You Can Pay for College Searching for a college? Aid Real Costs Financial A year at most colleges, Attend a free National College Fair especially if living costs are included, starts at about in your area to meet Steps 7 Easy $11,000 and can exceed college reps face-to-face. …in $65,000. Get financial planning information nationalcollegefairs.org The Good News from trusted sources: If you need financial aid to help meet college costs, www.studentaid.ed.gov you are likely to receive it. Two-thirds of undergraduate www..ed.gov students attending college in the US receive some form of www.nacacnet.org financial aid. Scholarships can help pave the way to higher education as well.

To order copies of this brochure, visit nacacnet.org. Seven Easy Steps Follow these steps to make Copyright © 2016 National Association for College Admission Counseling the process of affording higher 1050 N. Highland Street education less stressful and Suite 400 less overwhelming…. Arlington, VA 22201 p. 703.836.2222 800.822.6285 f. 703.243.9375 www.nacacnet.org

For more information about college admission, contact Beware of scholarship scams! your school counselor. They want to help you make good decisions about your future. Learn more at: studentaid.ed.gov/types/scams

Plan ahead for college costs! You’re On Your Way…

Set Your Expectations High Learn More Find Scholarships Weigh Your Options Paying for college can be daunting and Explore the US Department of and Avoid Scams In spite of your hard work and research, it’s 01often deters students and families from fully 03 Education’s Federal Student Aid 05 Some scholarships are awarded to 06 possible for a college to offer you admission, exploring their financial aid options. website: http://studentaid.ed.gov students based on grades, accomplishments, and but not financial aid. Colleges are not obligated to provide other personal characteristics, rather than financial financial assistance to all accepted students, so it’s a good If the cost of college overwhelms you—breathe: need. However, few students receive scholarships out idea to apply to at least one college whose cost is within your of the blue. Maximize your chances by researching reach without substantial aid. • Most parents and students overestimate the cost of Fill Out the FAFSA college. Remember, not all institutions charge Ivy scholarships and completing the applications. You may also need to explore alternative educational plans, League prices. Most financial aid is given to students who demonstrate need. A student’s Contact the financial aid offices of the colleges that such as beginning your studies at a less expensive two- • While personal growth and higher learning are 04 year community college and then transferring to a four-year need is calculated as the difference between the cost of interest you and ask about their merit or non-need- reasons enough to go to college, there are more attending the school—the (COA)— based scholarships. Other scholarship sources include: college to complete your degree. Check out colleges with practical things to consider. and the amount the student and their family is expected cooperative education programs where you can combine • Organizations that you or your family are involved in. • College graduates can choose from more jobs and to pay—Expected Family Contribution (EFC). work with study. have been shown to earn $1 million more than those • Corporations—ask your parents to check at their with only a high school education over a lifetime. COA – EFC = Student Need place of work. • Local volunteer organizations. Get Help The key to affording college is knowledge—know how The EFC is made up of the amount the student’s parents • Local or national religious organizations. to pay for it, and more importantly, where to look to find can pay from their income and assets and the amount Refer to the following resources for help resources to help you afford a college education. the student can contribute from earnings. Savings • National organizations relating to your talent/interests. 07 as you make your way through the account(s) and any amount that is being contributed as financial aid process: a non-repayable gift are also considered. The student “Full-ride” scholarships are limited. Seek a variety of • Your high school counselor and parents are responsible for paying what they can. scholarships to help fund your education. Consider Types of Financial aid is intended to supplement such efforts, not • College financial aid offices College Aid substitute for them. To research scholarships outside of your area, look for • State departments of higher education: scholarship directories in your school counseling office Aid for college comes in all shapes and http://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html 02 To be considered for financial aid, you are required to or online. sizes: need-based and non-need-based aid; federal and • The US Department of Education: www.studentaid.ed.gov file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, state aid; aid from colleges; and other scholarships. which is available Oct. 1. Many states use the FAFSA for While scholarships can be helpful in financing your • NACAC: www.nacacnet.org state grant or scholarship consideration. The FAFSA may college education, estimates show that families lose A combination of the following may be available to you: Other helpful sites include: also be used to determine institutional aid. millions of dollars to scholarship fraud every year. • The Federal Pell Grant Be careful, and choose your sources wisely. • www.finaid.org: Advice and tools to help you navigate the financial aid process. • The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity To calculate how much financial aid you may need, Grant (FSEOG) use the FAFSA4caster at https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/ • www.ibrinfo.org: Information about new federal student app/f4cForm. Complete the FAFSA online, or for more payment and forgiveness programs • The Federal Perkins Loan information, visit www.fafsa.ed.gov. • www.projectonstudentdebt.org: Resources to help • Federal Direct you and your family understand student loans and the • Federal Work-Study employment (FWS) borrowing process. • Merit and other scholarships • State aid programs