Step-by-Step Guide

The Financial Aid process can seem daunting at times. But if you follow our step-by-step process, you’ll find a lot of the mystery removed. This section provides an essential overview to help students and their parents plan for college financial aid needs. It will walk you through how to fill out the FAFSA and how your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is determined. There are many different sources of financial aid including the "college fund", scholarships, grants, work-study programs and government and alternative loans. We’ll help you learn your different options so you know where to start. Here are the key elements for applying for financial aid, in approximately the order you should pursue them.

• Filling out the FAFSA and getting your EFC (Expected Family Contribution)
• Examining any funds you have available for college: Savings, 529 Plans, etc.
• Working with your school’s Financial Aid Office
• Scholarships and Grants
• Work-Study, ROTC and other time-for-money type aid
• Government Loans
• Private Loans
• Additional Education Finance