Additional Financial Aid Resources & References

Minds can achieve anything. We make sure they get to college.

At Federal Student Aid, we make it easier to get money for higher education.

Webinars

Federal Student Aid regularly hosts webinars for students, parents, student loan borrowers, or college access professionals. You can submit questions during the webinar and their team will answer your questions during the event.

Keep an eye on StudentAid.gov/events for webinars and other events intended for students, parents, and borrowers; and watch the Get Training page on the Financial Aid Toolkit for Counselors (FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/training) to find webinars intended to enhance your professional development.

To take advantage of these webinars, sign up today!

Archived Webinars

If you are interested in these webinars but are not available at the scheduled time, you’ll be able to view recorded versions of the webinars listed above at StudentAid.gov/resources#webinars and at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/resources.

Create a New FSA ID

An FSA ID gives you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature.

Only create an FSA ID using your own personal information and for your own exclusive use. You are not authorized to create an FSA ID on behalf of someone else, including a family member. Misrepresentation of your identity to the federal government could result in criminal or civil penalties.

Crear credencial FSA ID

La credencial FSA ID le permite al usuario acceder a los sistemas de la Oficina de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes (FSA, por sus siglas en inglés) y firmar documentos en esos sistemas.

Usted sólo debe crear una credencial FSA ID utilizando sus propios datos personales y para su propio uso exclusivo. No tiene autorización para crear una credencial FSA ID en representación de otra persona, aunque sea ésta un familiar. Cualquier falsificación de su identidad ante el Gobierno federal podría resultar en sanciones penales o civiles en su contra.

529 plan benefits you may not be aware of when saving for college

Key points

A 529 plan can be used to help pay for qualified education expenses, including expenses at a college, or other accredited post-secondary school, that participates in federal financial aid programs
529 plan assets receive favorable treatment when a student applies for federal financial aid
If a student receives a scholarship, the amount of the award can be withdrawn from a 529 plan without an additional 10% federal tax on earnings
Need help estimating college costs? Our College Planning Calculator can help.

Sample College Planning Calculator Report

Sample College Planning Report (PDF)

PARENTS! You’re not alone. We have resources for you to help plan your child’s future: https://t.co/ErzuGbRoJe pic.twitter.com/o2k9DwBb4s

— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) December 27, 2018

COUNSELORS: You’ve got a lot on your plate. But we’ve got your back: https://t.co/sVreCeFCRI pic.twitter.com/fFfIp41ink

— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) March 13, 2019

Link to Hispanic initiative information page

White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics

¡Gradúate! Financial Aid Guide to Success

The Initiative has created the ¡Gradúate! Financial Aid Guide to Success (Guide) to help Hispanic students and families navigate the college application process. The Guide provides recommended steps for the college enrollment process, helpful tips on filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and key financial aid resources available to better support Hispanics, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and non U.S. citizen students, in their efforts to access a postsecondary education.

Financial Aid and Undocumented Students Fact Sheet

If you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your school’s financial aid offer. A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest.

If you decide to take out a loan, make sure you understand who is making the loan and the terms and conditions of the loan. Student loans can come from the federal government or from private sources such as a bank or financial institution. Loans made by the federal government, called federal student loans, usually offer borrowers lower interest rates and have more flexible repayment options than loans from banks or other private sources. Learn more about the differences between federal and private student loans.

Your Federal loan history.

The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) central database for student aid. NSLDS receives data from schools, guaranty agencies, the Direct Loan program, and other Department of ED programs. NSLDS Student Access provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants so that recipients of Title IV Aid can access and inquire about their Title IV loans and/or grant data.

Here’s your guide to repaying your federal student loans.

Find the right repayment plan for you, learn how to make payments, get help if you can’t afford your payments, and see what circumstances might result in a loan being forgiven, canceled, or discharged.

Office of Student Access and Completion

The Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) is a state agency dedicated to creating a college-going culture for all Oregonians by providing access through information, mentoring, and financial support.

Opportunities guide and workbook

The Opportunities guide helps high school students choose the right college, understand admission requirements, identify types of financial aid and more.

This free college planning publication provides students and families with important information and tools to guide their pursuit of postsecondary education. Opportunities is available in English and Spanish.

English

Español

2019-20 Oregon Opportunities Book

2019-20 Spanish Oregon Opportunities Book

The SmartStudent™ Guide to Financial Aid

About FinAid

FinAid was established in the fall of 1994 as a public service. This award-winning site has grown into the most comprehensive source of student financial aid information, advice and tools — on or off the web.

Access to FinAid is free for all users.

FinAid has earned a stellar reputation in the educational community as the best website of its kind. It’s comprehensive, it’s informative, it’s objective — and it’s the first stop on the web for students looking for ways to finance their education.

The site has won awards from the College Board, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students and the American Institute for Public Service.

Be College Ready is designed to help parents prepare their children for today’s academic challenges while becoming knowledgeable about the financial realities of achieving a post-secondary education.

Students in any elementary school statewide (public and private) can also receive homework folders, pencils and bookmarks from their schools. Have your elementary school sign up for Be College Ready today!

We connect first generation and underrepresented students to caring colleges, generous scholarships, and life-changing counselors and mentors.

PAYING FOR YOUR MASTER’S DEGREE

Covering the cost of a master’s degree can be a significant financial investment. Fortunately, graduate students have a wide range of options, from federal loan programs to institutional scholarships. This guide examines the numerous ways students can finance a master’s degree, and provides key details and insight on how (and where) to get started.

The I ♥ Writing Blog

7 Steps to Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay

The tips and tricks we offer here are framed in terms of academic scholarships for students, but they’re applicable to any piece of writing asking someone for something, including funding proposals in the civil sector, to writing cover letters for jobs, even to grants for writers.

When you’re a student, it can feel like money is always tight. You’ve got bills, rent, and tuition to pay, and you want to have enough money for fun, too. So how can you get on the right path to a great financial future, while making your money count today?CashCourse is your real-life guide to taking charge of your money. Our online personal finance tools help you build real-life-ready financial skills. Students at more than 800 schools across the country use CashCourse, and here’s why:

It’s easy to use. CashCourse offers you a customizable set of tools so you can make decisions that fit your life.
It’s free from commercial ties. You can trust that the information on CashCourse is independent and noncommercial, and that we’ll never try to advertise any products or services to you.
It’s 100% FREE. We’re independently funded by the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®), so CashCourse won’t cost you a penny—ever.

ECMC

Student Resources

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Educator Resources

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