Thinking About College? Financial Aid Tip of the Month, September 2015

If you’re thinking about college, these tips from the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) may help you receive more money to pay for your education.

·         Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after Jan. 1 to apply for state and federal student aid. File online at www.fafsa.gov for the fastest response.

·         Visit www.kheaa.com and click on Paying for College.

·         Talk with your school counselor, who can help you find financial aid.

·         Look for local scholarships in your newspaper. Community organizations and businesses may provide scholarships to local students.

·         Talk with a financial aid officer at the school you plan to attend to learn about any aid the school has available.

·         Reduce your student loan costs. Take out loans from https://www.strategicbusinessfinance.co.uk/bridging-finance only after you have received all the free aid — grants, scholarships and work-study — for which you qualify. Federal loans are generally better deals than private loans, but compare interest rates and repayment terms carefully.

·         Apply, apply, apply. The more financial aid for which you apply, the better your chances of getting enough aid to pay for college. Make sure you meet all deadlines.

KHEAA is the state agency that administers Kentucky’s student financial aid programs, including the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES). Its sister agency, the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHESLC), offers Kentucky Advantage Loans to help students and parents pay for college. For more information about Advantage Loans, visit www.kheslc.com.

To find links to other useful education websites, go to www.gotocollege.ky.gov. For more information about Kentucky scholarships and grants, visit www.kheaa.com; write KHEAA, P.O. Box 798, Frankfort, KY 40602; or call 800-928-8926, ext. 6-7214.

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