Is your financial aid advice featured in The New York Times? Didn’t think so. Mark Kantrowitz, Publisher of FastWeb and FinAid, is nationally recognized as an often quoted leading financial aid expert. With degrees from M.I.T., Carnegie-Mellon and more quotes than Webster’s, he is the financial aid guy’s financial aid guy. Here’s his advice for these tough times. Kantrowitz strongly encourages ...

I am an incoming freshman in college and my single mom is worried about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). We recently sold our house and are currently living in a rented apartment. The money from selling the house is in her savings account. We are currently looking for a new house. My mom is worried that if we ...

Stephanie Stevenson’s parents always encouraged her to pursue higher education, saying it would not only make her a better person but a better citizen. Stevenson has taken this to heart by achieving high grades at the University of Maryland and plans to gain a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Urban Planning. Today, at a White House Press Conference on Higher Education, ...

Parents of college students face added financial pressure. The federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) loan can alleviate some of that pressure. The PLUS is a loan for parents and family members to help cover the education costs for dependent college students. PLUS loans cover up to the total cost of undergraduate education not already covered by financial aid for ...

The U.S. Department of Education provided more than $95 billion in student financial aid in 2007-2008 (the most recent year for which statistics are available). But you won't see a penny of that unless you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can simplify the process with FAFSA on the Web. Are You Still Using Paper? If ...

Borrowing money for school also means paying it back — with interest. Different loan programs have different repayment schedules. Make sure you know all the facts about your loan repayment plan to avoid default and smooth your financial future. When Do You Have to Repay? Depending on the loan, you may not pay until you're out of school. In addition, there ...

Join us on November 12, from 10 AM to 10 PM (Eastern) for EducationXpo! EducationXpo, the premier online college fair, offers potential students of all ages access to the essentials involved in the college planning process. Talk live with admissions experts, take virtual campus tours, get financial aid information and more – 100% FREE online! Register NOW at www.educationxpo.com and follow ...

Submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be a complicated process. From digging through information on your family's assets to decoding income tax forms, filling out the FAFSA is a hassle, so why bother? Here are five reasons why it's worth it. 1. Federal Aid Do you want some of the more than $95 billion the federal government ...

"I am a college sophomore and I pay for school myself. For the last two years, I have used my parents' tax information on the FAFSA. Since I pay for school myself without any help from my parents, should I list only my own tax information to be eligible for more aid?" This is a common question about the FAFSA: When ...

If you've never set eyes on a Student Aid Report (SAR) before, it can be a dizzying experience. What do all those acronyms and numbers mean? It all looks so official and important. If you've recently submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) you can expect to receive a SAR in return. And while the SAR is long on ...

Universities like Harvard, Princeton and Yale are doing away with college loans in favor of endowment-driven grants. Could this spark a bona fide loan-free trend among the nation's colleges? Is this the financial leg up you've been hoping for? The good news is that if your family's income is less than a certain magic number, you are bound to be eligible ...

Wondering how to maximize your financial aid package? Got a specific student aid question you can't find the answer to? No matter what is its, if you've got a financial aid question, "Kantro" has the answer. Mark Kantrowitz is one of the top financial aid experts in the country and he's answering YOUR questions, here on FastWeb! Nationally recognized and often ...

Considering going back to school, but aren't quite sure how you're going to pay for it all? The solution may be closer than you think. Many employers now sponsor tuition assistance programs. Typically managed through a company's human resources department, tuition-assistance programs can do more than save you money. They also offer you the chance to integrate your formal education with ...

Students whose financial aid packages include loans will receive a preferred lending list with their financial aid package. Most college financial aid office have one. What is a preferred lender list? And, amid news reports of a scandal in which certain lenders did favors for a group of financial aid administrators in return for a pitch, can you trust the list? ...

The Albany Common Council passed a non-binding resolution urging Congress to "consider forgiving student loans" on Monday, August 17, 2009 by a vote of 12 to 0. The city council's resolution was inspired by similar calls for forgiveness by several Facebook groups. Resolution #43.42.09R was proposed by Jim Sano, chair of the city council's Finance Committee. It urges Congress to forgive ...

How will my credit score effect my ability to get the funding I need for graduate school? If my credit is not great, will I be able to get the loans I need to cover my college costs? — Katy C. The federal Stafford loan does not depend on your credit history. As a graduate student you will be able to ...

As if there weren't enough reasons not to drop out of school, the Department of Education has provided yet another. Students who drop out of college are required to pay back a portion of their federal-aid funds such as the Pell Grant. Even though many educators and college officials feel that students may be reluctant to accept financial aid and attend ...

You're about to have a baby and you're already worrying about how to pay for their college education. Or your son or daughter just started high school and you read about some private colleges costing more than $50,000 a year. How are you going to be able to afford four years of a college education? Don't panic! The solution is to ...

Sallie Mae and Gallup just released the results of a survey of how American families pay for college. The survey found that families are becoming more cost conscious in their college choices. Nevertheless, the majority of families still see college as a necessary and worthwhile investment in their children's future. Students from higher income families were more likely to enroll at ...

Applying for financial aid is easier than you think. Your first stop: the (FAFSA). For many schools, this is the only form you need. What is it? The FAFSA is the form the federal government uses to determine your eligibility for federal assistance (loans, grants, work-study appointments and some scholarships). Schools also base their financial aid packages on the FAFSA. And, ...