Welcome! Anita Hilton, School Counselor Learning Target Families will increase their understanding of the financial aid process and resources to help to access a college education.
College A place of higher learning after high school that provides Universi ersiti ties es education 4 Year Colleges and grants Community ity Colleges degrees or Trade Schools certification.
College is an investment that pays! Graduating from college can double one’s income. Over a lifetime, on average: An Associate’s degree is worth $390,000 more than a high school diploma. A Bachelor’s degree is worth $ 1.2 million more than a high school diploma. A Doctorate (Ph.D.) is worth $ 1.7 million more than a Bachelor’s degree . A Professional (law or medical) degree is worth Source: $2.9 million more than a Bachelor’s degree. fastweb.com College Facts Presentation
Unemployment Decreases with More Education Source: fastweb.com College Facts Presentation
Other Benefits of College Education • More job opportunities • Greater knowledge • Broadened perspectives AVM’s Annual College Connections Café Partnership with and donations from colleges near and far!
Students, as you plan to go to college • How much will it cost? There are lots of things to think about and many • Can I afford college? questions you need to ask . • What is financial aid? • What is a FAFSA? • When and how do I apply? • Where can I get help? Source: www.isac.org
What are the costs? Tuition & Fees Room & Board (housing/food) Transportation Books & Supplies + Miscellaneous Living Expenses Cost of Attendance (COA) The COA will differ from college to college Source: www.isac.org
Looking beyond the “Sticker S hock” of Published College Prices Recognize the difference between: • Published (full) price of a college • Net price actually paid by the students attending the college Net Price Definition : • The average price paid by the full-time student at each college • Including those who do and do not receive student aid • Calculated after subtracting grant aid from all sources, federal tax credits and deductions. Net price gives a more realistic idea of the actual cost of a college Source: fastweb.com College Facts Presentation
Ways to Pay for College • 529 Savings & Prepaid Tuition Programs • Designed to help families save now for future college costs • Employer Tuition Benefits • Some companies pay for part or all of an employee’s tuition or the tuition of the employee’s children • Tuition Payment Plans • Spread out college costs by paying installments, avoiding loans • Scholarships • Financial Aid Programs Source: www.isac.org
What is financial aid? Financial aid helps to makes college affordable If you think you can’t • Financial aid refers to specific afford college, think again. borrowed , given, or earne d There is aid out there. money that can be obtained from various sources to help pay for college. • It is intended to make up the difference between what your family can afford to pay and what college costs. Source: www.isac.org
Myth: Only students with the best grades qualify for financial aid. Facts: • Some scholarships are “ merit-based, ” that is, they are awarded based on a student ’ s academic performance. • However, most financial aid is “ need- based, ” that is, awarded based on a family ’ s ability to pay for college. Source: Realizing the College Dream http://outreach.berkeley.edu
Myth: I am going to be the only student on financial aid. • Fact: At 4-year colleges and universities, 60% of full-time students receive some kind of financial aid. • At some private colleges, 75% of students receive some form of financial aid. • Don ’ t worry, you will be in good company if you receive financial aid. Source: Realizing the College Dream http://outreach.berkeley.edu
Types of Financial Aid Funds may be merit-based, need-based, or non need-based. Grants: usually based on family’s financial need gift-aid Scholarships: may be awarded for academic achievement, athletic ability, artistic talent, one’s background , or other attributes Work-Study: All funds must be earned with self-help part time employment to pay for various educational costs aid Loans: Aid that must be repaid Source: www.isac.org
Sources of Financial Aid Financial aid comes from a variety of sources. Federal financial In Illinois, state and aid programs are some federal administered by the financial aid is U.S. Department of federal state administered by the Education. ISAC. government Government Many organizations Colleges offer their outside/ college and corporations, own institutional private ( institutional aid) award scholarships aid, so check with sources to college students. their financial aid offices for their specific opportunities. Source: www.isac.org
How to Apply To be considered for student aid, a student must complete all forms required by a college. Free Institutional Other Application for Forms as required Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) www.fafsa.gov Note: Communicate with each college to find out what is required for a complete application. Source: www.isac.org
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • First date to submit FAFSA: October 1 st of your Senior WHEN year of high school, or ASAP after that date. • FAFSA must be renewed every year • Available to H.S. seniors, college students, returning WHO adults • Available on-line (preferred way) www.fafsa.gov HOW • Paper and pdf form • Determines eligibility for federal and state financial aid programs WHY • Used by colleges and universities to award institutional aid Source: www.isac.org
Expected Family Contribution Each student’s FAFSA is analyzed using a formula established by Congress. • The US Department of Education determines the amount that you and your family are expected to contribute towards your college education in an academic year. • This is known as the Expected Family EFC Contribution (EFC). Expected Family Contribution • This also determines if you will be eligible for most state and federal assistance Source: www.isac.org
Financial Need How much aid can a student receive? This is determined at each college you apply to: Expected Cost of Family Financial Attendance - = Contribution Need (COA) (EFC) This differs This remains This varies depending on constant depending on the college the COA Source: www.isac.org
Financial Need Three Examples College Financial Aid offices will propose ways to attempt to close the gap COA EFC between what you can (Cost of Attendance) (Expected Family afford to pay and the Contribution) remaining cost College - = A $10,000 $3,000 $7,000 College - = B $20,000 $3,000 $17,000 College - = C $35,000 $3,000 $32,000 Source: www.isac.org
Myth : Only rich kids go to elite, expensive schools • Fact: The higher the cost of education, the easier it is to demonstrate financial need. • Fact: Parental incomes of students in private colleges are, on average, lower than incomes of students at large state universities. Source: Realizing the College Dream http://outreach.berkeley.edu
As a Senior in High School • Apply to the colleges of your choice: • In-state, out-of-state, public, private • Apply for financial aid. • Wait to see the financial aid award letter for each college showing: • the type and amount of financial aid they are offering you • what your out of pocket cost will be • Then decide which college to attend. isac.org
Myth: I need to pay a service to find scholarships for college. • Fact: Legitimate financial aid and scholarship applications are free. • Fact: Nobody can guarantee that you will win a scholarship. • Do not pay even a few dollars to get information on financial aid and scholarships. • Do not give out your SSN, bank, credit or debit account numbers to scholarship providers. • If it sounds too good to be true, it might be a scam! • Use reputable scholarship websites
Finding Scholarships Finaid.org – search for college scholarships for students under 13 Cooke Young Scholars Program - jkcf.org Pre-College scholarship program: apply Feb-April High-achieving 7 th grade students with financial need In HS: use a free online scholarship match service like www.Fastweb.com. Fastweb matches your profile’s personal characteristics against a very large database of scholarships, so you will see only those scholarships for which you are qualified. The H.S. counseling department will have a list of local scholarships too.
Trusted Website: CollegeCost.ed.Gov One site: multiple tools from the U.S. Department of Education Source: Collegecost.ed.gov
Knowledge is an Investment If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the highest return. – Benjamin Franklin Source: www.fastweb.com
Resources used in this PowerPoint: Illinois Student Assistance Commission – ISAC.org: Source for college and financial Aid information and support Realizing the College Dream : sponsored by ECMC Foundation and developed by the Center for Educational Partnerships at the University of California, Berkeley Fastweb’s “Important College Facts for Students” 26
Recommend
More recommend