Affordability and Financial Aid
This portion of the toolkit equips counselors, educators, and practitioners with what's needed to help students access and obtain financial resources and knowledge for a career-leading credential and family sustaining wages. It covers FAFSA, application process, and debt management.
Foundational Tools & Resources
Resources for Practitioners
Check out NCAN's list of resources focused on best practices and case studies related to increasing access to financial aid by improving FAFSA completion and reducing the impact of being selected for verification.
Learn more about federal student aid information and outreach tools for counselors, college access professionals, nonprofit mentors, and other advisors through this FAFSA Toolkit.
Learn more about the KHEAA FAFSA Completion challenge that aims to help schools increase FAFSA completion rates and encourage seniors to complete the FAFSA. This page also includes the Kentucky High School Dashboard that tracks FAFSA completion in the state.
Resources for Students and Families
Use this website to file FAFSA applications. This site also provides completion guides and information about the different types of aid.
Check out Chapter 2 of the Getting in Presentation that covers information about financial aid and how students can finance their education.
Learn more about financial aid, how money is awarded, and who develops financial aid packages.
Additional Resources
Resources for Practitioners:
Affordability at Public Institutions Dashboard by NCAN: Identifies what public institutions are affordable or not for students.
FAFSA Completion Tracker by NCAN: An interactive data dashboard that tracks and ranks states' progress toward FAFSA completion.
EverFi.com: Online financial literacy training for students.
FAFSA Resource Library by NCAN: NCAN's FAFSA Resource Library contains effective practices and key resources for communities and school districts looking to strengthen or create a FAFSA completion initiative.
Workforce Solutions Financial Literacy, How Much $ Do I need to Live?: A lesson plan that provides students with modules and insights on the cost of living. Students participate in the reality check activity.
Resources for Students and Families:
College Affordability & Transparency Center by DOE: An online tool for students that models the cost of college and helps students identify whether or not a college is affordable.
Quick Guide to Financial Aid Award Letters for Families by NCAN