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Understanding Financial Aid

Understanding Financial Aid. Grafton High School Margaret Zitzer Monday, January 13, 2014. Agenda. Principles of Financial Aid Key Concepts Completing the FAFSA Types of Aid Available. Basic Principles of Financial Aid.

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Understanding Financial Aid

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  1. Understanding Financial Aid Grafton High School Margaret Zitzer Monday, January 13, 2014

  2. Agenda • Principles of Financial Aid • Key Concepts • Completing the FAFSA • Types of Aid Available

  3. Basic Principles of Financial Aid • Parents have primary responsibility to pay for the education of their dependent children. • Students also have a responsibility to help pay for their educational costs. • A family’s ability to pay for educational expenses must be evaluated in an equitable and consistent manner while recognizing that special circumstances can and do alter a family’s ability to pay.

  4. Financial aid helps bridge the gap between the cost of education and what the family can pay.

  5. Key Concepts • Cost of Attendance (COA) • Expected Family Contribution (EFC) • Demonstrated Financial Need (Need)

  6. Cost of Attendance(Direct & Indirect Costs) • Tuition • Fees • Room & Board • Books & Supplies • Personal/Miscellaneous • Travel

  7. Expected Family Contribution(EFC) Determined by filing the FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid

  8. EFC • Income • Assets • Family size • Number in College • Age of the older parent

  9. Demonstrated Financial Need Financial Need is a simple equation: COA -EFC =Need

  10. Examples of Financial Need Public College Cost $ 22,826 EFC -$10,000 Need$12,826 Source: The College Board Average Estimated Budgets, 2013-14 Private College Cost $44,750 EFC -$10,000 Need $34,750

  11. Get Organized • To complete the FAFSA you will need to: • Gather your and your parent’s 2013 tax information • File your taxes electronically and use the IRD Data Retrieval Tool on FAFSA • Apply for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) • Parent must have his/her own PIN. • PIN serves as electronic signatures for the FAFSA and promissory notes www.pin.ed.gov

  12. Submit the FAFSA www.FAFSA.gov • FAFSA is student specific • Select the appropriate school year • Complete all sections about you, your school plans and the financial information (use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool) • List your school code(s) (List up to 10 schools) • Provide electronic signatures (PINs) • Submit your information • Keep copies for your records

  13. Completing the FAFSAPoints to Remember: • The earliest you may file the FAFSA for the 2014-2015 school year – January 1, 2014. • Check with the colleges where you plan to apply for deadlines and institutional requirements. • You do not need to wait until tax returns are filed; It is o.k. to estimate. • Must do the IRS Data Retrieval Process (with initial application or corrections) Available 7-10 days after federal tax returns are filed • Who is considered a parent? • You must re-apply for aid every year.

  14. FAFSA Follow up Here’s what happens after you file: • Your EFC is calculated • Results are sent electronically to the college(s) you selected. (You may list up to 10 schools on the electronic FAFSA) • You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). • If you have special circumstances notify the Financial Aid Office. (Extraordinary expenses and/or loss of income) • After you are admitted to a college, a financial aid award will be sent to you. • You may be required to verify information submitted on your FAFSA.

  15. Types of Aid Available • Gift • Scholarships • Grants • Self-help • Employment • Loans

  16. Scholarships Academic - merit based Talent Service ROTC Private www.fastweb.com www.thesalliemaefund.org https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search

  17. Grants (Need-based) Federal Grants Pell SEOG State Grants WTG/WHEG WI Covenant Scholars Institutional Grants

  18. Employment • Two types: • Federal Work Study • Regular Campus Employment • Can be used for personal expenses • Does not adversely affect grades

  19. Student Loans Federal Perkins* 5% interest rate interest deferred while in school No loan fee 9 month grace period 10 year repayment Available funding determines loan amount at each school *Program set to expire 2015 Federal Stafford Subsidized Unsubsidized (anyone can borrow) 2013-14 Variable/Fixed interest rate of 3.86% (8.25% cap) Freshmen - $3500 Sophomores - $4500 Juniors/Seniors - $5500 Additional Unsub $2000/year (Loan Origination Fee of 1.072%) 6 month grace period 10 year repayment

  20. Other Options • Parent PLUS Loan – 2013-14 Variable/Fixed Rate = 6.41% (Cap=10.50%) (4.288% Origination Fee) – requires good credit • Student Alternative Loans – Private Lenders – requires a credit-worthy cosigner • Private Scholarship • MUST be reported to the school • Payment Plan • Tax Credits • EdVest (529 Plan) Withdrawals

  21. Comparing Financial Aid Offers Step 1 Calculate your direct costs (tuition, room & boards and fees) $20,000 Tuition + 3,000 Room + 3,000 Board + 500 Fees $26,500 Direct Costs

  22. Comparing Financial Aid Offers Step 2 Subtract any gift aid (grants and scholarships) $26,500 Direct Costs -5,645 Pell Grant - 2,900 WI Grant - 10,000 Institutional Grant $7,955 Remainder After Gift Aid

  23. Comparing Financial Aid Offers Step 3 The remainder after gift assistance will need to be covered by loans, employment or personal resources (i.e. cash, savings, payment plans and etc.) $7,955 Remainder After Gift Aid - 3,500 Stafford Loan - 2,000 Unsubsidized Stafford Loan $2,455* Remainder to be covered by Parent Loan, Alternative Loan, Payment Plan or Personal Resources, etc. * You MUST have a plan to cover your remaining Balance

  24. Net Price Calculator • Early financial aid estimation tool • The average yearly price actually charged to full-time, first-year undergraduate students receiving student aid at an institution of higher education. • Estimate net price=COA – grants & scholarships • Not all NPCs are built equally

  25. Websites • General Information • www.StudentAid.gov • www.Finaid.org • http://www.consumerfinance.gov/paying-for-college • http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?s=all&ct=2&ic=1 • Scholarship Search Engines • www.Fastweb.com • www.Thesalliemaefund.org • www.Bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search

  26. College Goal Wisconsinhttp://www.collegegoalwi.org/ • College Goal Wisconsin – is a Statewide event that offers free assistance to families in completing the FAFSA – Scholarship opportunity also • Saturday or Sunday, February 22-23 (2 pm), and on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 (6 pm) • Assistance with paper and online FAFSAs • Scheduled at 29 sites throughout Wisconsin

  27. Additional Information Marquette University Office of Student Financial Aid (414) 288-4000 marquettecentral@marquette.edu website: www.marquette.edu/mucentral

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