Tag: financial aid


2017-18 Excelsior Scholarship Program Deadline Approaching

Posted on July 10th, 2017

If you want to have a chance at receiving free tuition at a SUNY or CUNY college this fall through New York’s free college program, you’d better get moving.

The deadline to apply for the Excelsior Scholarship is July 21, 2017, so you must apply by then in order to be eligible.

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Most private colleges opt out of New York’s free tuition program

Posted on June 27th, 2017

There’s been plenty of talk (and controversy) over the Excelsior Scholarship program, which will provide students in New York from families under specific income levels with free tuition at state public colleges.

One new aspect of the new free college initiative that’s been overlooked by many is the Enhanced Tuition Awards Program, which provides up to $6,000 for students who choose to attend private colleges instead of one of the state’s SUNY or CUNY colleges.

But it hasn’t been all smooth-sailing for this program, either. In fact, a majority of the state’s private colleges are choosing not to participate, The Journal News reports.

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New York’s Free College Program May Be Lottery-Based

Posted on May 11th, 2017

When the Excelsior Scholarship Program was announced, many believed it meant that the majority of students in New York state would now be able to attend college for free.

That’s not entirely the case, as we explain in our recent post about the program. And more details have emerged that should give pause to students and families depending on this program.

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What you need to know about New York’s Excelsior Scholarship Program

Posted on April 24th, 2017

Many of our clients have been asking about the new Excelsior Scholarship program, which will provide free tuition at in-state public colleges for New York state students if their family meets certain income requirements.

While it may sound too good to be true, there are a lot of important details and things you need to keep in mind when considering the program. Read these important FAQs about the program, and contact us if you want personalized help figuring out whether it is a good option for your family.

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How to Fill Out the FAFSA When You Have More Than One Child in College

Posted on February 6th, 2017

When you have multiple kids in college, filling out the FAFSA can be tricky. Luckily, the Department of Education put together a guide to answer your most pressing questions.

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How to transfer your tax information into the FAFSA

Posted on October 7th, 2016

The FAFSA is available now at fafsa.gov for students attending college in 2017-18. Because of its earlier availability (it usually isn’t available until January 1), the Department of Federal Student Aid is allowing families to use tax information from 2015 to complete the form.

To make it easier to complete the FAFSA, you can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically fill in all of your tax information. This will allow you to submit the form sooner and maximize your chances of receiving financial aid for college.

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FAFSA Available Now: Fill it out ASAP!

Posted on October 1st, 2016

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available at https://fafsa.ed.gov.

This application may be used for students attending college in the 2017-18 school year. In order to be eligible for federal financial aid, students and parents must complete the FAFSA.

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1 in 5 students don’t apply for financial aid

Posted on August 12th, 2016

We write often about the importance of applying for financial aid, even if you don’t think you’re qualified to receive it.

But a new study from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that 1 in 5 students don’t apply for financial aid at all.

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Private colleges offer record-high tuition discounts

Posted on May 27th, 2016

"There’s almost no one who’s paying 100%." -- Economist Lucie Lapovsky

While it’s no secret that college costs are rising, financial aid has been increasing too, providing more opportunities for students to take advantage of discounts at expensive private colleges, MONEY reports. According to The National Association of College and University Business Officers’ annual survey of tuition discount rates, the average freshman student at a private college only […]

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How to calculate and pay out-of-pocket college costs

Posted on May 18th, 2016

In order to compare financial aid awards from different colleges, you need to be able to understand the different out-of-pocket costs for each college–the total cost you’ll have to pay after grants and scholarships are applied.

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