Financial Aid
East Guidance Financial Aid Night Website
Watch our video from East Guidance Financial Aid Night and access the corresponding Powerpoint and many other helpful resources. Our speaker was from the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA).
Check it out here: https://sites.google.com/chclc.org/east-financial-aid-night-22-23/home
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
This is the starting point for all financial aid decisions (regardless of whether you're applying to a public or private college). Click here to get started! https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
---> WHO'S A PARENT? Who is considered a "Parent" on the FAFSA? Determine parental status with this chart - Parent FAFSA Chart
---> IMPORTANT STATE DEADLINES: Click to find Financial Aid & FAFSA Deadlines by STATE - Most states distribute financial aid on a first-come, first-serve basis, so get your FAFSA in today!
---> FAFSA STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE: A FREE resource that walks students & families through each question of the FAFSA, including screenshots and explanations, and an FAQ page for students with special circumstances. www.standoutcollegeprep.com/fafsa-questions
NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA)
The HESAA assists students and families with understanding financial aid. Here are some of their helpful resources:
Video "Who is HESAA?" - https://youtu.be/6zvM61oADGQ
PDF of Student Loan Guide - www.hesaa.org/Documents/Student_Loan_Guide.pdf
Tuition Aid Grant Award Estimator - www.hesaa.org/tagestimator/current/studentstatus.asp
HESAA Information the FAFSA - www.hesaa.org/Pages/FAFSA.aspx
Financial Aid Resources
11 Ways to Appeal for More Financial Aid or Merit Aid - Check out this article for helpful tips on how to get more money for college. You never know until you try!
College Cost: College Affordability & Transparency Center (CATC) - This website was designed by the U.S. Department of Education and provides information to students and families about college costs. It serves as a central point to compare college tuition and fees, net price, and other characteristics. Use this resource to find out:
how much it costs students to attend different colleges,
how fast those costs are going up, and
why costs are going up.
Do You Need Money for College? The Guide to Federal Student Aid - Directly from the U.S. Department of Education (StudentAid.gov), check out this guide for the ins and outs on Federal Student Aid!
Federal Student Aid Online - Where to Find Information - Not sure where to go for help on your Federal Student Aid? Use this PDF to direct you to where you can get more information.
FinAid - This has information on financial aid for college, and tips on how to help ease the burden of college expenses.
Iowa Student Loan Game Plan - Check out this interactive website. "Reducing the amount you need to borrow for college helps you make a plan for successfully repaying your debt—with interest—later." Get information about college planning and financial literacy here.
LendEDU - Find the average student loan debt statistics by school, state, and more.
Mapping Your Future - This site helps students plan for higher education by offering reliable and unbiased money management advice and counseling. Resources include college preparation, school selection, career exploration, and counseling aimed at helping students and families better understand student loan obligations, and learn about practical money management solutions to ensure healthy finances while in school and beyond.
Net Price College Calculator - This tool estimates the "net price" (rather than the "sticker price") to attend a particular college or university.
From PayScale.com -
"For prospective college students and their parents who want a better understanding of potential earnings post-graduation, these reports provide valuable insight when considering how to fund higher education."
College Return on Investment (ROI) Report - Annual report used to determine the return on college tuition investment. Includes the 20-year net ROI for colleges across America, factoring in potential salaries and school cost.
College Salary Report - Annual report indicates colleges with the best alumni salary potential. See which colleges and degrees produce alumni who earn the highest salaries by the time they reach mid-career.
Rutgers EOF - Rutgers NJ Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) provides financial assistance and support services (e.g. counseling, tutoring, and developmental coursework) to students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds who attend participating NJ higher education institutions.
Rutgers EOF Program - Slideshow of information on Rutgers EOF.
Tuition Fit - This is a different way of looking for colleges - by how much you might have to pay! "TuitionFit gives the pricing information you need to make the most informed decisions possible. We make it possible for more students to go to college, pay for college, and begin adult life without the burden of excess student loan debt."
Tuition Tracker - Tuition Tracker is an interactive tool that compares colleges based on what schools actually cost the year students expect to enroll. You can also compare institutions on graduation rates, which shows the likelihood of a student successfully completing their degree on time — a significant factor in affordability.
Want to explore other ways to pay for college?
Check out our Scholarships Page!