September 22, 2008 by Mara Strom A panel of financial aid experts thinks that America’s federal financial aid system needs a major overhaul.  According to the Rethinking Student Aid study group, these changes include simplifying the application process (aka FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and increasing Pell grant maximums. The most sweeping change recommended by the Fulfilling the Commitment report is the creation of federally-funded college savings accounts for children from low-income families. Each year, the government would add money to a fund for each eligible child, until that child turned 18. To draw on the fund, the money would have to be used to cover approved college expenses.  The group recommends starting the program from the age of 5. The G...

March 31, 2008 For families struggling to finance their children’s educational expenses, supplemental borrowing can be an important resource. Supplemental borrowing is particularly useful to those families that do not qualify for need-based financial aid or those families that qualify but whose financing needs are greater than their aid package. One of the most reliable sources of supplemental borrowing is the Federal Direct PLUS Loan. The PLUS, which stands for Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students, is a federally-backed loan for parents paying for their dependent child’s undergraduate education. PLUS Advantages The advantages offered by the Federal Direct PLUS Loan include: • Federal backing, ensuring stability • Non-need based, only based on credit rating • ...

One assumption made by financial aid recipients that needs clarification is the belief that loans are not considered financial assistance. In fact, the vast majority of financial aid dollars are disbursed to students in the form of loans. While federal and state governments do dish out plenty of grant and scholaship aid, loans (often termed “self-help aid, along with work study) are the cornerstone of the modern financial aid industry. This is an important distinction to make, particularly if you enter a post graduate program. As a graduate student, you will no longer be eligible for a Pell grant or any other federal grant aid. Aid eligibility for graduate students usually falls into three categories: loans, assistantships and fellowships. From the Department of Education, the only...