The start of yet another college/training school year is upon us. If you’re one of the many students who have completed your Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) and are anxiously waiting for your federal financial aid funds to be transferred to your student account (to help pay your tuition, fees and books), here’s a little advice – Be patient. There are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your financial aid is moving. First, know that it is your college or training school t...

One of the most common questions I hear at financial aid offices is, “have you completed your FAFSA?” Most students, this time of year, have. However, there may be other requirements that you need to complete before receiving your federal loans. Your financial aid is sent to the institution, but before they disburse the funds, you may need to sign the master promissory note and complete entrance loan counseling. Here’s what you need to know:

You completed the FAFSA, you received the Student Aid Report (SAR), now what? Many students aren’t aware but one out of three students will be selected for verification. To ensure that the information provided by students and parents on the FAFSA is accurate, the U.S. Department of Education requires institutions to verify financial and other demographic information.

My sister, who is 30 years old and a mother of two, decided to go back to college to finish her degree in Human Resources – Yay, sister! After the excitement subsided, the reality of life sunk in and it came time to review resources available to assist her with the college journey. First, we talked about financial aid options, and then we went over admissions. After all that, she had questions about other resources that could assist with childcare. That made me think, every postsecondary stud...

Paying for college can turn out to be a scavenger hunt for funds, but when it comes to achieving your goals, nothing should stop you, not even the net cost. Financial resources for college or career training are in place to help you effectively pay for your postsecondary education. Here are a few helpful tips to get you started on your own financial resource scavenger hunt:

In the news, you will sometimes hear about the top paying jobs in Alaska. At others times, you might find an article that talks about the fastest growing Alaska industry or occupation. However, you rarely see these two topics linked together when it comes to occupations.

The price of colleges can be a bit daunting and preparing to pay for higher education can cause families stress. When choosing a school, don’t let a big price tag intimidate you just yet. In your postsecondary education journey, the first thing you’ll probably see is the schools’ published Cost of Attendance (COA), or as some may call it – the ‘Sticker Price’. We’ll show you the benefits of evaluating school options based on ‘Net Cost’ – and tell you how to calculate it.

It’s no secret that going to college today costs more money than it did 10 years ago. If you’re a parent who has already started saving for your student’s college –congratulations! If not, one option to consider is a 529 College Savings Plan. A 529 College Saving Plan is a tax-advantaged investment account that allows you to save for future college costs. It’s usually offered by a state or educational institution.

As student loan borrowers we now have the option to refinance our student loans to try to save money, or to lower our monthly bill, or to get away from raising interest rates from a variable rate loan, or to switch lenders – no matter the reason, we student loan borrowers now have options. Here is what you should know about student loan refinancing.

Raise your hand if you ever forgot or came close to forgetting something ------------ me too! For the most part, being semi-forgetful is okay but there some things you just cannot forget, like important dates and deadlines. In the realm of financial aid, dates and deadlines are vital, especially if you want to receive your funds on time – or at all!