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How to Make College More Affordable: Why Early Financial Aid Planning Matters

CFAA College Financial Aid Advisors

Colleges have different deadlines, scholarships come with various eligibility criteria, and grants can require some paperwork that takes time to gather. Heres a quick review of what financial aid actually refers to: Grants: Money you dont have to pay back (yay!). Now Enrolling: College Financial Aid Advising for the Class of 2026-2027!

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The Essential Guide to Financial Aid for High School Juniors

CFAA College Financial Aid Advisors

There are three main types of financial aid: Grants : These are usually need-based and dont need to be paid back. FAFSA Your Key to Financial Aid The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form youll need to complete in order to be considered for most types of financial aid, including federal grants, loans, and work-study.

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FAFSA Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide for the 2025-2026 Application

CFAA College Financial Aid Advisors

The most important financial document that students will file with their families this fall is the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For the 2025-2026 application cycle, the FAFSA will come online in December. You may never know what aid your student can receive! Why Do I Have to File the FAFSA?

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Deciding on Financial Aid Offers: Do You Really Need All Those Loans?

CFAA College Financial Aid Advisors

Receiving a financial aid offer can be both exciting and overwhelming for college-bound students and their families. While grants and scholarships provide much-needed assistance, loans often make up a significant portion of the aid package. Every dollar you can secure through non-loan sources reduces your future debt burden.

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College Financial Aid Forms Decoded: Understanding What These Terms Mean

CFAA College Financial Aid Advisors

It opens doors to federal grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. If you want to read some of my tips to prepare for the 2025-2026 FAFSA, check out recent blogs here! Grants vs. Loans : Grants are free money for college that you don’t have to repay, while loans are borrowed funds that must be repaid with interest.

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Breaking Down FAFSA: Understanding the Application Process

CFAA College Financial Aid Advisors

This form is one of the most important for students and families to file, if not the most important form to be completed. The FAFSA is the way that students qualify for federal grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. All of these programs are designed to make higher education more accessible.

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President Biden Releases FY25 Budget Request to Congress

COE

However, among several requests for flat or even decreased funding in the education arena, we are pleased to see that the President’s budget includes an increase of $20 million for the Federal TRIO Programs in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), which would fund TRIO during Program Year 2025-2026. Department of Education here.)

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