
Finding scholarships for college or a major university is a lot like picking an actual college. It is not an easy process or something that just happens overnight, but rather, it takes hard work, dedication, and a lot of research to find the scholarship opportunities that are best for you. On the one hand, you are putting a lot of time, work, and effort into finding a scholarship. But just think about the thousands of dollars that you can save by obtaining a scholarship for college.
Parent Loans
If you are entering college soon, but have no idea how you are going to pay for anything from books to your actual tuition fees, chances are that you are going to be relying upon your parents in some way, shape, or form. For most first-time college undergraduates, college or university tuition is either paid through grants, because parents’ financial information allows the use of grants, scholarships, because of academic or athletic prowess, or loans, because students can not pay for college or a university outright.
No-Cost Student Loan Consolidation
A no-cost student loan consolidation – doesn’t that just sound too good to be true? Think about it. You have just accrued thousands of dollars in debt through student loans after 4 years of college, or possibly even more. Then, a company offers to take all of your loans off of your hands, put them into one central loan, and do it all for free! Well, while it might not be too good to be true, it all depends around your particular situation, which could make this a “free” process, or could still work out to the benefit of the consolidation company that you are working with throughout the process.
