The College Solutions Blog

JULY 11, 2022

How do you research financial aid and merit scholarships that a student might get at individual colleges and universities? With college sticker prices continuing to climb, it’s an important question to ask because the financial aid and merit award policies at schools will vary widely.

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AHM Advising

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

When many families hear the term "financial aid," they automatically assume loans, grants, or need-based financial support. In reality, financial aid is an umbrella term that colleges and universities use to encompass both need-based and merit-based aid. How do you qualify for merit-based aid ?

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ACM College Consulting

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

As college application season is fully underway, it is important to learn about the primary financial aid applications and types of aid your student could receive. Start early and aim to have your financial aid applications complete two weeks before your student's first admission application deadline.

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StandOut College Prep

APRIL 11, 2023

If you’re a high school senior who is worried about paying for college, financial aid can be a true lifesaver. Once you’ve received your acceptance letter, financial aid packages should arrive in the following weeks. Dos: Do express gratitude and appreciation for any assistance received.

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SSA Online College Prep

MAY 30, 2023

Some schools have explicit capped loans policies - either only giving federally subsidized loans or limiting overall loan amount - which means more protection for your family. Some schools have student contribution policies , that explicitly limit student contribution and allow them to focus on school.

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BestColleges

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Notre Dame announced it will not offer student loans in undergraduate financial aid packages and will implement a need-blind admissions policy for all students. The need-blind admissions policy will be effective immediately and apply to all students, both domestic and international.

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College Essay Guy

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Tuition and financial aid “Need-blind” vs schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need Different kinds of need-blind college policies How do financial aid calculators work? At its core, being “need-blind” means that a college does not consider your financial situation when making admissions decisions.

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SSA Online College Prep

MAY 30, 2023

Using College Board’s financial aid data is vital - we’ll walk you through it ! The best place to look for colleges that provide full financial aid is the US News and World Report. List of colleges that provide full financial aid. Step-by-step: how to check how much financial aid a school typically provides.

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Admitted

OCTOBER 10, 2023

Financial aid discussions have centered on simplifying FAFSA and increasing federal Pell Grants – all important – but federal student aid policies are only one funding source for families trying to determine how to pay for college. However, the rising costs of college are increasingly out of reach for many students.

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Admissions Village

JUNE 19, 2024

Test Blind : A college admissions policy where standardized test scores (like the SAT or ACT) are not considered at all, even if a student submits them. Test Optiona l: A policy adopted by some colleges where submitting SAT or ACT scores is not mandatory. See Financial Aid Package for more detail.

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BestColleges

JULY 8, 2024

Philanthropist Michael Bloomberg has given Johns Hopkins University $1 billion for graduate financial aid. billion gift to Hopkins in 2018 for undergraduate aid. Thanks to Bloomberg's recent gift, most graduates hereafter will have no loan debt from medical school. Bloomberg's gift follows his $1.8

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DC College Counseling

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

The schools require financial aid applicants to include income from both parents through the CSS Profile (as well as their spouses, if they are married), even if only one parent provides financial support. It will enable the school to institute a brand new need-blind admissions process, as well as a no-loan financial aid policy.

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Admitted

OCTOBER 7, 2021

In 2010, the federal government eliminated the bank-based student loan program (formerly the Federal Family Education Loan Program, or FFELP) in favor of originating loans directly from the Department of Education). As a result, some companies have decided not to continue serving as student loan servicers.

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BestColleges

MARCH 26, 2024

The gift will go toward financial aid and scholarships. This policy change will impact about 350 families. Dartmouth is expanding financial aid, ensuring families making under $125,000 a year pay nothing for their student's education starting next academic year.

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BestColleges

JUNE 4, 2024

Graduating with student loan debt can delay major life events like buying a home or saving for retirement. Students can address financial insecurity by learning how to borrow smartly or considering alternate payment plans. In addition to inflation, the job market, growing student loan debt, housing insecurity — the list goes on.

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College Essay Guy

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

The landscape of financial aid and scholarships is competitive, sure, but it’s also complex, with lots of labyrinths you can’t predict on your own. These schools’ financial aid packages are typically the best out there. Most colleges’ “net price calculators” (specific to their own policies) are linked to this calculator.

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College Essay Guy

MARCH 21, 2024

That number you just read is the average debt balance among graduate students with federal student loans in 2023, according to the Education Data Initiative. Here’s some good news: you may not need to take out any student loans to go to graduate school. In fact, loans should be your last resort. This guide is your key.

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Top Tier Admissions

JANUARY 19, 2024

This year marks the second admission cycle since Williams announced the elimination of all loans and work-study contributions from financial aid packages. In a recent survey, nearly a quarter of current first-years on financial aid said that the all-grant program was the deciding factor in enrolling at Williams.

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College Essay Guy

FEBRUARY 6, 2023

What kind of financial aid does a particular college offer, and how much can I maybe get? The Common Data Set (CDS) is a collection of standardized questions about a college or university's admissions and financial aid process, graduation rate, student demographics, and more. What is the Common Data Set?

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College Essay Guy

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Individual schools might also have their own HOPE Scholarship guidelines and requirements, so make sure to visit their Financial Aid office or website for this information so you don’t miss vital parts of the application. HOPE Scholarship applicants must: Be U.S. HOPE GPA (we’ll explain what that means!)

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BestColleges

JANUARY 11, 2024

The rule change would only apply to students who receive federal financial aid, including federal student loans. ED's proposal would only apply to students who receive federal financial aid, including federal student loans. A proposal aims to disallow colleges and universities from keeping those funds.

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BestColleges

DECEMBER 20, 2022

Education officials should step up communication about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process for incarcerated students to make sure the upcoming Pell Grant expansion is successful, according to a new report. Collecting data on how different corrections agencies are choosing students for prison education programs.

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BestColleges

MAY 9, 2024

The state has seen success in FAFSA completion due to early outreach efforts and a new universal FAFSA policy. First, the 2024-25 FAFSA is the first cycle where the state is enforcing a new "universal FAFSA" policy that makes submitting a FAFSA a graduation requirement for high school seniors. 1 difficult.

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BestColleges

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

Students believe in the financial payoff of higher education but remain wary of high tuition and loan debt. For the next generation of college students," notes Ben Cecil, a senior education policy advisor with Third Way, "it's not a question of whether cost matters in their postsecondary planning but how much it matters."

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StandOut College Prep

MARCH 27, 2023

By asking academic questions, you can also find out about professors and teaching staff, research opportunities, and overall academic offerings and policies, which can make a big difference in how the school will benefit you. What is the school’s policy on AP credits? What is the policy on deferring admission?

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BestColleges

OCTOBER 13, 2023

Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities.

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Top Tier Admissions

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

The university recently announced it is extending its test-optional policy for applicants seeking entry to the university through Fall 2027. As of February 8, Vanderbilt announced that it is expanding Opportunity Vanderbilt , its nationally recognized no-loan financial aid program, which is sure to lure even more applicants in future cycles.

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EAB

JANUARY 10, 2023

Office Hours : EAB’s in-house podcast features compelling conversations with higher ed leaders in enrollment, institutional research, and financial aid, as well as discussions with EAB’s deep bench of experts. The Best Higher Ed Podcasts For 2023. The EdUP Experience : Elvin Freytes and Dr.

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BestColleges

MARCH 30, 2023

Online Doctoral in Criminal Justice and Legal Degrees A doctorate in criminal justice prepares you for leadership roles in law enforcement, policy, the government, or the private sector. You'll study public policy, criminal justice, and behavioral psychology. They also cover curriculum design and education policy.

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Anna Ivey Consulting

OCTOBER 21, 2022

The Extra COVID Question and Time for Financial Aid Forms Many, although not all, college applications have added an extra question to their applications inviting you to explain how the global pandemic (or another natural disaster) has affected you. It is also time to get to work on financial aid forms.

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BestColleges

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

Featured Online MSW Programs Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below. Median salary for healthcare social workers : $60,280 Policy analyst: A policy analyst studies the effectiveness of existing policies and advises on new policies or changing policies.

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AdmissionSight

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

Dartmouth Financial Diversity Dartmouth College attracts students from different socioeconomic backgrounds and ensures financial concerns don’t hinder your education. Most students apply for need-based financial aid, and Dartmouth prioritizes meeting 100% of the demonstrated financial need for those who qualify.

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BestColleges

FEBRUARY 22, 2023

Any such list of low-value programs would be overshadowed by the fact that Federal Student Aid (FSA) allows students enrolled in these programs to access federal financial aid. "We Third Way and New America argue that ED should apply the metrics to all programs for this low-financial-value list.

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StandOut College Prep

JANUARY 9, 2024

Start here if you seek to apply for financial aid from colleges and universities in the United States. The form you need to complete is called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. to create a financial aid package for you. When you complete the FAFSA, you may be eligible for financial aid.

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Top Tier Admissions

DECEMBER 6, 2022

Test-optional policies brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic account for the highly competitive 2020-21 admissions cycle. Princeton announced its test-optional policy in the summer of 2020 and has since renewed the policy into the 2022-23 admissions cycle (for admission to the Class of 2027).

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Great College Advice

AUGUST 30, 2023

What percentage of students who don’t qualify for need-based financial aid receive merit-based financial aid? What’s the average dollar amount of merit-based financial aid offered? Financial fit is a very important aspect of choosing a college, and it is not talked about enough!

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BestColleges

DECEMBER 1, 2023

Billions in federal pandemic relief funding went directly to students — and an October report from the Center for Higher Education Policy and Practice (CHEPP) suggests that assistance helped students stay enrolled. Expanded eligibility for federal SNAP food assistance ended earlier this year.

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