What is Financial Aid?

Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career school. Grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable.

COA - EFC = NEED
A school's Cost of Attendance includes the total price for tuition, room and board, books, fees, and transportation.

Expected Family Contribution is defined as what a student's family can realistically pay for college when it comes to finances and other circumstances. This is determined from a student's completion of FAFSA.

To make up the difference between college costs and family contribution, most students require scholarships and financial aid.

• Scholarships and grants are free money toward a college education that does not have to be paid back.

• Student loans are money that is borrowed by the student or their parents to pay for college.

• Work-Study is a part-time on-campus job that allows students to use their earnings for daily expenses, but at some schools you can apply these funds to your account for billed expenses, such as tuition, fees, food, and housing

*Information taken from https://www.fastweb.com/financial-aid/articles/the-beginner-s-guide-to-financial-aid