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, ...

Winning the grant you've worked so hard to achieve is one thing. Taking steps to ensure the award will be one of many is something completely different. Get to Know Your Grant Sometimes the greatest challenge is figuring out how you are allowed to spend "your" money. A lot of expenses you expect to be covered could be restricted. For example, ...

We asked parents to share their advice on the financial aid process, based on their experiences with their children. Here's what they said: "Keep a file folder with each piece of correspondence in it. That way you have a paper trail. Every time a new loan, grant or financial aid comes in, you may receive a revised bill. Also, make sure ...

Tip 1: Prioritize your efforts, starting with the federal government. Then turn to the private sector for additional assistance. Visit FinAid.org to learn about all your funding opportunities. Tip 2: Learn all you can about the college financial aid process. Be sure to meet your aid administrator and establish a relationship. Tip 3: Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ...

We asked FastWeb members to pass along their advice on financial aid, based on their personal experiences. Here's what they said: "It is NOT your school's responsibility to keep track of your account, it's yours! If you think that something is not right about your financial aid, check it out. Even if the school's mistake seems to be favoring you, you ...

You've found the perfect grant for your graduate program. Now you need to convince the grant or fellowship committee that you're the one to fund. More Than a Scholarship Application A grant proposal is a unique document. You have more freedom than you do when writing a scholarship application - and you have to do more planning as well. And even ...

Euro. Yen. Dollar. Whatever you call it, if you want to study abroad you're going to need it. There are ways to get financial aid to study abroad. Find out how to make your trip overseas more affordable. The Ins and Outs of Aid Eligibility Before you rule out study abroad because of the cost, find out whether you may be ...

Maybe you have a fellowship. Or student loans are helping you out. But even if you're not strapped for cash, you should check out an important part of graduate school funding: research grants. Like a scholarship or fellowship, research grants can help to fund your graduate work. But a research grant offers so much more: an opportunity to further your unique ...

Like many nontraditional students, I found the process of returning to school intimidating. Worries hung over my head. How would I pay my bills? Support my family? Pay my tuition? It was those questions that drove me to begin my own scholarship hunt. I used FastWeb, asked friends and kept my eyes open. Yet when I found scholarships I was eligible ...

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the stimulus bill, includes major increases in student aid funding for the 2009-10 academic year. It includes the largest dollar increase ever in the maximum Pell Grant and significantly expands the Hope Scholarship tax credit. It also increases funding for the Federal Work-Study and AmeriCorps programs. The legislation was signed ...

There are many ways in which grandparents can help their grandchildren pay for a college education. These include legacy scholarships and tuition assistance programs, educational awards for volunteering and community service, college savings plans and direct gifts. Scholarships for Grandchildren Very few scholarships are based on a grandparent's affiliations. There are many more awards based on a parent's affiliations. However, sometimes ...

This year more than ever, the economy is making it more difficult for families to pay for college. The number of financial aid applications is up more than 10% over last year. Lenders are suspending loan programs and tightening credit standards. Families are concerned -- really concerned -- about obtaining loans and paying for college. Add in the possibility of job ...

With college costs rising, most students need help paying for higher education. And most will rely on more than one source to cover costs. Learn how to put together the pieces of your financial aid package. Grants Grants are awards based on financial need or funds distributed to support a specific project (e.g. research grants). This is free money that doesn't ...

For many college-bound students the anticipation of higher education is overshadowed by financial anxieties. With tuition rising faster than financial aid dollars, more students are finding gaps in their financial aid packages. The gap appears when the student's expected family contribution (EFC) plus the school's financial aid package don't equal the cost of attendance. This gap appears as unmet need on ...

Academic Year: The period in which school is in session - typically September through May. Accrual Date: The date on which interest charges on an educational loan begin to accrue. Adjusted Available Income: The remaining income after taxes and a basic living allowance have been subtracted (in the Federal Methodology). Assets: Cash in checking and savings accounts, trusts, stocks, bonds, other ...

When you want to know what something costs you check the price tag, right? But sometimes it's not so simple. Compare going to a big-ticket school with attending a college with less expensive tuition. You might think it's easy to figure out which will cost you more. But in fact, every school figures out your financial aid package differently. And that ...

You may already know about federal aid for college, but did you know your state could help out as well? Most states offer financial incentives to residents as well as awards based on academic merit and financial need. In-state Assistance States have a lot of reasons for offering grants to students who attend in-state colleges and universities. "We want to keep ...

The US House of Representatives is considering legislation to overhaul the federal education loan and grant programs. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, nicknamed SAFRA, will increase funding for federal student aid programs and simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. These changes will implement several of President Obama's campaign promises. Switch to 100% Direct Lending Starting ...

The US House of Representatives passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 (SAFRA) on September 17, 2009 by a party-line vote of 253 to 171. This legislation eliminates the federally-guaranteed student loan program and replaces it with 100% direct lending from the federal government. SAFRA uses the savings to fund an increase in the Pell Grant program among ...