Health & Fitness
5 Helpful Links to Learn About Financial Aid
By Daniel Gerger, President, Adult Education Advocates,
Recently President Obama outlined an education plan that seeks to tie federal aid to college costs.
However, before this plan is approved there are things that adult students can do to find information about financial aid. These websites include some of the leading nonprofit and government sources on financial aid and are among the most reliable sources on the Internet.
FASFA Home Page
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This is the home page for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and this is the place to get started with any financial aid application. Although it is for federal aid, state aid any many private and university scholarships are based on the student's FASFA application. See: FASFA Home Page
Federal Student Aid Programs
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This page from the U.S Department of Education outlines federal student aid programs, with information on grants and scholarships, loans, work study jobs and more. Some important advice is contained under the "Avoiding Scams" section. See: Federal Student Aid Programs
State Financial Aid ProgramsThe National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators has developed this page with links to all of the state's financial aid programs. According to NASFAA:,"Almost every state has at least one grant or scholarship available to residents, and many have a long list of student aid programs. Eligibility is usually restricted to state residents attending a college in-state, but that's not always the case." If you live in Connecticut, for example, but attend school in New York, you may want to check out aid programs from both states. See: State Financial Aid Programs
Colleges and universities usually provide detailed information on upcoming financial aid deadlines, scholarship and loan programs, application materials, etc. Your school's website should be among your first stops when seeking financial aid information. New York University's website, for example, also has detailed FAQs for students on general financial aid topics. See: Your School's Financial Aid Office
FinAid.Org
One of the oldest and most-used financial aid sites, finaid.org has lots of financial advice for students, including resources on savings plans, loans, scholarships and more. It also includes online tools for calculating college costs, loan payments, savings, and the expected family contribution. See: FinAid.Org
Daniel Gerger is the President of Adult Education Advocates, an organization that helps adults make the transition back to college.