College Financial Aid Opportunities

You're ready to make a change in your life. Perhaps you have thought about training for a new career. Great! Getting the training you need may make a big difference in your career potential.

One big concern shared by many students is the cost of education. It can be challenging to think about paying for tuition while holding down your regular job and paying your everyday bills. It may seem as though there's too much to worry about.

Relax! Most career colleges offer financial assistance programs for students who qualify. These may be federal programs, state programs, or sometimes even programs offered by the schools themselves. Types of financial assistance may include:

• Grants and scholarships (money that you usually don't have to repay)
• Low-interest loans (money that you have to repay)

Generally, grants and loans are determined by your income level, while scholarships are often awarded competitively or to individuals with certain qualifications. It may seem complicated. Don't worry! Many schools have highly qualified financial assistance staff members who are glad to help you. Generally, here's what you'll need to do:

1. Log onto a reputable college search website. Choose the career colleges or technical schools that interest you.

2. Contact the admissions department of the school you're interested in. Ask them about financial assistance. Don't be shy-they want to help you! Most people who go to career college apply for financial assistance. It's a perfectly normal thing to do.

3. If the school is approved for federal programs, the financial assistance officer will ask you to go online and fill out a standard form called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can check it out for yourself at www.fafsa.ed.gov. This is the form that nearly every federally-approved school uses.

4. Once you've filled out the FAFSA application, in a few days you'll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Your SAR will summarize the financial information you reported on your FAFSA. You should check the SAR carefully to make sure it is accurate. In the upper right corner, look for your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your school will use your EFC to help determine the financial aid for which you may be eligible.

5. Your financial assistance officer at school may also help you identify other sources of financial aid. There may be scholarship or grant opportunities, offered either by the school or by your community. You can go online yourself and search for scholarships, but be careful to avoid scammers who ask for a fee. There's plenty of free information out there! Your school may also offer scholarships, which are generally competitive and may be awarded based on your grades.

6. You'll see that scholarships can come from many sources. An automotive trade school may have a scholarship provided by an automobile manufacturer. A business college may have a scholarship provided by a successful alumnus, or a generous donor. Your own community may have scholarship programs sponsored by a church or civic organization. The key is to keep digging, and to use the resources provided by your career college.

Good luck! Many students who have families and full-time jobs have successfully completed career training with the help of financial assistance programs. Contact the career college of your choice and find out how doors can open for you, too.