While college acceptance letters are often exciting, the arrival of financial aid offers can be confusing. Keep these five things in mind as you review your financial aid notificiations to limit stress.
Financial aid is not all free money.
Depending on the college or university, financial aid may be presented under one large heading or broken down by type. Remember that work-study and loans, including federal and supplemental loans, are also part of financial aid packages. Work-study requires you to find and obtain work on campus, and loans must be paid back with interest after you graduate or leave college.
Cost of attendance varies by college.
Like the types of aid offered, college costs may be presented differently by different institutions. Tuition and fees may be grouped together or separated; room and board may be called housing and meals; and estimated expenses for books, transportation and miscellaneous may or may not be listed. You may also see tuition, fees, housing and meals listed as direct costs, while other expenses are shown as indirect costs because they are not billed by the school. Remember, many indirect costs are estimates or averages, and you may spend less or budget more depending on your situation. Be sure you understand what is included in each category to get a true comparison between schools.
Work-study requires work now.
If your financial aid offer includes a line for work-study, don't assume the college will have a job waiting for you when you arrive on campus in the fall. As soon as you decide on a college, touch base with the financial aid office to determine what steps you need to take to get a job on campus. Then, apply for the job(s) you are interested in or seek out other opportunities to count on that money coming in once you start classes.
Outside scholarships may impact your other financial aid.
You need to report any scholarships or grants you receive from sources outside of the government or college to the financial aid office. While those outside scholarships may reduce the aid you're eligible to receive, they can also help you borrow less if you need loans, so don't be afraid of finding as much outside free money as possible.
Expenses may increase and free aid may decrease after your freshman year.
College tuition, on-campus housing and meal plans will likely cost more each year you're in school. Grants and scholarships you're offered to attend a college as a freshman, on the other hand, may decrease in future years. Find out if scholarships and grants are for one year or if they are renewable. If they can be renewed each year, be sure you understand any requirements you must meet to keep those awards. Also, be aware that maximum federal loan amounts may increase every year you're in college, but those funds will need to be paid back with interest in the future. It is a good idea to estimate total college costs to earn your degree so you can make a realistic plan to pay for your entire college career.
