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Paying for College


Financial Aid Resources

FAFSA
FAFSA
Filling Out the FAFSA Form
THE FAFSA IS REQUIRED FOR APPLYING FOR FEDERAL AID. LEARN MORE HERE.
​FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Get help paying for college.


Check out the new myStudentAid app for iOS and Android.

This website includes links to:
  • Starting and Reviewing a FAFSA application
  • Deadlines
  • School Code Search
  • FAFSA Filing Options
  • Announcements
  • FAFSA videos
Create a FAFSA ID
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
FAFSA 4 caster
CTT
Chicago GEAR UP College Transition Team.
​The CTT Team is ready to answer all of your FAFSA questions. Drop in for a virtual meeting.

Federal Student Aid - types of aid, grants
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)
Federal Student Aid - types of aid, loans
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
FAFSA 4 caster
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.

Illinois Student Assistance Commission Resources

ISAC - Illinois Student Assistance Commission
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:
  • Paying for College
  • Alternative Ways to Pay for College
  • Calculators
  • College Costs
  • Applying for Financial Aid
  • Types of Financial Aid
  • MAP Estimator
ISAC, student portal
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
ISAC Calculators
CALCULATORS TO HELP YOU FIGURE OUT YOUR TRUE COLLEGE COSTS.
​ISAC offers a number of Calculators
to help you plan for college.
  • Federal & State Estimators (including FAFSA4caster)
  • MAP Award Program (MAP) Estimator
    Note: MAP award announcements are currently suspended.
  • College Cost Calculator
  • Loan Repayment Calculator

Scholarship Resources for Chicago Students

Chicago STAR Scholarship
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
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 with a 2.0 GPA or higher to succeed in school, in work, and in life.

The dynamic whole-student approach includes:
  • Academic supports
  • Personal Supports
  • Financial Supports
  • Professional Supports
City Colleges of Chicago, early college credit
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
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).
Northeastern Illinois University, how to pay for college
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.

Illinois Association for College Admissions Counseling, 2 and 4 year college university information
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 aid opportunities for students with disabilities from best colleges.com
Financial Opportunities - Disabilities
Financial Opportunities for Students with Disabilities from Best Colleges lists several scholarships for students with disabilities.
AAPD, The American Association of People with Disabilities, Scholarships and Financial Aid
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.

The George Washington University, National Youth Transition Center, Planning ahead: finacial aid for students with disabilities
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

The Chronical of Higher Education College Completion, who graduates from college, who doesn't and why it matters
College Completion
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.


U S Department of Education College Affordability and Transparency Center
College Affordability
College Affordability and Transparency Center, U. S. Department of Education
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.
U S Department of Education, College Scorecard
College Scorecard
College Scorecard, U. S. Department of Education
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

Financial Aid Toolkit, U S Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Financial Aid Toolkit
Search the U. S. Department of Education 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

Accreditaion: Universities and Higher Education, U S Department of Education
Accreditation: Universities
Make sure the school that you are interested in attending is accredited.
Accreditation: Universities
The U. S. Department of Education has compiled a database of accredited institutions.

Financial Aid and Scholarships, How Much Does College Cost? Chicago Public Schools, Choose Your Future
Choose Your Future
Learn some basic financial aid terminology to help as you plan for college.
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, U S Department of Education
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 Example, U S Department of Education
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 Every College Student Should Know
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.

College Data
College DATA
Collegedata.com - A comprehensive online college toolkit, with an array of resources which include: College Match, Admissions Tracker, Financial Aid Tracker, Scholarship Finder, Net Price Calculator, Compare Your Awards, EFC Calculator
Federal Student Aid - types of aid, work study
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
Chicago STAR Scholarship for City Colleges of Chicago


The Chicago GEAR UP Alliance is funded through a grant from the U. S. Department of Education.

The Chicago GEAR UP website is administered through the Center for College Access and Success, Northeastern Illinois University.
312.733.7330 | Fax 312.563.7210






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  • Chicago GEAR UP
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