Federal Aid And Community Organizations Great Sources For College Financial Aid

If you’re a parent of a student who’s busy filling out college applications, you’re probably wondering how you’ll pay the tuition this fall. Now is the time to apply for federal aid and look into other financial aid resources to help ease college costs.

“The first step that parents should take when going through the college financial aid process is to think about all of the costs associated with going to college. For instance, tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, personal expenses, and sometimes travel,” said David Charlow, Financial Air Director for Undergraduate Students, Columbia University.

Approximately two-thirds of all student financial aid assistance comes from federal programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education, including Federal Pell Grants, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Campus-based programs, and Federal PLUS Loans. Call the Federal Student Financial Aid Information Center toll-free at the U.S. Department of Education at 800/4FED-AID or check out www.ed.gov or www.fafsa.com on the Internet to receive up-to-date information on Federal student aid programs.