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Financial Aid

What is Financial Aid?

  • Financial aid is any money received to help pay for post-secondary education.
  • Financial aid can come in many forms: grants, loans and work study programs
  • Other assistance to pay for college can come in the form of scholarships.

Watch "Financial Aid Night with Ed Zamora" Here.


As we all work together to prepare the Class of 2024 for graduation, we'd like to share this link with all 11th and 12th grade students:

Student Loan Guide: https://www.hesaa.org/Documents/Student_Loan_Guide.pdf

And because planning for college is so important, we are also sharing a guide for younger students who aspire to attend college.

Reach Higher:https://www.hesaa.org/Documents/Publications/ReachHigherGuide.pdf

All guides are made available through HESAA, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.

Types of Financial Aid

  • Grants & Scholarships:
    • “Grants & Scholarships are often called “gift aid” because they are free money—financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid”*. 
    • Grants can come from the government and/or institutions and may vary based on the school’s cost of attendance.
    • Scholarships can come from institutions or private or non-profit organizations.
    • Awarded based on financial need and/or merit.
    • Does not have to be paid back!!!

 

  • Loans
    • Student Loan Guide: https://www.hesaa.org/Documents/Student_Loan_Guide.pdf
    • “A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest.”* 
    • Federal, State, Institution, and Private loans available.
    • Many different types, such as subsidized, unsubsidized, student and parent loans. *Compare student loan types through this handout: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/federal-loan-programs.pdf
    • Always awarded to the student in a small amount each year, with a maximum loan amount of $5,500 a year.
    • Usually awarded to parents based on the difference between the cost of attendance and the remainder of cost that is not covered by other financial aid means.
    • Must be paid back with interest & any loan disbursement fees (Each loan will vary in this amount).
    • Loans have different repayment plan options. Speak to your loan lender to discuss the best option for you and your family: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/understand/plans

 

  • Work Study Programs
    • Provides job opportunities for students that need financial assistance, allowing them to pay their educational expenses.
    • It provides part-time employment while the student is enrolled in school.*
    • It’s available to full-time or part-time students with financial need.
    • Administered only by schools that participate in the Federal Work-Study Program. Check with your school's financial aid office to find out if your school participates.
    • Must be eligible for this program through the FAFSA.
    • Student will at minimum be paid the federal minimum wage, with the funds distributed directly to the student, unless the student specifies otherwise. The hours the student can work are limited to the amount given and the student cannot earn more money by working additional hours.

 

*https://studentaid.ed.gov/

 

FINANCIAL AID VIDEOS

The Complete Guide to Financial Aid: FAFSA, CSS Profile & The Entire College Process (9/22/22)

 

 


What All Senior High School Families Need To Do Now Before College Freshman Year Begins - Webinar (3/12/23)

 


 Webinars presented by Ed Zamora of Principia Prep

*You can also check out Ed Zamora's YouTube Channel for more College Process tips*

Calculating College Cost: Net Price Calculator

net price calculator is a tool that allows current and prospective students, families, and other consumers to estimate the net price of attending a particular college or career school.

Net price calculators are available on a college’s or university’s website and allow prospective students to enter information about themselves to find out what students like them paid to attend the institution in the previous year, after taking grants and scholarship aid into account.

In order to use the Net Price Calculator for your specific school of choice, you can find it on the school's financial aid website OR Google Net Price Calculator + (name of university).