"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 ...

President Obama is proposing to cut some student aid programs to maintain the maximum Pell Grant at $5,550 in 2011-12 as part of the FY2012 federal budget request. This comes after the House Republican leadership proposed cutting the maximum Pell Grant by $845 on Friday. The Pell Grant program has a $20 billion funding shortfall due to large increases in the ...

It's time to fill out the mother of all financial aid forms: the FAFSA. Don't worry, it's easier than you think! Before you sit down to complete the form, make sure you have all the necessary materials. You'll find that the form seems much simpler when you're prepared with all the information you need. You'll need: Your Social Security card and ...

Unfortunately, federal aid isn't distributed on whether or not your parents want to pay for your education; it all depends on if they can. Parents have many reasons for not contributing to their child's education: can't afford it; it's the child's responsibility; sticky divorce. But your parents refusal actually hurts you more than they may know. Regardless of your parents' reasons, ...

In a statement today, the Obama Administration announced sweeping changes to the FAFSA. Families filling out the FAFSA will no longer have to go through such a painstaking process just to see if they qualify for aid. With the new changes, the online FAFSA will see a drop from 30 screens of questions to 10, according to CNN. The goal, according ...

A mistake on your FAFSA can delay the processing of your application for financial aid! Previously, 30 percent of all FAFSAs were selected for verification, a process intended to identify and correct common errors. Some colleges voluntarily required 100 percent of FAFSAs to undergo verification. Today, the US Department of Education is transitioning to a targeted verification system, where a risk ...

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 ...

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 ...

Not sure when your financial aid applications are due? Here’s a complete list of financial aid deadlines for the 2010-2011 academic year— Federal and State. The 2010-2011 School Year (July 1st, 2010 - June 30th, 2011): *FAFSA on the Web applications must be submitted by midnight Central Daylight time, June 30, 2011. *Corrections on the Web forms must be submitted by ...

1. What types of financial aid do you offer? What are the requirements for need-based aid and for merit-based aid? 2. How much debt do students have when they graduate? What percentage of students graduate with debt? 3. If I get a work-study job, how many hours will I be required to work per week? Are part-time jobs available to students ...

For many students, January 1 is doomsday. It’s the day the FAFSA application becomes available, triggering an overwhelming sense of dread as students either fill out the FAFSA alone or with their parents. Fortunately, the FAFSA gets easier each year as the Department of Education continues to make improvements to the application system and the designation of federal aid. Before we ...

Filling out the FAFSA could be your ticket to some of the more than $80 billion the federal government provides in grants, loans and work-study programs every year. The FAFSA can also help you get state and school-based financial aid. It could be the most important financial aid form you complete. Find out what the FAFSA is all about. FastWeb's FAFSA ...

Several universities that we have visited have stressed the importance of getting you FAFSA completed in January. If we don't have all of our financial and tax information yet, how can we complete the application that early? — Claudia G. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be submitted as soon as possible after January 1. While the federal ...

February is a short month packed with lots of events. With Groundhog's Day, Black History Month, Ash Wednesday, Valentine's Day and President's Day. You probably thought nothing more would fit in these short 28 days. But, if so, you were wrong! February is also Financial Aid Awareness Month. Which makes it the perfect time to complete your FAFSA form and learn ...

I have been divorced for more than 10 years and receive a small amount of child support from my ex-husband. At the time of the divorce, I agreed to let my him claim my daughter on his income tax return during the odd years. He does not cooperate with any other expenses, so the bulk falls on me. He is anxiously ...

The US House of Representatives approved the student loan and health care reform legislation on Sunday night, March 21, 2010, by a vote of 220 to 211. No Republicans voted in favor of the legislation. The US Senate is expected to pass the legislation within about a week. The student loan bill will end the federally-guaranteed student loan program, where banks ...

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 ...

Is your financial aid advice featured in The New York Times? Didn’t think so. Mark Kantrowitz, 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 families to save 1/3 of ...

The FAFSA is a lengthy form, and somewhat complicated. Be sure to read the instructions before completing the form. Most questions about the FAFSA can be answered just by reading the instructions carefully. You will need the Title IV Institution Code for each school to which you are applying in order to complete the FAFSA. You can get this code from ...

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 ...