I am currently a single parent with a daughter receiving financial aid. However, I plan to marry and am curious how that affects my child’s financial aid. Will his income be considered when completing the FAFSA next year even if we don’t share financial responsibility for her or commingle our bank accounts? — Terri S. If a dependent student's custodial parent ...

Student aid policy experts have argued for years that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is too long and too complicated. The FAFSA form is a source of confusion and frustration for many families. The policy experts have proven that the current process of applying for financial aid is itself a problem that prevents millions of students from applying ...

UC Berkeley students are up in arms over an approved 32 percent tuition increase for all ten campuses in the University of California system that will raise yearly fees above $10,000 for the first time in history. Similar protests and sit-ins took place at UCLA and UC Santa Cruz. The regent committee endorsed the hefty hike by a vote of 10-1. ...

Think you know financial aid? These five facts might surprise you. 1. Most students receive financial aid. If you’re not going to bother applying for scholarships because you think no one ever wins, you’re wrong. Two-thirds of full-time undergraduate students receive financial aid in the form of grants or scholarships, according to the College Board. The cost of college is rising, ...

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is proposing to issue 10-year taxable revenue notes or bonds to increase funding for the state's college grant program. The bonds would provide $100 million a year in additional funding for the MAP grant program on top of current state appropriations of $405 million. This would increase the number of recipients to as many as ...

With National Decision Day looming, students and their parents are taking a close look at top college choices and assessing academic offerings and campus body fit. But most importantly, families are taking a look at each school’s affordability. On Wednesday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau launched its latest tool to help educate students and their families on the costs of borrowing ...

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 ...

The Hope Scholarship provides a federal income tax credit of up to $2,500 (40% refundable) per student based on the first $4,000 in postsecondary tuition, fees and course materials paid by the taxpayer during the tax year. The Hope Scholarship tax credit is 100% of the first $2,000 and 25% of the second $2,000. The tax credit is limited to the ...

Senator Al Franken (D-MN) introduced the Understanding the True Cost of College Act (S.3244) on Thursday, May 24, 2012 with bipartisan support. This legislation will standardize college financial aid award letters to help students and parents make informed decisions concerning the tradeoffs between college affordability and college quality. It will also help students and their families make smarter borrowing decisions. Students ...

Borrowers of federal and private education loans may deduct up to $2,500 in interest as an above-the-line exclusion from income. This deduction may be taken even if the taxpayer does not itemize. Amount of the Deduction You can deduct up to $2,500 in interest on a qualified education loan. The deduction is taken as an adjustment to income, so you can ...

There seems to be a lot of confusion about which parent is responsible for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so I'm answering a few more questions on this topic. The references to "father's/stepfather's" on the FAFSA can be confusing for children of divorced parents. I'm 17 yrs old and I live with my mother and my stepfather. ...

I live with my mother and my brothers. My mother is undocumented and does not work. However, I am a permanent resident and my brothers were born here in the United States. We are receiving help from welfare as food stamps and cash for needy families. We are also living in a shelter. My question is: What kind of financial aid ...

I am very grateful to Fastweb for providing all that you do. I am especially grateful for your answers to questions. I agreed (outside of the courts) to pay my daughter's car payment and some additional spending money for internet access. This increased my costs by $100 per month beyond the child support obligation. Can I exclude this amount from the ...

The stock market’s in a slump. The economy isn't rebounding. Jobs are hard to come by-- and so are student loans. But you’re not sure how — or if— any of it affects you. Chances are it will. And while you may not be feeling the effects of it yet, that’s simply because it hasn’t trickled down yet. When it comes ...

We recently had an addition in the family. Not a new sibling, but my mother's mom is now living with us. She's great and we love having her, but she's not free. Should I change any info on my FAFSA because of this? — Sana B. If your grandmother lives with and receives more than half her support from your parents, ...

Missing payments on your student loan has serious consequences. If you're making monthly payments and you're 270 days delinquent, or 330 days delinquent if you pay less often than monthly, then you are in default. Your Borrowing Responsibilities It's important to read the fine print when you borrow money for school. Unless you're granted loan deferment, forbearance or forgiveness, you must ...

Earning a graduate degree can be a smart idea, but how do you find the funding to pay for an expensive advanced degree? There are ways to earn a graduate degree without ending up with a lot of debt. Figure Out How Much Money You'll Need First, figure out the expenses associated with getting a degree. Don't just focus on tuition ...

Does checking the Federal Work Study box on the FAFSA affect other forms of financial aid that a college might award, such as scholarships or other government aid? Is it wise to check this box even if you have not yet received a college's financial aid offer? — S. Z. Turning down one form of need-based financial aid generally does not ...

You must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you want to apply for federal and state financial aid. Many colleges and universities, especially public institutions, also require the FAFSA. You must submit the FAFSA every year that you want aid. Obtaining a FAFSA The FAFSA is available in several formats, including online, PDF and paper versions. The ...

I have a sophomore in college right now and will have another child starting her freshman year in college next year. We were approved for a Stafford Loan and a Parent PLUS loan for our son this year. We will need to have student loans to finance the entire amount of both kids' education. Will we be able to continue to ...