1. Financial Aid 101 What to Know - The Basics

2. Financial Aid Terms FAFSA EFC COA NPC Work-Study Loans

3. Financial Aid Free money ! ! !

4. Financial Aid- Two Kinds Need-Based Financial Aid ✤ determined by financial situation of family Merit-Based Financial Aid ✤ awarded on basis of merit - academic, athletic, artistic

5. Need-Based Aid FAFSA is completed ✤ www.fafsa.ed.gov www.fafsa.ed.gov Jan 1 of Senior Year Parent & Student PIN Financial Information

6. Terms to Know EFC = Expected Family Contribution ✤ What the government says your family should pay for college per year COA = Cost of Attendance ✤ Tuition, room & board, books, fees, etc. per year

7. How This Works Cost of Attendance per year = $30,000 Expected Family Contribution = $10,000 Financial “Need” = $20,000 If college meets 100% of demonstrated need, will give financial aid award of $20,000

8. Financial Aid Award Grants/Scholarships Work-Study Loans

9. Net Price Calculators (NPC) Tool to help families determine what the net price would be for the first year of college Net Price = Cost of Attendance minus estimated need-based financial aid award Need financial records Not easy to compare colleges

10. What to Look For - Generous Colleges Colleges that give a large % of grants or scholarships in need- based financial aid awards & little or no loans Colleges that give a large % of merit-based scholarships (not based on financial need)

11. Examples of Generous Colleges

12. Pay Attention To Each college’s policies about financial aid and scholarships Deadlines - can be different than application deadline Are any additional forms needed - CSS Profile, etc.?

13. Private Scholarships - National

14. Private Scholarships - Local

15. Private Scholarships - Ethnic/Race/Gender

16. Resources FAFSA - www.fafsa.ed.govwww.fafsa.ed.gov Fast Web - www.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.com Scholarships - www.scholarships.com www.scholarships.com Merit Aid - www.meritaid.orgwww.meritaid.org College Board - www.collegeboard.org www.collegeboard.org

17. My Information Joni L. Towles Certified Educational Planner www. towlesedu.com jtowles@towlesedu.com 770-850-0910