Thursday, February 18, 2010

Financial Aid Helps Offset College Costs

Financial assistance is available from a variety of sources

Each year, parents and students search for financial aid resources to help pay for college costs. While it can be overwhelming to think about, particularly when prior financial preparations have not been made, financial aid for college can be a life saver. Financial assistance for college can be acquired through grants, loans, and work-study programs, which help students to work while paying for school.

Educational grants

The Pell Grant is one of the most popular forms of financial assistance for undergraduate students. With a Pell Grant, students may receive up to approximately $4,050 that does not have to be repaid. Another popular federal grant is the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), which is available for undergraduate students who can demonstrate extreme financial need. With SEOGs qualifying students may receive up to $4,000 for each year they attend.

College scholarships

Scholarships are another option for financing a college education. Like grants, scholarships do not have to be repaid. However, scholarships differ from government grants in that they are awarded based on specific academic criteria. If students who receive scholarships fail to continue satisfying the minimum requirements, usually include a specified grade point average or participation in a sport or other activity, scholarships can be withdrawn.

Compared to the relatively few government options for educational financing, scholarships are available and numerous and a student can often qualify for more than one at a time. Scholarships are generally awarded by non-profit organizations, and there are literally thousands of them. Students can apply for more than one scholarship at a time and, if enough scholarships are received, they can cover the entire cost of a student's college education. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Financial Aid Helps Offset College Costs"



1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I also tend to believe that there are variety of sources for financial assistance, especially for students. And government is also addressing this financial issue of students wanting to study college. There are also various cash loans offered, you just have to be cautious to which lender you're forwarding your application. Even for emergency situations, there are institutions and business ready to lend some money for instant cash needs.