Monday, March 14, 2011

The TEACH Grant: Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education

The TEACH grant is an excellent opportunity for students who intend to pursue certain careers in education to receive free money for college from the United States government. This grant is offered in exchange for a commitment on the part of the student to teach later on provided they meet all eligibility requirements. And because the federal TEACH program carries serious financial considerations with it, students should learn as much about this type of federal grant prior to filling out an application via the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Federal Direct Student Loan Program: Aid Offered Via the FDSLP

The Federal Direct Student Loan Program or FDSLP is one of the most significant educational funding efforts ever undertaken. The program offers various types of aid to help students pay for the costs of college and other types of schools. Nearly all programs available through the FDSLP require that a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid be filled out in order to determine eligibility. The Federal Direct Student Loan Program provides federal aid as detailed below:

Thursday, March 10, 2011

The Federal Stafford Loan: 8 Things You Should Know About the Stafford Loan

The Federal Stafford Loan was created with the intent to help all Americans achieve their higher education goals. These loans and many other types of US government funding for school are made available to students who fill out a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. There’s a lot to this comprehensive form and a great deal to the Stafford loan as well, so taking a look at these 8 primary points of consideration will help immensely prior to completing the FAFSA.

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Stafford Loans and Federal Grants: How Much Money for College Can I Get?

Stafford loans and federal grants are two unique types of educational funding offered by the United States Department of Education. By filling out a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a student will be able to determine their eligibility for all types of federal aid. Some students may be able to get all of their educational expenses funded by the government, so taking a look at maximum amounts available via the Stafford Loan, Perkins Loan, ACG Grant, FSEOG, Pell Grant or the IASG is a good idea before you fill out the FAFSA.

Friday, March 04, 2011

College 529 Plans in Lay Terms

College 529 plans are types of savings or investment tools that can be used to help pay for the educational expenses of a designated student. These are especially useful because they often provide a wealth of tax benefits and the ability to limit the effects of inflation. However, there are also a number of disadvantages to college 529 plans and therefore it is wise to gain an understanding of how these savings vehicles work.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Stafford Loans: Loan Amounts for the Federal Stafford Loan

The Stafford loan was created by the United States government in an effort to help Americans achieve post-secondary education goals via assistance in the form of federal grants, federal scholarships, work study, and the federal Stafford loan. These loans are applied for by filling out the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid available at more than 4,000 schools nationwide.

Stafford Loans: Eligibility for the Federal Stafford Loan

Stafford loans are provided by the US Department of Education to help pay for the costs associated with post-secondary education. The federal Stafford loan is one of only a few federally-backed loans in the nation, and while the eligibility requirements are strict, students who are able to qualify for these loans will enjoy generous terms and benefits.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Perkins Loan Default: What to do if You Can’t Pay Your Federal Perkins Loan

A Perkins Loan default is a serious issue that requires your immediate attention in order to protect your credit and ability to gain access to federal educational loans. Perkins loans are issued by the United States Department of Education and are backed by the full faith of the United States Government. In fact, the FDSLP or Federal Direct Student Loan Program is the only federally-backed loan program in the country,

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Pell Grant: Award Amounts and Eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant

Pell grants are unique types of educational funding for students with financial need. In most cases the federal Pell grant is awarded to students that come from low income families or are otherwise at a disadvantage. The program was created and is managed by the United States Department of Education as a means to assist underprivileged Americans with a way of obtaining money for college that never has to be repaid.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Pell Grants: How to Qualify for the Federal Pell Grant

Pell Grants are free types of educational funding offered through the FDSLP or Federal Direct Student Loan Program. Like most other grants, money awarded to students through this program never has to be repaid by the student. In this sense, Pell Grants really are free money for college. However, there are certain requirements that must be met in order to qualify for this or any other type of federal aid,

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Pell Grants: How Much Money for College Can I Get With a Pell Grant?

Pell grants are available to students with financial need to pay for their educational expenses. This type of Federal grant awards money that never has to be repaid by the student; provided they meet all requirements. By filling out a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a student will be able to determine their eligibility for all types of Federal educational funding programs, including Federal scholarships, Federal work study, loans and the Federal Pell grant.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Perkins Loan: How to Get One Now Via the FAFSA

A Federal Perkins loan is available to students with financial need to help pay for their educational expenses. Like other types of Federal educational funding, the Perkins loan is available at more than 4000 schools and universities Nationwide. However, because not everyone will qualify for a Perkins loan it is important to understand how your financial situation will affect your eligibility for this type of Federal funding.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

PLUS Loan Consolidation Benefits

A PLUS Loan consolidation offers a way to better manage federal educational loan debts. While most new education funds are issued under the Federal Direct Student Loan Program or FDSLP, there are many students that have multiple loans spread across numerous lenders. Additionally, grad students and professional students that currently have PLUS loans in combination

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

PLUS Loan Interest Rates and Other Details

PLUS loan interest rates are among the lowest in the nation when it comes to any type of educational lending. This is especially true considering that this particular type of financial aid is intended for parents to be able to pay for their children’s education. And unlike financing through traditional banks or educational lenders, a PLUS loan interest rate will not be affected by a parent’s credit rating,

Monday, February 14, 2011

Student Loan Default: PLUS Loan Rehabilitation Programs Can Help

PLUS loan rehabilitation programs were developed to help resolve late payments or student loan defaults on federal educational loans. Loans issued under the Federal Direct Student Loan Program and other types of federal financial aid carry certain terms and conditions that could result in aggressive action if a student loan default occurs. This is an important consideration because unlike other types of loans and debts, student loans are never “charged off” and you cannot include them in a bankruptcy. For this reason, it is critical to use programs like the PLUS loan rehabilitation to prevent the accumulation of fees, penalties and interest that occur with student loan defaults.

Friday, February 11, 2011

PLUS Loan Application Process

The PLUS loan application process is undertaken by parents who wish to pay for the education of their children by taking advantage of federal educational lending programs. PLUS loans are offered to parents that meet certain eligibility requirements and have a child who is enrolled in college at least half-time. There are many types of federal student aid programs available, such as the Stafford or Perkins loan, the ACG and Smart grants, and federal scholarship and work study programs.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

PLUS Loan Default: Consequences of Not Paying

A PLUS loan default is a serious matter that is much different than a regular student loan default. In fact, a PLUS loan default can have consequences that are much more severe than other loan types, such as federal Stafford or Perkins loans. Regardless of the type of student loan that you have, there are some important considerations that you should make in the event that you find yourself struggling to pay. The consequences of a PLUS loan default are significant and should be avoided at all costs.

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Pell Grant: Get one Fast via the FAFSA

The Pell grant is a type of educational funding offering by the United States Department of Education that never has to be repaid. Like other types of grants, the federal Pell grant works by awarding students who meet certain criteria with money for college and college-related expenses. Students seeking a Pell grant will need to apply using the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. These forms are available at thousands of schools in the US, making the Pell grant easily available to students who qualify.

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

ACG Grants: How to Get a Federal ACG Grant

ACG grants or Academic Competitive Grants are sources of free money for college provided by the United States Department of Education. By filling out a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a student can determine their eligibility for the ACG grant, as well as a host of other types of federal educational funding, including other grants, loans, scholarships, and work study. ACG grants are different from any other federal programs

Monday, February 07, 2011

Stafford Loan Default: How to Repair the Damage

A Stafford loan default is a very serious issue that requires immediate attention. Stafford loan default accounts are often pursued aggressively by both the federal government and professional collections agencies. In almost all cases, the Stafford loan default being held by the creditor is very easy to enforce in a court of law. This is because the MPN or Master Promissory Note that you sign in conjunction with filling out a FAFSA is your personal and legally binding guarantee

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Stafford Loans: What Happens if I Default on a Federal Stafford Loan?

Stafford loans are essentially a contract between you as a student and the federal government. When you apply via the FAFSA for a Stafford loan, you agree to repay any money lent as either a subsidized or unsubsidized Stafford loan. This is why students who apply for a Stafford loan must sign a MPN or Master Promissory Note.

Perkins Loan: How to Get a Federal Perkins Loan

How to get a Perkins loan is as easy as filling out a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The Perkins loan is a federally funded educational loan program that is offered to students with financial need. Because of this, not every student will qualify for a Perkins loan. In general, Perkins loans are granted to students whose household income is about $25,000 or less per year.

PLUS Loans: The Parent PLUS Loan Application Process

The PLUS loan provides parents with a means to fund the cost of their children’s undergraduate education. PLUS loans feature a low, fixed rate of interest and flexible repayment terms. This includes the ability to defer payments on the loan until the student has graduated or drops below half-time status. In some cases, parents may even have the ability to request a forbearance during times of financial difficulty.

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

PLUS Loans: Terms and Conditions of the Parent PLUS Loan

PLUS loans are the best option available to parents who wish to pay for their children’s college education. In fact, the federal government created the PLUS loans program specifically for this purpose. It can be difficult or impossible for some parents to pay for a child’s education out of their pocket- college is expensive and money is tight for many people.

Monday, January 31, 2011

PLUS Loans: How Much Money for College Can I get with a PLUS loan?

PLUS loans offer parents the ability to pay for their children’s education even when they do not have enough capital to pay out-of-pocket. PLUS loans for parents provide families with a way to enable a student to concentrate on what matters most- their studies. By not having to worry about paying for education on their own via taking out student loans or other forms of financial aid, students experience much less stress and in theory will perform better overall in their academic studies.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

PLUS Loans: An Easy Way for Parents to Help Pay for College

PLUS loans do not enjoy the same level of attention that is paid to other forms of financial aid available on the FAFSA such as Stafford loans, Perkins loans, and the FSEOG. This is because PLUS loans are for parents. A PLUS loan allows a parent to fund their children’s education with a low interest rate and great terms on a loan that would be difficult or impossible to obtain elsewhere. However, because most of the information provided on the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid is aimed at students, the availability of the PLUS loan is not widely known.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

PLUS Loans: Federal Financial Aid for Parents

PLUS loans are an excellent source of funding for parents that wish to pay for their children’s education. Offered by the federal government in conjunction with the United States Department of Education, PLUS loans are available to parents and guardians depending upon their credit history and other factors. PLUS loans feature a fixed interest rate of only 7.9%, making it easy for parents to pay for college. However, there are some other important and unique features of a federal PLUS loan:

Monday, January 24, 2011

Stafford Loans: Using the FAFSA to get Federal Financial Aid

Stafford loans are available to students with financial need simply by filling out a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Stafford Loans are offered at more than four thousand schools nationwide, enabling students to attend the college, university or trade school of their choice. In order to obtain a Stafford Loan, a student is required to fill out a FAFSA and submit it to their school’s financial aid office.

Monday, January 10, 2011

FSEOG Tips: How to apply correctly the first time

If you’re applying for the FSEOG or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, you should know that all you really have to do to see if you qualify is fill out a FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is available at almost all colleges, universities, trade schools, technical schools, and medical/nursing schools. Filling out a FAFSA will also determine your eligibility for other federal programs, such as scholarships, work study, loans, and other grants besides the FSEOG.

Sunday, January 09, 2011

Understanding the FSEOG and how grants work

If you’re looking for money for college, it’s pretty tough to beat grants as an excellent source- especially the FSEOG. The FSEOG or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is funded by the United States Government and managed by the USDE or United States Department of Education. Schools and universities help to oversee and administer the FSEOG and other programs that are available to a student simply by filling out a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. However, there are many more types of federal aid available than just the FSEOG, so it’s important to understand what options you have before you start filling out the FAFSA.

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

The FAFSA and the FSEOG

Any student that has ever applied to a university or school before knows about the FAFSA, but few have heard of the FSEOG. Most students are aware that via the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, many types of educational funding can be obtained. This includes subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans, grants, scholarships, and federal work study programs. Of these programs, nearly every student has heard of the Pell grant, and many have probably heard of the Perkins loan. The FSEOG or Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant is not very well known, however. This is especially strange considering that the FSEOG can provide thousands of dollars in free money for college.

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Understanding the FSEOG and related acronyms

When it comes to seeking money for college, encountering acronyms like FSEOG, FAFSA, USDE, and many others can make applying for financial aid confusing. Many schools, financial aid offices and websites use these acronyms frequently enough to make it seem like they assume everyone who sees the terms will understand what they mean. Use of industry jargon such as FSEOG and FAFSA is widespread, so if you want to get all of the aid and free money for school that you qualify for, you’ll need to learn these terms.