How To Appeal A Financial Aid Award (Merit And Need-Based)
How to appeal a financial aid award for 2027-28, what documents to send, and sample appeal letters for job loss, divorce, a parent’s death and more.
Find comprehensive information on financial aid, including the FAFSA process, scholarships, grants, and more.
Does The CSS Profile Count Home Equity And Retirement?
The CSS Profile asks for your home value and retirement balances, but each college decides what counts. Here’s how 11 free-tuition schools treat them.
How To Hack The FAFSA In 2027-28: 7 Legal Moves That Lower Your SAI
Seven legal FAFSA moves that can lower your Student Aid Index for 2027-28, from 401(k) contributions and grandparent 529 plans to two-year income timing.
Pell Grants: What They Are And How To Qualify
Pell Grants are issued by the Department of Education to undergraduate students who are able to demonstrate an exceptional financial need.
How To Prevent TEACH Grants From Becoming Student Loans
Miss the TEACH Grant service rules and every grant becomes a Direct Unsubsidized Loan with back interest. Here’s how to keep yours a grant.
What Is A Distinguished Military College? Pentagon Names 5 New Schools
The Pentagon named five distinguished military colleges in 2026. See what the designation means for cadets and the full list of 11 schools.
Do Unemployment Benefits Count On The FAFSA? 2027-28 Rules
Unemployment benefits count as income on the FAFSA. Here’s how they affect your SAI and Pell Grant, and how to ask for more aid after a job loss.
Why Does FAFSA Assume Parents Pay For College Until Age 24?
A parent asks why FAFSA assumes she’ll pay for college. The answer traces to 1950s need analysis and a 1986 law that drew the line at 24.
The Six Biggest Money Derailers In College (And How To Avoid Them)
A fifth year at an in-state public costs about $25,850 in tuition, housing and food. Here are the six college money derailers that add cost, and how to plan around each one.
Is $5,500 Really All My Kid Can Borrow For College?
Dependent undergrads can borrow $5,500 their first year, a limit unchanged since 2008. Here’s what the caps cover, what changed in 2026, and how much to borrow.
How Trusts Affect Financial Aid: Rules On Revocable, Irrevocable And Court-Ordered Trusts
Trusts count as assets on the FAFSA and CSS Profile, even when the beneficiary can’t access the money. Here’s who reports it, which trusts are exempt, and what it costs in aid.