How to Finalize Your Financial Aid Before Starting College

As you make your way through the summer before college checklist, an important action item is to finalize your financial aid. No matter where you’re attending, here are some steps to take this summer to ensure your financial aid is in order for the fall!

File your FAFSA

There’s still time to complete the FAFSA if you haven’t already! To be considered for federal financial aid for the 2023-2024 school year, the national FAFSA deadline isn’t until June 30, 2024. In addition to federal aid, the FAFSA also opens you up to even more aid opportunities, like scholarships, loans, and grants.

Even if you are unsure of your family’s financial situation or your eligibility to receive aid, it’s still worth completing the FAFSA regardless. You never know how much aid you’ll be offered until you try!

Review your financial aid award letter

When you were accepted to your college, you received a financial aid award letter, which breaks down the total cost of attendance for your first year of school, as well as the total amount of aid they will offer you to cover tuition and other school-related expenses that year. It's important to know exactly what you are responsible for paying as you prepare to head off to school, so if you have any questions, be sure to call your school's financial aid office. They’re there to help!

Review your tuition bill

Once you receive your first tuition bill from your college, be sure to compare it with your financial award letter to learn how much you’ll still owe for your first term. If you are receiving financial aid like grants, scholarships, and loans, those will be credited to your student financial account. After your financial aid is disbursed, you will either have an amount that you still owe or you will have excess funds that will be disbursed to you by check or direct deposit. Students use these funds, typically known as “refunds,” to pay for rent, books, school supplies, and other school-related expenses.

While it’s pretty normal to have a gap in financial aid for many students, you have a few options to try and close that gap with more aid:

1. If your family’s financial situation changed significantly since you initially completed your FAFSA, you may be eligible to receive additional aid by completing a change in circumstances form. This form serves as a formal request to your school’s financial aid office to take a closer look at your current financial situation and adjust your offer accordingly, potentially increasing the amount of aid you’ll receive for that school year.
2. Apply for as many scholarships as you can. This form of aid is usually free, meaning you won’t have to pay it back. There are millions of dollars available to students in scholarships every year– don’t miss out on free money!
3. Secure a work-study job. Your financial aid award letter will have noted whether you’re eligible for work-study, a program that allows you to work on-campus, part-time jobs. If you qualify for work-study, look into jobs that interest you and apply! These jobs will put money in your pocket that can be used to pay for school and life expenses.

Familiarize yourself with the requirements to keep your financial aid

Some forms of financial aid, such as scholarships, will have requirements that students must meet in order to keep them. For example, some will have minimum GPA requirements, while others will require students to be enrolled in a certain number of credits. Regardless of what requirements your forms of aid have, it’s important to be aware of them. If you don’t meet these requirements, you could lose your aid, making you responsible for paying any gaps.

Manage your money

Learning how to earn, save, and spend money is an essential life skill that will benefit you in college. In addition to school expenses, you will have other expenses in college such as food, laundry, transportation, etc. Understanding things like how to budget or use a credit card wisely while in college can help you stay on top of your finances and ensure that your expenses are being taken care of. Check out our money management resources to learn more!

Have any questions about finalizing your financial aid before starting college? Text us! Send #College to 33-55-77 to speak with an advisor!