PHEAA Promotes Financial Aid Awareness
January is kick-off to student aid application season
Harrisburg, PA (January 12, 2009) - The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is reminding students and families to apply for financial aid in January, which is recognized as Financial Aid Awareness Month.
Families should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2009-10 academic year as soon as possible but prior to their school's earliest aid deadline. Families can use estimated federal income tax information if their actual tax form hasn't been completed.
Submitting the FAFSA, which is required to qualify for federal grants, the Pennsylvania State Grant, many scholarships, reduced-cost federal student loans, work-study programs, and many school-based student aid programs, is the most important step families can take to determine eligibility for financial assistance. Families should visit PHEAA.org/FAFSA to access background information and frequently asked questions about the FAFSA, a free FAFSA tutorial, a FAFSA Worksheet, as well as the online FAFSA application.
Additionally, PHEAA has partnered with the Pennsylvania Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (PASFAA) to promote and staff free FAFSA Completion Workshops throughout the Commonwealth beginning in January and running through April. Visit PHEAA.org/FAFSA after January 5 to view a statewide listing of FAFSA Workshops.
“It is vitally important that all college-bound students and their families take the time to submit a FAFSA,” notes PHEAA Board Chairman, William F. Adolph. “The possibility of receiving free money to help pay college costs and reduce the amount of debt students are responsible for repaying, it just makes common sense to take the time to submit the FAFSA.”
PHEAA also recommends that students discuss financial aid options with their school counselor and visit the financial aid websites of the schools to which they are planning to apply. Students and families can also access the Pennsylvania Guide to Student Aid at PHEAA.org. The Guide is the most comprehensive financial aid publication available; detailing the financial aid process and Pennsylvania's aid programs.
Information from the FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for a Pennsylvania State Grant. The State Grant deadline is May 1st for all renewal applicants and for first time applicants in degree and transfer programs.
New this year is the online State Grant Form (SGF), accessed through the Account Access feature at PHEAA.org. The SGF is pre-populated with basic student FAFSA information. Non-FAFSA information such as parents' employment status, intended program of study, and high school name, which are needed to determine State Grant eligibility, can be provided on the SGF. The application is interactive, so the types of questions that appear are dictated by the information the student has already provided, saving the time of going through questions that don't relate to their situation.
“Typically in one year, we print and mail about 300,000 State Grant notices to students,” said Jim Preston, PHEAA President & CEO. “This year's new process will eliminate the need to mail most of these notices, saving time and money and providing the convenience of electronic communications with students.”
Students should also visit the award-winning career and college planning website, EducationPlanner.org. The site offers information on thousands of schools, provides invaluable college planning and student aid guidance on a variety of topics, and one of the largest free scholarship search features available; offering 1.8 million awards worth almost $8 billion.
PHEAA operates six regional offices, located in Pittsburgh, Sharon, Williamsport, Harrisburg, Wilkes-Barre and Philadelphia. Staff at each office is available to answer questions related to higher education as well as schedule informational workshops. Visit PHEAA.org, ”Contact Us”, for regional office information.