Paying for College
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Federal Students Aid | Financial Aid Resources
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FAFSA
The FAFSA is required for applying for federal aid. Learn more here. FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid Get help paying for college. This website includes links to:
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FSA ID
Get access to Federal Student Aids' online systems with your FSA ID. Create a New FSA ID The FSA ID allows students and parents to identify themselves electronically to access FSA Web sites. An FSA ID is made up of a username and password and can be used to log into FAFSA on the Web. While you are not required to have an FSA ID to complete and submit a FAFSA on the Web application, it is the fastest way to sign your application and have it processed. It is also the only way to access or correct your information online, or to pre-fill a FAFSA on the Web application with information from your previous year’s FAFSA. See also FAFSA FAQ |
FAFSA4caster
Estimate you student aid with the FAFSA4caster. If you’re not ready to apply for federal student aid, but you’d like to estimate your aid, try FAFSA4caster. FAFSA4caster is a free financial aid calculator that gives you an early estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid. This information helps families plan ahead for college. FAFSA4caster in Spanish. Click here for more information on the FAFSA4caster. Note: The FAFSA4caster is a PLANNING Tool only. You must use the FAFSA to apply for admission and attend college. |
FSA - Grants
Financial aid that generally doesn't have to be repaid. Federal Student Aid provides Grants - financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund) |
FSA - Loans
Borrowed money for college: your loans must be repaid with interest. Federal Student Aid provides Loans - borrowed money for college or career school; you must repay your loans, with interest |
FSA - Work-Study
A federal work program where students can work at the college they are attending. Federal Student Aid provides Work-Study - a work program through which you earn money to help you pay for school |
Illinois Student Assistance Commission Resources
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Illinois Student Assistance Commission
ISAC: committed to making college more affordable for Illinois families. ISAC is committed to helping make college more accessible and affordable for Illinois families. Learn about ways to pay for college. This site includes:
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ISAC Student Portal
Find scholarships, learn about financial aid and more. Use the ISAC Student Portal to help you simplify the financial aid process, learn how to budget your money, and find scholarships. You can also use the portal to choose a college, learn about careers, and more. |
ISAC Calculators
Calculators to help you figure out your true college costs. ISAC offers a number of Calculators to help you plan for college.
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Scholarship Resources for Chicago Students
Chicago Star Scholarship
Earn an associate degree at City Colleges of Chicago at no cost - free tuition & books. Chicago Star Scholarship Students who graduate from CPS with a 3.0 GPA who test completion-ready in math and English will be able to pursue an associate degree at City Colleges of Chicago at no cost - free tuition and books. Several universities are offering significant scholarships to students who graduate from the Chicago Star program. Learn more. (Spanish) |
One Million Degrees
These Scholars are graduating at roughly three times the state average. Find out why. One Million Degrees One Million Degrees provides resources to empower low-income, highly motivated community college students to succeed in school, in work, and in life. The dynamic whole-student approach includes:
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Dual Enrollment & Credit
Save on college costs by taking free college classes while still in high school. Dual Credit & Enrollment at City Colleges of Chicago |
Financial Aid Information for Undocumented Students
Dream Fund
The Illinois Dream Fund provides scholarships to undocumented students, who are incoming freshmen or current undergraduates that possess at least a 2.5 GPA (on a 4 point scale). |
How to Pay for College, NEIU
How to Pay for College Resource - Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) Learn about unique scholarship opportunities for undocumented students, including The Undocumented Student Project Fund and the Aspire Scholarship. 100% of Northeastern’s talent and merit scholarships do not require U.S. citizenship. A total of $1.35 million is available to all qualified students. In addition, 96% of NEIU Foundation scholarships ($115,200) do not require U.S. citizenship. |
College Advising Guide
College Advising Guide for Undocumented Students - 2 and 4 Year College & University Information provides information on over 80 colleges and universities that knowingly admit undocumented students. There is a summary of each institution that includes information on financial aid options for undocumented students. This site through the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling has additional resources in its College Advising Guide for Undocumented Students. |
Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities
Financial Opportunities - Disabilities
Financial Opportunities for Students with Disabilities from Best Colleges lists several scholarships for students with disabilities. |
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Scholarships & Financial Aid The American Association of People with Disabilities has created a resource guide with financial aid information for students with disabilities. The 8 page document contains other college going information as well. Note: This PDF file has been reordered so that the financial aid information is on the first page. The original document can be found here. |
Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities
Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities A 47 page PDF document from The George Washington University with information on financial aid for students with disabilities. |
Evaluate your college investment
College Completion, The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education, College Completion Who graduates from college, who doesn't, and why it matters? Find out graduation rates from colleges you might be interested in attending. Here's a link to info on 11 Illinois 4-year public colleges. |
College Affordability and Transparency Center, U. S. Department of Education
College Affordability and Transparency Center Which colleges have the highest and lowest tuition and net prices? How much do career and vocational programs cost? How fast are college costs going up? This interactive website has an easy to use interface. |
College Scorecard
U. S. Department of Education College Scorecard Enter the name of a college to find out about its affordability and value. Search colleges by degree, major, size of college, occupation, zip code and more. Generate a college scorecard. |
Spending Your College Dollars Wisely
Search the Financial Aid Toolkit for tools and resources to help you or your students learn about financial aid for college. Filter resources by file type, audience, topic, and the time of year the resource is most relevant. A resource of the U. S. Department of Education |
Accreditation: Universities Make sure that the college or school you choose is worth your investment by making sure that it is accredited. The U. S. Department of Education has compiled a database of accredited institutions. |
Choose Your Future - Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising, CPS How much does college cost? How much financial aid will you need? Find out about The Formula: COA-EFC=Need Click on the CPS Scholarship Guide. Click on the link to the financial aid glossary. |
Evaluating Your Financial Aid Package
Financial Aid Shopping Sheet
Evaluate Award Packages from schools you've applied to. Financial Aid Shopping Sheet - (PDF) is a tool that participating colleges use to notify students about their financial aid package. It is a standardized form designed to simplify the information that students receive about costs and financial aid. This way students can easily compare offers and make informed decisions about where to attend school. |
Financial Aid Shopping Sheet Annotated
This annotated sheet explains each part of the shopping sheet. The Annotated Financial Aid Shopping Sheet explains each part of the form. (Note: The U.S. Department of Ed is using an example from 2016. That is the current annotated form. Find out more about the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet. |
40 Money Management Tips
Learn smart ways to manage your money while you're in college. 40 Money Management Tips Every College Should Know is a guide book (pdf) that offers tips and suggestions for college students so they get through college with as little debt as possible. |