1. Funding Your Career Goals

2. Understanding Financial Aid

3. Financial Aid = $ for College
Scholarships
Free Money awarded based on a student’s ability
Grants
Free Money awarded based on student’s financial need
Student Loans
Money borrowed for education that must be paid back with interest.

4. Federal Funding and submitting the FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
FAFSA.ed.gov
Digital application to determine family need for education assistance
Currently family adjusted gross income <$36,000
Full Pell grant = $6,195 annually
Guaranteed Student Loans are also a part of Federal Aid packages; current rate is 3.79% compounded DAILY!

5. State Funding HOPE Scholarship Required ACT of 21 or GPA of 3.0
Use at any instate two or four year school
$3000/$3500 per year
Then $4500 Jr/Sr. Year
TN Promise
No academic requirement
Use up to an Associates Degree
Award varies by unmet tuition
Complete ALL Promise activities
Wilder-Neifeh
No academic requirement
Use at any TCAT
$2000 per year
TSAA
Need based aid
Must be Pell eligible
Award varies from $1000-$4000 depending on school type

6. Senior Stairway to College
FAFSA/TN Promise deadline Feb. 1
TN Promise closes Nov. 1
FAFSA opens Oct. 1
Senior Stairway to College
College admissions open
TN Promise opens, Aug. 1
TN Promise timeline

7. No Academic Requirement!!; TN Resident, TN High School graduate
TN Promise
Last dollar scholarship towards TUITION ONLY
Can be used towards an Associates Degree Program at Public and Private in-state schools
Online application (TNPromise.gov)
Mandatory meetings (2)
Community service (8 hours each semester)
No Academic Requirement!!; TN Resident, TN High School graduate

8. Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation
TN Promise
Examples A B C
Tuition
$4,000
Pell/TELS/TSAA
-$5,815
-$3,000 $0
Gap
$1,000
TN Promise $0
Tuition
$1,000 $0
$4,000 $0
Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation

9. Career goals
What kind of college?
Matching your career goals to post-secondary training. College for TN mapping your future ONET

10. Which one fits YOUR goals?
Technical School:
Short term, hands on study
Community College:
Two year degrees for workforce or transfer
Four Year Public Institution:
Traditional college or university
Four Year Private Institution:
Privately funded, may have affiliations
Which one fits YOUR goals?

11. Finding the right post-secondary experience
Your College
Academic Record
Extra Curricular
Program of Study
Environment
Student Clubs

12. Erika Adams Outreach Specialist East TN
Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation