Financial Aid

Keep in mind

No student should stay away from college because it's expensive - financial aid can make college affordable for almost anyone.
Not everyone knows what financial aid is. Be clear that most colleges define it as including grants, scholarships, work-study, and student loans.
Students should be cautioned against borrowing too much - and against being afraid to borrow. It's a delicate balance to be determined individually.
No aspect of getting financial aid is more important than the FAFSA, and students need help in filling it out.
The sooner students file a FAFSA after January 1, the better for getting aid.
Students may not realize that an expensive college can actually cost their families less than a less expensive one, depending on the financial aid package. Encourage them not to rule out schools on cost alone.
Another misperception among some families is that most scholarships are awarded based academic performance; encourage students to search for scholarships with criteria that fit them.
You'll want to remind students that they must re-apply for financial aid every year of in college.

Family financial planning

For students whose families are interested in early financial planning for college, an excellent source is a booklet, Life Advice About Financial Planning for College, available through the federal government printing office or online (it is also on the website of Cincinnati Public Schools).

Greater Cincinnati financial aid

These websites link to financial aid opportunities locally, both at colleges and from independent sources.

Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation - www.cincinnatischolarshipfoundation.org

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

www.cincinnatistate.edu/CurrentStudent/FinancialAid

www.cincinnatistate.edu/CurrentStudent/FinancialAid/Types+of+Aid.htm

College of Mount St. Joseph - www.msj.edu/admission/financialaid

Northern Kentucky University - www.nku.edu/~ofa

Project GRAD - www.projectgradcincinnati.org

Thomas More College - Scholarship Calculator

University of Cincinnati - www.financialaid.uc.edu/scholarships/search.asp

Xavier University - www.xu.edu/undergraduate_admission/scholarships/scholarship_scholar.htm