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Navigating the Financial Aid Process

Understand college costs, use net price calculator, apply for aid, learn financial need criteria, explore aid sources, review award letters, attend SUNY Financial Aid Days. Find out how to collect information, complete FAFSA and TAP, and communicate with aid office.

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Navigating the Financial Aid Process

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  1. Navigating the Financial Aid Process

  2. TOPICS • How much does college cost? • Net Price Calculator • How and when to apply for financial aid • How is financial need determined? • Sources and types of financial aid • SUNY Smart Track • Reviewing Award Letters • SUNY Financial Aid Days

  3. How Much Does College Cost? Cost of Attendance (COA) Includes: • Tuition and fees • Room and board • Books and supplies • Transportation • Miscellaneous personal expenses

  4. How Much Does College Cost? Four-Year PRIVATE On-Campus Student Tuition and fees: $33,056 Room and board: 12,619 Books and supplies: 1,244 Transportation: 1,002 Personal expenses: 1,607 Total Budget: $49,528 Source: College Board: Trends in College Pricing 2014 Middle States Averages.

  5. How Much Does SUNY Cost? Baccalaureate Degree Program 2015-2016 NY State Resident Living On-Campus Tuition and fees: $7,980 ($6,470 & $1,510) Room and board: 12,150 Books and supplies: 1,340 Transportation: 1,050 Personal expenses: 1,500 Total Budget: $24,020 Source: SUNY Office of Student Financial Aid, System Administration

  6. How Much Does SUNY Cost? Associate Degree Program 2015-2016 NY State Resident Living On-Campus Tuition and fees: $4,820 ($4,210 & $610) Room and board: 10,180 Books and supplies: 1,320 Transportation: 1,280 Personal expenses: 1,160 Total Budget: $18,760 Source: SUNY Office of Student Financial Aid, System Administration

  7. NetPrice Calculator The calculator estimates the net price that a family will pay after receiving any scholarships or need-based grants. Find SUNY’s calculator at: www.suny.edu/howmuch

  8. How to Apply for Aid • Collect information • Complete FAFSA online: www.fafsa.ed.gov • Complete TAP online • Watch for Student Aid Report (SAR) • Keep records & communicate with the financial aid office

  9. 1. Collect Information • Student and parents’ SSN and DOB • Parents’ marital status • Tax returns for student and parents • W-2s for student and parents • Records of untaxed income for student and parents, bank accounts, stock, real estate and business records for student and parents • Student’s driver’s license number • Student’s alien registration number (non-U.S. citizens)

  10. 2. Complete FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov

  11. Beware of www.fafsa.com!

  12. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA Step One: Student Demographics • Name, social security number, birth date • Provide an email address • Indicate gender • Males have the opportunity to enroll in Selective Service • For more information go to: www.sss.gov Step Two: School Selection • Enter FAFSA codes – up to 10 colleges • Indicate housing status

  13. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA Step Three: Dependency Status • Generally Dependent if under age 24 • Independent if: • Married • A graduate student • Serving in the U.S. military or a veteran • Supporting children or other dependents • Has a court appointed legal guardian • Has been determined homeless or at risk of being homeless

  14. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA Step Four: Parent Demographics • Name, social security numbers, birth dates • Marital status If your parent does not have an SSN, enter 0’s or 9’s Step Five: Financial Information • Use 2015 tax returns • If you have not filed, select “will file”

  15. Student Financial Information

  16. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA Step Six: Sign and Submit • Sign electronically • Print signature page • Process now without signature

  17. Submit FAFSA

  18. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA Step Seven: Confirmation York

  19. 3. Complete TAP Online • From the FAFSA confirmation page, link to the TAP-on-the-Web. • Establish your TAP PIN.

  20. 4. Watch for SAR • SAR will be available in 3-5 days • EFC is printed on upper right corner • Make sure all information is correct • Corrections-on-the-Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov

  21. 5. Keep Records & Communicate With your • Financial Aid Office • You may be selected for verification

  22. How and When to Apply?

  23. How and When to Apply FILE EARLY! Right after January 1,2016 • Check “will file taxes” • Estimate financial information accurately • Questions? - 1-800-4FEDAID (1-800-433-3243) or www.fafsa.ed.gov

  24. How is Financial Aid Determined? Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is determined by: • Parents’income and assets - primary home value excluded • Student’s income and assets • Size of family • Age of parents • Number of children in college COAminusEFC=Need

  25. Sources and Types of Financial Aid

  26. Sources and Types of Financial Aid: Scholarships • Private scholarship search • At your college of interest • Free Internet scholarship searches • www.fastweb.com • www.studentaid.gov • Local library resources • Local businesses and civic organizations (including professional associations) related to student's field of interest • Parents’ employers/unions

  27. Sources and Types of Financial Aid: Major Grant Programs PELL Grant • Must have EFC between $0 - $5198 • Maximum annual award $5,775 NYS TAP Grant • Based on NYS net taxable income

  28. Sources and Types of Financial Aid: Federal Work Study • Based on financial need • On- or off-campus employment • Usually 12 to 15 hours per week

  29. Sources and Types of Financial Aid:William D. Ford Direct Loans Subsidized * • 4.29% • Capped at 8.25% • Based on need • Federal government pays interest while student is in school • $3,500 for freshmen Unsubsidized • 4.29% • Capped at 8.25% • Not based on need • Interest accumulates while while in school • Loan cannot exceed cost of education minus financial aid Maximum Direct Loans for freshmen: $5,500

  30. Sources and Types of Financial Aid: Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) • For parents of dependent students • Borrow up to entire cost of college less financial aid • No adverse credit (parent must pass credit check) • Interest rate 6.84% • Capped at 10.5% Time Payment Plans • May vary…typically, families spread the direct costs over the semester or year.

  31. SUNY State-Operated Campuses 2015-2016 TEACH Grant • Up to $3,728 per year • For students who intend to teach: • a high-need field • students of low-income • Four-year service contract • More information: www.studentaid.ed.gov

  32. STEM Incentive Program • Tuition scholarship at SUNY or CUNY • Eligibility • Need to graduate in top 10% of high school class • Need to study in STEM Field • Need to maintain a 2.5 average • Five-year service contract to work in NY state in a STEM field • More information: www.hesc.ny.gov or Scholarship Unit at 1-888-697-4372

  33. NY-AIMS • $500 Scholarship • Eligibility • Need to achieve at least 2 of the following: • Graduate with a GPA of 3.3 or above; • Graduate “with honors” on a NYS Regents diploma or receive a score of 3 or higher on 2 or more Advanced Placement (or AP) examinations; • Graduate within the top 15% of the class

  34. SUNY Smart Track • SUNY standard award letter • System-wide financial literary • www.suny.edu/smarttrack

  35. SUNY Smart Track

  36. Award Letters

  37. Smart Track Award Letter

  38. Smart Track Award Letter Grants/Gift Aid Section

  39. Smart Track Award Letter

  40. Smart Track Award Letter Options To Pay Net Cost Sections

  41. College Overview Section: • Graduation rate • Loan default rate

  42. College Overview Section: • Median borrowing • Repaying loan information • School contact information

  43. Reviewing Award Letters: Comparing Financial Aid Award Packages SUNY COA $24,020 SUNY SFA Package - 6,110* Net cost to family $17,910 Non-SUNY COA $49,528 Non-SUNY SFA Package - 18,870* Net cost to family $30,658 Focus on Net Cost vs. SFA Package Focus on Type of Aid & Total Amount * Student loans are not included Source: College Board: Trends in College Pricing 2014

  44. Reviewing Award Letters: Questions You Should Ask • What is the source of aid? • What is the out-of-pocket expense? • Will the scholarship be renewed? • Is there a GPA requirement for scholarship renewal? • What happens if the GPA requirement for scholarship renewal is not met?

  45. SUNY Financial Aid Days 2016 • Ask questions about the financial aid application, types of aid and the award process • Some campuses will offer Web access to complete the FAFSA online • Register at www.suny.edu/studentevents in early December

  46. Questions?

  47. Please complete the survey you will soon receive in your inbox. Thank you for attending!

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