My wife is looking to go back to school for a new career. But I'm
pretty lost as to how to help her with all this financial aid
stuff. Can you help me to get started, or at least point me in the
right direction?
— Skyler G.
Most of the answer to the first question in
last week's Ask Kantro column
is relevant to your wife's situation. She will need to submit the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), use the education tax
benefits like the Hope Scholarship or Lifetime Learning tax credits,
and search for merit-based aid on free sites like Fastweb.com.
There are, however, a few differences when someone is returning to
college to get a second degree.
If she already has a Bachelor's degree and is seeking an undergraduate
degree, she will be ineligible for most forms of federal student aid
other that student loans (up to her remaining eligibility) and the
education tax benefits.
See Ask Kantro: What types of student aid are available for a second Bachelor's degree?
for more details on financial aid for a second Bachelor's degree.
If she does not already have a Bachelor's degree, she may also be
eligible for federal grants such as the Pell Grant. If she is pursuing
a graduate degree she will be eligible for higher loan limits.
Unfortunately, debt is often unavoidable for a second degree, even at
a low-cost public college.
There are a few scholarships targeted to older students and a few
scholarships with age restrictions, but most scholarships are not
limited by age.
Since she is married, she will report her and your income and assets
on the FAFSA. She will not report her parents' income and assets. If
your combined income will be lower because she lost her job or is
quitting her job to go back to school, she should ask the school for a
professional judgment review to base her financial aid on estimated
award year income instead of prior tax year income.
She should consider whether additional training is all she needs, as
opposed to a second degree. She might be able to take just a few courses if
the new field is related to her old field and re-enter the workforce
sooner.
Sponsored
Need Help Paying for Next Semester?
Use our student loan search tool to find a student loan that's right for you.
Sponsored
Get Your Custom List of Scholarships to Help Pay for School. Sign Up Now!
Fastweb is your connection to scholarships, financial aid & more.
Join the Discussion