By Catherine Mueller Deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life can be rather scary. Choosing a career can raise many “what ifs.” For example: Going to college, deciding on a career, and choosing the right school can be overwhelming. The good news is that if you are thinking about the “what […]
Getting rid of the “what-ifs” when choosing a career Read More »
By Catherine Mueller Scholarships are the best kind of financial aid, but students should be careful to avoid scams. Because so many students are looking for scholarships, there are, unfortunately, a lot of bad actors that want to take advantage of these students. Therefore, it’s important to be careful and make sure the scholarship offer is
Tips for avoiding scholarship scams Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Two “bugs” in the FAFSA Processing System that resulted in incorrect Pell Grant eligibility data have been resolved. The Department of Education announced that they unintentionally introduced two errors into the FAFSA Processing System that resulted in incorrect Pell Grant eligibility data being shared with institutions and applicants. The issues have since been
Department of Education announces resolution of Federal Pell Grant eligibility issues Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Those financial aid professionals who opt to use the Department of Education’s College Financial Plan template now have a new version for the 2026-27 award year. The Department of Education announced the release of the 2026-27 College Financing Plan (CFP), a consumer tool that colleges can use to notify students about their financial
Department of Education releases 2026-27 College Financing Plan Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available for all students to complete. The availability of the FAFSA – a week ahead of the official release date of October 1 – is what the Department of Education (ED) said is the earliest launch of the FAFSA in the program’s
Launch of the 2026-27 FAFSA is the earliest in the program’s history Read More »
By Catherine Mueller Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can make the difference when it comes to pursuing your dreams for the future. For many students, who couldn’t otherwise afford the cost of an education, the FAFSA makes it possible. Here are some reasons why you should complete the 2026-27 FAFSA now that it
Five reasons you should complete the FAFSA Read More »
By Catherine Mueller Student loans have gotten a lot of press in the past few years and most of it has not been good. For some students, the headlines and stories are enough to scare them away from taking out any student loans – even it means not pursuing or postponing education beyond high school. And
The good and bad of student loans Read More »
By Catherine Mueller Most high school seniors anxiously await life after high school. And while that life offers new-found freedoms, those same seniors may experience stress over the responsibilities that come with those freedoms. Your senior year is a time to dream of the future and think about all your life’s possibilities. But college preparation also
September tasks for seniors Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Although the 2025-26 FAFSA processing cycle has been underway for months, the Department of Education has just released the 2023 IRS Tax Return Transcript Matrix. The August 14 Electronic Announcement includes the 2023 IRS Tax Return Transcript Matrix in Excel format. The matrix is designed to assist financial aid administrators in mapping the
IRS Tax Return Transcript Matrix for 2025-26 Verification now available Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid and college access professionals can now access information and screenshots for the 2026-27 FAFSA to use for planning purposes, communicating changes, and training. An August 14 Electronic Announcement from Federal Student Aid (FSA) includes a presentation and PDF file with information and screenshots of the 2026–27 online FAFSA form. The screenshots can be
2026-27 FAFSA Preview Presentation now available Read More »
