Put FAFSA at the Top of Your New Year's Resolution List

Sallie Mae, the nation's No. 1 financial services company specializing in education, encourages high school seniors and other college-bound students to make completing the FAFSA part of their New Year's resolution checklist.

The FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a must-do for students looking to tap not only federal aid but also most state and institutional aid.

FAFSA deadlines differ by state, with the earliest on Feb. 15 in Connecticut, quickly followed by California, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland and Michigan in early March, to name a few. The form for the 2012-13 academic year will become available on Jan. 1.

To help make it easier for students, Sallie Mae offers free tips and how-to videos at http://salliemae.com/fafsa

via marketwatch.com

Scholarships for Women Students

Scholarships are available for women planning to attend a University of California campus next year. Despite busy lives during the holiday season, the scholarships are well worth taking the time.

Women attending any of the area community colleges — Cabrillo, Hartnell or Monterey Peninsula — are encouraged to apply for the Peggy Jack Baskin Foundation scholarship program.

The scholarship program, launched in 2008, provides students with a two-year, $20,000 grant to support their transfer education at a UC campus. To date, the Baskin Foundation has provided more than $600,000 in grants supporting women in education in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, as well as the San Francisco Bay Area.

The next application round for the scholarship will begin in early 2012. To apply visit www.baskinfoundation.org.

via thecalifornian.com

Students & Parents Invited to Free FAFSA Class

Learn how to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for college in one of two free classes offered at the LBCC Lebanon and Sweet Home Centers.

Designed for students and parents, the class will include a discussion on what financial aid is and what it will cover. The second half of the class will be spent filling out the FAFSA online.

For more information, contact the Lebanon Center at 541-259-5801 or the Sweet Home Center at 541-367-6901.

via democratherald.com

Senator Kerry Seeks 'Equal Treatment Of Applicants' In Financial Aid Process

Earlier this week, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) urged the Obama administration to ensure equal treatment of applicants in the financial aid process.

“Taxpayer-funded financial aid is often being misallocated based on sexual orientation when it should be based solely on financial need,” Kerry wrote in a letter addressed to Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Indeed, as a result of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the FAFSA is often unable to count parents, spouses, step-children, and other family members as part of an individual’s application for financial aid.

The resulting unequal treatment leads to significant distortions in the allocation of financial aid for applicants who have two mothers or two fathers.

via thinkprogress.org

Misleading Internet Sites Target Bitterroot Students

Last week, a recent Literacy Bitterroot GED student was asked to pay an $80 fee to submit her college financial aid package. She came in all upset as she thought it was free

Submitting the FAFSA document is free, if the prospective student goes to the federal website at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

In this case, she had punched in www.fafsa.com, which is a private company that charges to review and submit the application.

She was really upset as she had entered her Social Security number and all the rest of her information and couldn't find a way to delete it.

With the downturn in the economy, there are a lot of people trying to figure out a way to pay for an education that will help them find a job. They just have to be more careful that they're not taken by scammers.

Local students can be sure to avoid this issue if they go to the Bitterroot College Program website at www.umt.edu/bcp/

via missoulian.com

Equal Opportunity Education Needed

I am a full-time student and a part-time worker. I am going to school for nursing, and something that has always irritated me is the lack of education funding. There are options, such as FAFSA, loans, etc., but those are meant for students who just graduated high school, are going to college full time and are living off of their parents’ income. There are also grants and loans for the wife or husband going back to school who has children—meaning there are multiple people to support.

What about the single adults who are trying to advance their careers, though? Part time is the least I need to work to pay my bills, and with financial aid, I make too much to get any sort of “free money.” I think this is ridiculous and a huge deterrent to advance my education. In order to succeed in this country and make something of yourself, education is important, and the more education you have, the better off you are in your job hunt. I mean, today, some companies won’t even look at your resume if you don’t have a master’s degree.

There needs to be more options for the single adult who needs to work in order to survive but also wants the chance to advance their career by going back to school. Going straight to college after high school is not always ideal or the plan for some, and the way the system is now, it’s almost as if the government is punishing those who didn’t go the traditional route.

I don’t think that is fair, and I feel that there needs to be education funding for all different situations and all different people so our world can become more educated. It should be fair system-wide so we all can succeed.

Brenda Joyce
Sandy

via cityweekly.net

Online Tool Helps Predict College Costs

Choosing a college is one of the most important financial decisions that students will ever make. But many who are going through the college-application process have usually had little in the way of meaningful cost estimates to guide them.

The official “sticker price” of an institution is what dominates most kitchen table discussions, but most students don’t pay anywhere close to that amount.

Grants, scholarships and other forms of financial aid can radically alter the all-important “Which school is most affordable?” question. Some private colleges, especially those with large endowments, offer generous aid packages that can make going to Harvard cheaper than attending a state university.

Now, in response to new federal requirements, every accredited college and university across the country — about 7,000 in total — must post on their websites a “net price calculator” that estimates how much out-of-pocket expenses a prospective student will incur.

The calculator projections are based on a student’s academic qualifications and family income, and allow families to stop talking about sticker price and start talking about the number that really matters: their price.

via miamiherald.com

Get Free Money for College

Is your child a whiz at math or science? You might want to look into the National Science and Math Access to Retain Talent Grant. They call it SMART for short. This is given out during their third or fourth year of college to students eligible for Pell Grants that are majoring in physical, life or computer science. It is also for students in math, technology, engineering or foreign languages. If they are maintaining a 3.0 gpa they could get up to $4,000.

Merit based grants are also offered to students with high academic achievement. Start your search with websites that focus on your student’s academic track record. An Academic Competitiveness Grant is available for students are college bound and they could get $750 for their first year and $1,300 their second year. This is usually in combination with a Pell Grant and a 3.0 gpa is required.

via northwestohio.com

The 10 Highest Paid Private College Presidents

As the economy staggered, private college presidents enjoyed modest raises and saw the ranks of those making at least $1 million swell from 33 to 36 - including the president of a West Virginia school that's facing accreditation problems and has one of the worst official graduation rates in the country.

Constantine Papadakis, the president of Drexel University who passed away in 2009, was the highest paid, though the majority of his $4.9 million compensation came via life insurance and previously accrued compensation paid to his wife. Papadakis earned a base salary of $196,000.

via huffingtonpost.com

State Holds Event to Help Students Learn About Ways to Pay for College

If you find those college financial aid forms a bit daunting, then you might be interested in attending this free financial planning event next month.

On Jan. 29, the state Board of Regents Naugatuck for Higher Education will be hosting “College Goal Sunday” at state universities and community colleges across Connecticut.

The event will allow prospective college students and their families to get one-on-one advice on how to register and fill out federal financial aid forms.

The event is held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and is free and open to all those interested. Details on what to bring are available at www.collegegoalsundayct.org.

via naugatuck.patch.com

New York Fed: Student Loan Debt Now Over $1 Trillion

According to The NY Fed's published report, student loan debt in the U.S. has now surpassed $1 trillion, for the first time ever exceeding the total amount of credit card debt held by Americans.

Due to the rising cost of education across the board, students are being forced to borrow almost twice as much as they were just 10 years ago. That’s what led to a spike in student loan amounts and push 2010′s total loans to more than $100 billion

What’s worse, Americans are increasingly defaulting on their student loans, and this may just be the next major market bubble to burst.

via rawstory.com

How to Reduce The Cost of Education

Student-loan debt is reaching incredible heights. Last year, total student-loan debt passed total credit card debt for the first time. And this points to a somewhat disturbing milestone.

Before you take on your college loan, here are a number of practical tips for minimizing debt and reducing the cost of education financing,

1. Borrow federal first. Federal loans are cheaper, more available and have better repayment terms than private student loans. The unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS loans are available without regard to financial need, so you don't have to be poor to qualify.
2. Live like a student while you are in school so you don't have to live like a student after you graduate.
3. Do not borrow more for your entire education than your expected starting salary after you graduate. Otherwise you will find it difficult to repay the debt and will be at higher risk of default.
4. If you are borrowing more than $10,000 per year for college, switch to a less expensive school.
5. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov to apply for federal and state grants and search the Fastweb scholarships database to find scholarships for which you are eligible. Every dollar you get in grants and scholarships is a dollar less you will need to borrow.

via finaid.org

Agency Wants to Hear Private Student Loan Horror Stories

If you have a private student loan -- and you are upset about what you've gotten yourself into - there's a government agency that wants to hear your story.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is asking students, families, the higher education community and the student loan industry - both lenders and servicers - to address a number of issues.

The bureau is particularly interested in hearing about schools with specific programs or practices that educate students about their debt loads and ability to afford their loan payments, as well as any evidence concerning the impact of such initiatives.

The new agency is also creating a one-stop shopping sheet to help students better understand the type and amount of financial aid they qualify for so they know how much they'll owe before choosing a college.

via heraldnet.com

Kathy Dittrich: Incoming Students Need a Reality Check

How can Wisconsin make higher education more affordable?

I don't think it's realistic to expect the University of Wisconsin or the state or federal government to make higher education more affordable. I do, however, think a lot can be done to better inform students about what it means to take out $20,000 or more in student loans.

We need to start telling young people the truth — that a college education does not ensure a high salary and a "better life" (whatever that means), that massive student loan debt makes you an indentured servant, and that all of the jobs you are qualified for or interested in might offer salaries equivalent to your student loan debt.

— Kathy Dittrich, Madison

7 Most Common Credit Card Myths Dispelled

Many people believe that checking your credit report will hurt your credit score. Sadly, that's a myth - as is the idea that paying off your debts will immediately raise your credit score.

New Steps by Obama Administration to Help Student Borrowers

On October 25, 2011, the Obama Administration announced important and timely new steps to help struggling student loan borrowers.

The Federal government introduced the "Pay As You Earn" proposal which will allow up to 1.6 million current students to cap their loan payments at 10 percent of their income starting as early as next year, with forgiveness after 20 rather than 25 years of responsible payments

This proposal that will give borrowers the chance to better manage their student debt by consolidating their federal student loans into a single Direct Consolidation loan and receive an interest rate reduction of up to 0.5 percent.

For more information
http://www.IBRinfo.org

Herman Cain Opposes Federal Student Aid

The day after President Obama said he’d be using executive authority to enable some students to refinance their student loans, Herman Cain suggested that the federal government shouldn’t be involved at all.

He did not believe that, with its limited resources, it is the responsibility of the federal government to help fund a college education. He argued that the people within the state, the people within the communities are the ones who have that responsibility.

Ultimately, everyone who want an education, a college education in America, can get it if he is determined to get it. It's just that they might have to work a little longer, a little harder.

via abcnews.go.com

Same-Sex Parents & Paying for College

When applying for financial aid for college, having two same-sex parents can be an asset or a disadvantage, depending on the circumstances, as the following infographic illustrates.

The expected family contribution, used by colleges to determine financial aid packages, takes into account the student’s household size, family income and assets, and the number of students in college, among other factors.

[read more]

Obama's "Know Before You Owe" Relief Plan Aims to Ease Student Debt

President Obama announced a new student loan relief plan intended to help ease the financial hardship of student debt late last month which could benefit as many as 1.6 million low-income borrowers nationally.

Though experts are unsure how much the plan, called "Know Before You Owe," will have any effect, debt remains a pressing issue for students hoping a college degree will give them an advantage in a tough job market.

Starting in January, the "Know Before You Owe" plan will limit repayment of federal student loans to 10 percent of college graduates' discretionary incomes.

The new plan also means that — assuming borrowers adhere to their repayment schedules — all of graduates' remaining federal loan debt would be forgiven after 20 years. Under current law, loan debt is forgiven after 25 years.

via browndailyherald.com

State Higher Education Agencies

The procedures for applying for state loan, grant and scholarship programs may differ from state to state. Some states provide comprehensive amount of information about state financial aid programs. Others provide minimal information.

Here’s a list of state higher education agencies provided by U.S. Department of Education for your perusal. We recommend that you visit the site for both your state of residence and the state of the colleges to which you are applying.

via freefafsagov.com

Does Filing a FAFSA Result in a Hard Inquiry Through the Credit Bureaus?

A FAFSA is not an application for credit. It is merely a tool to help the government determine what your financial needs are to attend school. If you apply for student loans, such as Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized, they will not run your credit, ever.
The only time you would have a pull on your credit report would be if you applied for a private student loan.

via ficoforums.myfico.com

A New Online Tool for Prospective Students Helps to Weight College Costs

An online tool helps prospective students get a better idea of college costs. The net-price calculator is a part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act –– a nationwide initiative by the U.S. Department of Education to get all post-secondary institutions to offer an attendance cost estimate tool.

“I think it’s a good step forward to understand what the cost of school is,” said Kris Wright, director of the University’s Office of Student Finance.

The calculator asks a series of questions about family income and then predicts expected family contributions — what the family can expect to pay and how much will be covered by grants, work study and loans.

“[It’s] a shortcut for FAFSA,” Wright said in reference to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. But the calculator doesn’t account for possible scholarships.

via mndaily.com