According to a recent study by Nerdwallet, here, only about half of high school seniors completed the FAFSA in 2013. Admittedly not all high school seniors go on to college, but much of the aid that is awarded through the FAFSA, including Pell Grants, can be used to pay community college and vocational school costs. In addition, you need to…
It’s too late, right? Not if you live in Oregon. In Oregon (and several other states) you can make a state-tax-deductible contribution to your 529 plan up until you file your 2014 taxes. If you do make a contribution in the first part of 2015, it’s generally best to take the deduction for 2014. Not only do you get the…
Every year, the FAFSA undergoes some minor changes, and this year is no exception. One of the big changes is a new login process so that you do not need to enter personal information such as birthdate and Social Security number to log into the system. Instead, you’ll be given an FSA ID that will work as user name and…
Get ready: the FAFSA is coming. The 2015-2016 FAFSA will be available in just a couple of days, on Jan. 1. Here are some common mistakes people make in completing the FAFSA: Not doing it: Yes, the FAFSA takes time but no, you should not skip it, even if you don’t think you’ll be eligible for aid. Why not? Because…
When it comes to financial aid formulas, there is a man behind the curtain and it’s important to find him. The FAFSA 4caster is great for getting an estimate, but it doesn’t tell you how it came up with that estimate. And knowledge is power: understanding the formulas gives you some room to adjust your financial picture to improve your…