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Need help? Contact your CCR Counselor or email us at college.career@dcinternationalschool.org!
Financial aid helps students pay for many postsecondary programs, including 2-year and 4-year colleges/universities, trade school, and certificate programs! This can include different types of funding sources, such as scholarships, grants, and loans. It is important that students actively seek out these resources, review eligibility and renewal requirements, and gather the necessary documents needed for each application.
Non-repayable Aid
(aid that does not need to be paid back)
Scholarships
Merit-based
Need-based
Identity-based
Grants
Usually need-based
Repayable Aid
(aid that does need to be paid back)
Loans
Can come from federal government (FAFSA) or private lenders
Not just paying principal amount because it includes interest
Not all loans are bad, but it is important to borrow responsibly
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA is a form used to apply for financial aid to help pay for college or career school. It is the gateway to determining eligibility for financial aid from the federal government, states, and institutions.
Your CCR Counselor can help you fill out the FAFSA and answer any questions you have!
For more information visit the Federal Student Aid website, watch the videos below, or schedule a meeting with your CCR Counselor!
CSS PROFILE
The CSS Profile is a financial aid application from the College Board. Many private colleges (and some public universities and scholarships) use it in addition to (or instead of) the FAFSA to award their own institutional aid. For a complete list of colleges that use the CSS Profile, click here.
The CSS Profile asks for more information from students than FAFSA and the deadline for completion is set by each school or scholarship.
There is a submission fee, but automatic fee waivers are available for eligible students.
INSTITUTIONAL AID
Many colleges and universities award school-specific scholarships and grants to students. Most of these scholarships require that students fill out the FAFSA and/or the CSS Profile to be eligible. There are also some scholarships that require a nomination from a teacher or counselor.
Most institutional financial aid webpages will list the merit-based and identity-based scholarship and grant opportunities available for students. Students may also contact financial aid offices directly for more information!
Some popular (and competitive) institutional scholarships are:
Stephen J. Trachtenberg Scholarship (George Washington University)
Jefferson Scholarship Program (University of Virginia)
AU District Scholars (American University)
ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES
DC-BASED RESOURCES
DC-BASED RESOURCES
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DC CAP has worked with students, parents and educational partners for over 20 years to inspire, counsel and provide fundamental support to DC students, the majority of which come from low-income families. They offer two scholarship programs for DC residents and students must apply via their website.
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
The DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DC TAG) helps eligible students pay the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition, up to $10,000 annually at public colleges and up to $2,500 at private colleges in DC and private HBCUs, nationwide. Students must complete the DC OneApp to apply.
The DC Mayor's Scholarship provides need-based funding for eligible District of Columbia residents earning their first associate or first bachelor’s degree at select area colleges and universities. The program is a last-dollar award, meaning it can be used to fill the gap between a student’s financial aid package and the cost of attendance at their college or university.
The DC Futures Program aims to help District of Columbia college students complete their first associate or bachelor’s degree by providing a last-dollar scholarship (tuition, fees, and cost of attendance) at three local universities in addition to college coaching and support services that will address personal and financial barriers to completion for all participants. This may completely cover the financial need for some participants making the cost of college “free.”
Since 2002, the DC College Savings Plan has enabled over 22,000 families to save more than $500 million for their children to go to college. The DC College Savings Plan gives families a simple way to help save for rising college and vocational school costs, with special features like:
Significant tax advantages, from tax-deferred growth to tax-free qualified distributions
Minimal initial investment of only $25 to open an account
Flexible investment choices
Easy online enrollment and management, and much more.
SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH ENGINES
SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH ENGINES
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Going Merry | Scholarships.com | Scholly | FastWeb | Unigo | Raise Me | Bold.org
RESPONSIBLE BORROWING
RESPONSIBLE BORROWING
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