1. finance
2. grants, scholarships and financial aid
3. financial aid

File Your FAFSA Today!
1.866.514.5950
www.FAFSA.com
How to Pay for College
the Smart Way
Read this FREE guide on how to access over
$236 billion of student aid, including:
9 federal aid programs
17 military aid programs
605 state aid programs
6,800+ college-specific aid programs
Like filing your taxes, the FAFSA can be filed for free, via paper or electronic forms, without
professional assistance, at www.fafsa.ed.gov. However, in the same way that many people use
a tax preparer to ensure that their taxes are filed easily and accurately, many people also choose
to use a FAFSA preparer to ensure that they get all the aid they are eligible to receive.
Compliments of:
© 2012 Student Aid Services, Inc. All rights reserved. P.O. Box 278990, Sacramento, CA 95827. Student Financial Aid Services
is a fee-based student aid preparation and advisory service. It is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education, its
website (www.fafsa.ed.gov), or any other state or federal agency.
SFAS DM 11-12
Get the Student Financial Aid Services
advantage.
Use this guide to:
Be informed about the student financial aid process
“
My Advisor was very helpful, professional, nice and
wonderful. She alleviated my anxieties about the
whole process and completed the application
Understand your options
Access accurate information and FAFSA assistance
quickly. The service was well worth it and I would
”
totally recommend it to anyone.
David W.
Mooresville, NC
We hope these tips will assist you in being prepared for the challenge
of paying for college and help you realize your educational goals!
Have confidence that your application will be submitted accurately.
For a low service fee, you benefit from the following:
Personal Consultation — A Student Aid Advisor who specializes
in the FAFSA can complete your entire application for you or
answer any questions that come up year-round.
Double Application Accuracy Review — A Student Aid
Advisor will personally review your FAFSA for errors. PLUS, our
450-point FAFSACheck™ system will review your application
Contents:
1. The “out-of-pocket” cost of college
2. How much student aid is available
3. Types of student aid
to ensure that it is accepted by the federal processor.
4. How to apply for student aid
Status Updates — Your application will be tracked daily until it
5. FAFSA filing options
is considered “fully processed.” You will be notified by e-mail
of its status along the way.
6. Tips to maximize your student aid eligibility
Deadline and Renewal Reminders — We will make sure you
7. The SFAS advantage
are aware of critical financial aid deadlines and let you know
when your renewal application should be filed.
8. College planning tools
The published cost or “sticker price” listed by
colleges is not necessarily the cost you will pay.
Follow these tips to maximize your student
aid eligibility.
Because each student’s unique financial and academic situation is
considered when qualifying for student aid, the “out-of-pocket” cost
of a specific college is different for each student.
File Early — Many student aid programs disburse funds on
a first-come, first-served basis. With some student aid
“Out-of-Pocket”
Cost
Published
Cost of Attendance
programs being underfunded and others having been
Total
Grant Aid
• Tuition & Fees
• Federal Aid
• Room & Board
• State Aid
• Books & Supplies
• Military Aid
• Travel & Personal Expenses
• College Aid
discontinued, it’s more important than ever to file early.
March
15 Beat All Deadlines — Most states and colleges have very
specific financial aid deadlines. It’s important that you file
prior to these deadlines. Your Student Aid Advisor can
Never rule out a college based on “sticker price.”
assist you with understanding and meeting these deadlines
Some colleges may seem financially out of reach before financial aid is
deadline chart at www.FAFSA.com/deadlines.
for the coming student aid filing season. See our state
factored in. The net cost after student aid may surprise you. Search
for the net price calculator on each college’s website to get an early
estimate of your net cost.
Be Accurate — Just one wrong answer can affect your
Speak to a Student Aid Advisor about a
personal College Cost & Planning Report®
eligibility and potentially reduce your aid award. Benefit
to compare the “out-of-pocket” costs of
up to 10 colleges side by side.
Advisor, who will personally prepare your FAFSA correctly
1.866.514.5950
from the knowledge and experience of a Student Aid
and review it for any errors or omissions.
File your FAFSA with professional assistance and
support by calling 1.866.514.5950.
All students, regardless of family income, are
eligible to receive some type of student aid...
Use a student aid advisory service to prepare your FAFSA entirely
...provided that they have not previously been in default on student
on your behalf. This way, your FAFSA can be error-free, and the
loans, are studying at least half-time, and attend a college that
process will be completed quickly and easily in as little as 20 minutes.
participates in the Federal Student Aid Program.
An advisor can help you maximize your eligibility for aid by filing
accurately, on time and with full knowledge of all your aid options.
A small service fee applies but is worthwhile given the amount of
How much student aid is available?
student aid available. Many families choose this option, much like
Private and Employer Grants
$11B
using a tax preparer.
File on your own.
Institutional Grants
$42.1B
The Department of Education provides a website for filing the FAFSA
(www.fafsa.ed.gov).
This site is free and does not include any access to advice or an
individual accuracy review. There is also a downloadable application that
can be completed by hand and mailed.
State Grants
$9.9B
Education Tax
Benefits
$18.2B
Federal Student
and Parent Loans
$105.3B
Other
Federal Grant
Programs
$14.8B
To learn more about your FAFSA
filing options, speak to a professional
Student Aid Advisor.
1.866.514.5950
Federal Aid
$155.5B
Pell Grants
$34.5B
Federal Work-Study
$972M
There is over $236 billion in student aid available to students each
year, and undergraduate students receiving aid get an average of
$13,218 per year from various aid sources.
There are many types of student aid with varying
eligibility requirements and options to consider.
To qualify for state and federal aid, all students
must file a FAFSA.
Federal Student Aid — There are 9 different programs
To qualify for state and federal aid programs, students must file
funded by the federal government
the application for federal student aid (FAFSA) each year they
State-Based Aid — There are 605 different programs funded
by individual states, with various eligibility requirements. To
find all programs in your state, visit www.FAFSA.com/stateaid
Military Aid — There are 17 programs funded primarily by the
federal government for active-duty servicemen and veterans
attend college.
The FAFSA application is complex. It has over 130 questions
relating to both the student’s and parents’ financial situation.
The process is similar to filing your tax forms.
Making mistakes on the FAFSA application can be costly. Errors
College-Specific Aid — Most of the 6,800+ individual colleges
can affect the amount of aid you are awarded or cause delays in
have aid programs that award both need and merit aid
getting aid.
Grants — Money that does not have to be repaid
Your FAFSA application is subject to “verification” by the college
Loans — Money that has to be repaid after graduation. Many
financial aid office. Each college is obligated to verify a certain
loan programs have interest subsidized by the government
percentage of FAFSA applications (some do 100%).
Scholarships — Money, usually awarded based on merit, that
doesn’t have to be repaid
Work-Study — On-campus jobs that pay the student a wage
Most students are eligible for some type of aid.
Tax Benefits — Credits and refunds provided via the tax
Household Income
system for qualifying education expenses
Federal Grants
$40,000
$60,000
$100,000+
State Aid
Get personalized help from a Student
Aid Advisor to understand your
student aid options.
Work-Study
1.866.514.5950
Private Scholarships
Parent/Student Loans
Tax Benefits
*For demonstrative purposes only. Individual and institution-specific eligibility requirements apply.
There are many types of student aid with varying
eligibility requirements and options to consider.
To qualify for state and federal aid, all students
must file a FAFSA.
Federal Student Aid — There are 9 different programs
To qualify for state and federal aid programs, students must file
funded by the federal government
the application for federal student aid (FAFSA) each year they
State-Based Aid — There are 605 different programs funded
by individual states, with various eligibility requirements. To
find all programs in your state, visit www.FAFSA.com/stateaid
Military Aid — There are 17 programs funded primarily by the
federal government for active-duty servicemen and veterans
attend college.
The FAFSA application is complex. It has over 130 questions
relating to both the student’s and parents’ financial situation.
The process is similar to filing your tax forms.
Making mistakes on the FAFSA application can be costly. Errors
College-Specific Aid — Most of the 6,800+ individual colleges
can affect the amount of aid you are awarded or cause delays in
have aid programs that award both need and merit aid
getting aid.
Grants — Money that does not have to be repaid
Your FAFSA application is subject to “verification” by the college
Loans — Money that has to be repaid after graduation. Many
financial aid office. Each college is obligated to verify a certain
loan programs have interest subsidized by the government
percentage of FAFSA applications (some do 100%).
Scholarships — Money, usually awarded based on merit, that
doesn’t have to be repaid
Work-Study — On-campus jobs that pay the student a wage
Most students are eligible for some type of aid.
Tax Benefits — Credits and refunds provided via the tax
Household Income
system for qualifying education expenses
Federal Grants
$40,000
$60,000
$100,000+
State Aid
Get personalized help from a Student
Aid Advisor to understand your
student aid options.
Work-Study
1.866.514.5950
Private Scholarships
Parent/Student Loans
Tax Benefits
*For demonstrative purposes only. Individual and institution-specific eligibility requirements apply.
File your FAFSA with professional assistance and
support by calling 1.866.514.5950.
All students, regardless of family income, are
eligible to receive some type of student aid...
Use a student aid advisory service to prepare your FAFSA entirely
...provided that they have not previously been in default on student
on your behalf. This way, your FAFSA can be error-free, and the
loans, are studying at least half-time, and attend a college that
process will be completed quickly and easily in as little as 20 minutes.
participates in the Federal Student Aid Program.
An advisor can help you maximize your eligibility for aid by filing
accurately, on time and with full knowledge of all your aid options.
A small service fee applies but is worthwhile given the amount of
How much student aid is available?
student aid available. Many families choose this option, much like
Private and Employer Grants
$11B
using a tax preparer.
File on your own.
Institutional Grants
$42.1B
The Department of Education provides a website for filing the FAFSA
(www.fafsa.ed.gov).
This site is free and does not include any access to advice or an
individual accuracy review. There is also a downloadable application that
can be completed by hand and mailed.
State Grants
$9.9B
Education Tax
Benefits
$18.2B
Federal Student
and Parent Loans
$105.3B
Other
Federal Grant
Programs
$14.8B
To learn more about your FAFSA
filing options, speak to a professional
Student Aid Advisor.
1.866.514.5950
Federal Aid
$155.5B
Pell Grants
$34.5B
Federal Work-Study
$972M
There is over $236 billion in student aid available to students each
year, and undergraduate students receiving aid get an average of
$13,218 per year from various aid sources.
The published cost or “sticker price” listed by
colleges is not necessarily the cost you will pay.
Follow these tips to maximize your student
aid eligibility.
Because each student’s unique financial and academic situation is
considered when qualifying for student aid, the “out-of-pocket” cost
of a specific college is different for each student.
File Early — Many student aid programs disburse funds on
a first-come, first-served basis. With some student aid
“Out-of-Pocket”
Cost
Published
Cost of Attendance
programs being underfunded and others having been
Total
Grant Aid
• Tuition & Fees
• Federal Aid
• Room & Board
• State Aid
• Books & Supplies
• Military Aid
• Travel & Personal Expenses
• College Aid
discontinued, it’s more important than ever to file early.
March
15 Beat All Deadlines — Most states and colleges have very
specific financial aid deadlines. It’s important that you file
prior to these deadlines. Your Student Aid Advisor can
Never rule out a college based on “sticker price.”
assist you with understanding and meeting these deadlines
Some colleges may seem financially out of reach before financial aid is
deadline chart at www.FAFSA.com/deadlines.
for the coming student aid filing season. See our state
factored in. The net cost after student aid may surprise you. Search
for the net price calculator on each college’s website to get an early
estimate of your net cost.
Be Accurate — Just one wrong answer can affect your
Speak to a Student Aid Advisor about a
personal College Cost & Planning Report®
eligibility and potentially reduce your aid award. Benefit
to compare the “out-of-pocket” costs of
up to 10 colleges side by side.
Advisor, who will personally prepare your FAFSA correctly
1.866.514.5950
from the knowledge and experience of a Student Aid
and review it for any errors or omissions.
Get the Student Financial Aid Services
advantage.
Use this guide to:
Be informed about the student financial aid process
“
My Advisor was very helpful, professional, nice and
wonderful. She alleviated my anxieties about the
whole process and completed the application
Understand your options
Access accurate information and FAFSA assistance
quickly. The service was well worth it and I would
”
totally recommend it to anyone.
David W.
Mooresville, NC
We hope these tips will assist you in being prepared for the challenge
of paying for college and help you realize your educational goals!
Have confidence that your application will be submitted accurately.
For a low service fee, you benefit from the following:
Personal Consultation — A Student Aid Advisor who specializes
in the FAFSA can complete your entire application for you or
answer any questions that come up year-round.
Double Application Accuracy Review — A Student Aid
Advisor will personally review your FAFSA for errors. PLUS, our
450-point FAFSACheck™ system will review your application
Contents:
1. The “out-of-pocket” cost of college
2. How much student aid is available
3. Types of student aid
to ensure that it is accepted by the federal processor.
4. How to apply for student aid
Status Updates — Your application will be tracked daily until it
5. FAFSA filing options
is considered “fully processed.” You will be notified by e-mail
of its status along the way.
6. Tips to maximize your student aid eligibility
Deadline and Renewal Reminders — We will make sure you
7. The SFAS advantage
are aware of critical financial aid deadlines and let you know
when your renewal application should be filed.
8. College planning tools
Take advantage of our exclusive college
planning tools.
The College Cost & Planning Report®
A custom-prepared workbook provides you and your family with an
estimate of what student aid to expect and the net cost of the colleges
that interest you. The report provides a side-by-side
comparison of:
ost
ege C
• Published costs of attendance for each college
Coll
ely for
clusiv
red ex
• Individual student aid eligibility amounts
• Estimated net costs (”out-of-pocket” expenses)
and much more!
Prepa
June
e Affo
hoices
Your Estimated Awards
Pell Grant
ndez
na
ra Her
nd
Aleja
®
rt
Repo
lege C
Col
rdable
ts Mak
uden
ng St
Helpi
nning
& Pla
Your estimated award
• You are eligible to receive per school year
11
29, 20
Direct Loan
Your College Choices
$5,600
College 2
$54,424
Your AWARDS
$47,428 - $49,924
Mo. Loan Pmt.
Your estimated award
• Maximum available to you
College 1
Sticker Price
Perkins Loan
$500
Your Out of Pocket Cost
$4,500 - $6,996
Sticker Price
$4,600
Your estimated award
• Maximum available to you
$3,835
$28,708
Your AWARDS
$10,765 - $19,040
Mo. Loan Pmt.
$1,444
Your Out of Pocket Cost
$9,668 - $17,943
The CollegePlan™
Pay one fee and get unlimited FAFSA preparation assistance and
consultation for your entire undergraduate career.
A complimentary, personalized College Cost & Planning Report is
included for all first-year CollegePlan clients.
Call today to speak to a Student Aid Advisor.
Have your FAFSA prepared entirely over the phone
in approximately 20 minutes.
1.866.514.5950
Visit us online at www.FAFSA.com
File Your FAFSA Today!
1.866.514.5950
www.FAFSA.com
How to Pay for College
the Smart Way
Read this FREE guide on how to access over
$236 billion of student aid, including:
9 federal aid programs
17 military aid programs
605 state aid programs
6,800+ college-specific aid programs
Like filing your taxes, the FAFSA can be filed for free, via paper or electronic forms, without
professional assistance, at www.fafsa.ed.gov. However, in the same way that many people use
a tax preparer to ensure that their taxes are filed easily and accurately, many people also choose
to use a FAFSA preparer to ensure that they get all the aid they are eligible to receive.
Compliments of:
© 2012 Student Aid Services, Inc. All rights reserved. P.O. Box 278990, Sacramento, CA 95827. Student Financial Aid Services
is a fee-based student aid preparation and advisory service. It is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education, its
website (www.fafsa.ed.gov), or any other state or federal agency.
SFAS DM 11-12