Students who cannot afford their college fees depend on financial aid from the government to pursue their studies. In short financial aid is defined as the money given by the government or organizations to students who apply and qualify for the aid. There are many sources of financial aid and it comes with a host of benefits. The sources can be from the federal government, colleges, universities, state governments, private organizations, banks and other lending companies.
Paying for higher education could be a tough proposition for many with rising cost. There are numerous options to consider and some of the most viable are grant and scholarships as there is no need to repay them. Then there is the work-study program suitable for those who have to repay the educational loan. Take the assistance of the financial aid services to get to know the nuances on how to apply for a grant or loan. It is advised to first consider grants before going for loans.
Types of financial aid
There are different types of financial aid available and these are as follows:
Grants
Grants are similar to gifts and there is no need to pay them back. The grants are offered both by the federal and state governments, some grants are also offered by colleges. The grants are offered based on the economic conditions of the student.
Scholarships
Scholarships are similar to grants offered by government, private organizations or colleges. These are offered to students who excel academically, sportspersons, volunteers or social workers or to students belonging to a particular community or religious groups. There are company scholarship for children of employees.
The good thing about scholarship is that it does not require repaying the financial aid. There are many sources from whom you can get scholarship and these include companies, clubs, NGOs and organizations. The scholarship is given based on numerous factors like financial need, academic performance, minority status, religious affiliation, heritage and other criteria.
There are educational institutions that come up with a host of scholarships and these are specific to schools. The admission counselor will be able to provide the right assistance when it comes to scholarship. The forms are available online and the database is huge divided into monthly, weekly and daily.
While applying for scholarship ensure you apply early to avoid rushing through deadlines. All the criteria have to be met to be eligible for the scholarship, be honest and transparent in this regard. The instructions have to be followed strictly.
Get More Info About : Some Scholarship Trends
Work study programs
Under the federal work study program undergraduates students can get jobs to fulfill their financial needs. It helps them to earn money during their educational journey. Under this program community services are encouraged related to your course of study. There are programs specific to the school. To be eligible for the program, students have to earn a certain number of credits.
Loans
Money borrowed from banks or lending companies for the purpose of education is called educational loans. The loans are charged at an interest. Loans offered by the federal government come at lower interest rates. On the contrary lenders charge a higher rate of interest.
Applying for student aid
There are application forms available for free to apply for government or college financial aid. You can apply for financial aid either from the college directly or through private organizations. You need to submit your profile requirements. Submit the forms before the deadline to enjoy the financial aid.
Students who apply for financial aid normally do not consider expensive colleges for the fear the tuition fee may be high to be covered by the offer. Do not leave it to chance, there are chances that the tuition fee may be affordable when compared to college charging less fee. Always consider net price and not the published price. This can give you an opportunity to study in the best colleges in town.
There are numerous grants and scholarship programs available for the disabled students as well. You can find information on educational financial aid from the HEATH Resource Center, International Center for Disability and more. There are exclusive websites for students who want to avail financial aid. Online resources are also available to guide students across the country to make the most of the financial aid. There are non-governmental websites also that offer useful information on financial aid for students.
