Welcome Parents, Students, Counselors, and other Guests!

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is an association of over 3,000 colleges, universities, career schools, and others with an interest in student financial aid.

NASFAA does NOT provide financial aid to students. You should contact the financial aid office at the college of your choice for details on available opportunities. However, this Web page will direct you to some of the more helpful financial aid guidance on the Web. We hope you find this information useful.

For Students and Parents from NASFAA

• Get help filling out the FAFSA. College Goal Sunday is a free program that helps students and parents complete the universally required FAFSA financial aid application form. One day each year, traditionally a week or two after Super Bowl Sunday, qualified volunteers (including college financial aid administrators) fan out to selected community sites across a state to help families fill out the FAFSA.
• Cash for College is an online brochure that offers basic facts on the student aid programs and application procedures. Cash for College is updated as the programs change, usually once a year.
• Parent and Student Guide to Federal Tax Benefits for Tuition and Fees provides guidance to help explain two tax credits offering federal income tax relief for college expenses--the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit--as well as available tax deductions for tuition and fees.
• Becoming Credit-Wise: What Students (and You!) Should Know is an article that was published in NASFAA's Student Aid Transcript magazine. While written for aid administrators, the article provides excellent guidance for students, who need to understand their student loans and manage their spending well. Understanding how credit works is an essential part of that, especially for students who must supplement their federal loans with private, credit-based loans.
• Additional Financial Aid Tools from NASFAA. Make your financial aid process a bit easier by using these aids:
  • Student Aid Program Summary (describes eligibility requirements and features of federal student aid programs)   
  • 2007-08 Financial Aid Application Checklist (presents a running list of necessary actions with space for you to enter due dates and check off accomplished items)   
  • Application Form Tracking Worksheet (tracks each school's application and documentation requirements for aid)
  • Cost of Attendance Comparison Worksheet (lays out and compares attendance costs for each school under consideration; focuses your expectations to realistic levels)
  • Award Package Comparison Worksheet (guides your family and counselor in comparing aid packages from different schools)
  • Financial Aid Consultants and Scholarship Search Services Fact Sheet (helps avoid unnecessary and costly reliance on paid consultants to obtain help and advice that is available at no charge)
  • Sample Scholarship Inquiry Letter (suggests how you might inquire about financial aid from a private organization)
  • Calendar Checklist: Grades 8 to 12 (serves as a guide to preparing your own checklist.)
  • Glossary of Financial Aid Words
  • Foster Youth: Tips for Completing the FAFSA

For Parents and Students from the U.S. Department of Education

• The Student Guide is a comprehensive resource on federal student financial aid.
• FSA Student Aid on the Web Home Page offers help for every stage of the financial aid process, whether you're in school or out of school.
• Federal Student Aid at a Glance provides a quick reference to the federal student aid programs.
• FAFSA on the Web is the means by which you apply for federal student financial aid. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is also required by many colleges if you want to be eliglble for aid offered by the college. You can complete the FAFSA on-line or file a paper copy. A pre-application worksheet is available to help you organize your information before completing the FAFSA. A FAFSA "Tip Card" can be printed out and attached to your computer, providing a handy guide to the steps necessary to complete the FAFSA. You can perform a Federal School Code Search to obtain the school codes required on the FAFSA.
• The PIN (Personal Identification Number) Web Site. serves as your identifier to let you access your personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems. At this site you can learn about the PIN, apply for a PIN and request a duplicate PIN if yours is lost or stolen.
• An E-Mail Hoax is circulating with false statements regarding graduation requirements and the No Child Left Behind Act, the Department of Education announced. The bogus e-mails discuss the "Certificate of Completion" and potential problems with it, and include false statements regarding the ability to receive federal loans.
• Direct Loans: Financial Aid to Students discusses applying for federal Direct Loans, options for repayment, use of interactive calculators, downloading Direct loan deferment and forbearance forms, information about Direct Consolidation loans, and using FAFSA on the Web. Among the information and tools available on-line from the Department of Education are interactive calculators, the Direct Consolidation Loan application page, and Options for Postponing Repayment to avoid defaulting on a Direct Loan. Direct Loan Servicing helps you manage your federal Direct Loans on-line.
• Repaying Your Student Loans explains available repayment options so you can successfully repay your debt. It also tells what steps to take so you won't get behind in payments or go into default.
• Early Consolidation to Lock in Low Interest Rates is explained by the Department of Education. Contact your school or lender for details.
• Resources for Blind and Visually Impaired Students notes a variety of information resources available for blind and visually impaired students enrolled in education beyond high school.

From the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration and Other Health Agencies

Scholarships and Loans

• Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students are for full-time, financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds, enrolled in health professions and nursing programs.
• Loans for Disadvantaged Students are long-term, low-interest rate loans to full-time, financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds, to pursue a degree in certain medical fields.
• Health Professions Student Loans are long-term, low-interest rate loans to full-time, financially needy students to pursue a degree in certain medical fields.
• Primary Care Loans provides long-term, low interest rate loans to full-time, financially needy students to pursue a degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine.
• Nursing Student Loans provides long-term, low-interest rate loans to full-time and half-time financially needy students pursuing a course of study in nursing.
• Nursing Scholarship provides certain costs of education in exchange for service at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses
• National Health Service Corps Scholarships offers a competitive program designed for students committed to providing primary health care in communities of greatest need.

  Loan Repayment Programs

• Faculty Loan Repayment provides financial incentive for degree-trained health professionals to pursue academic careers.
• National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, fully trained health professionals who are dedicated to working with the underserved and have qualifying educational loans are eligible to compete for repayment of those loans if they choose to serve in a community of greatest need.
• Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program provides benefits in exchange for a period of full-time clinical practice at an IHS facility or approved Indian health program.
• National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program offers repayment of qualifying loans for fully trained health professionals who choose to serve in a community of greatest need.
• National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Programs provides benefits in exchange for a two-year commitment of a health professional's research career.
• Nursing Education Loan Repayment offers registered nurses substantial assistance to repay educational loans in exchange for service in critical shortage facilities.

Additional Information On Select Topics

Saving for College

• College Savings Plan Network provides detailed information about 529 college savings plans and allows you to compare plans from around the country. The College Savings Plans Network is an affiliate of the National Association of State Treasurers.

  Be a Smart Consumer If You're Considering Using a Scholarship Search Service or Financial Aid Consultant

As the financial aid process has become more complex, there has been a significant increase in the number of individuals and organizations offering professional financial aid services to students and their families. As a wise consumer, you should exercise caution to avoid being taken advantage of and be sure you fully understand the services that are offered.

• Guidance on Financial Aid Consultants and Search Services. NASFAA offers advice for students and families who are considering using a financial aid consultant or scholarship search service.
• $cholarship $cams The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers guidance on recognizing and avoiding scholarship scams.
• FTC Consumer Alert! Choosing a Career or Vocational School The FTC offers steps that consumers can take to make sure that the school they enroll in is reputable and trustworthy.

  Reserve/National Guard Call-Up Financial Aid Page

NASFAA's Reserve/National Guard Call-Up Financial Aid Page provides convenient access to guidance and resources related to the continuing call to active military duty of students who are members of the Reserves and National Guard. It also provides links to the education benefits offered by the various Reserves and National Guards.

September 11 Resources

• A List of Scholarship Funds Created for Families of Victims of September 11 Attacks is offered by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. The scholarship listing includes programs generally available to families of the September 11 victims as well as institution-specific programs.
• Help for Families of Terrorist Attack Victims; September 11th Scholarship Alliance Simplifies Education Aid Process reports on efforts to simplify the scholarship application process for postsecondary education for the families of those who died or were permanently disabled in the September 11th terrorist attacks. Leading scholarship providers and associated organizations participate in the Alliance. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators is honored to serve as an advisor to the Alliance on financial aid issues.

  En Español

• La Guía para estudiantes. La Guía para estudiantes es la publicación más completa lidiando con ayuda económica para estudiantes del Departamento de Educación de los Estados Unidos. La publicación cubre los programas de ayuda más importantes del Departamento, incluyendo las Becas Pell, los Préstamos Stafford, y los Préstamos PLUS.
• Llene su Solicitud FAFSA en Español. Usted puede utilizar esta solicitud en línea para llenar y presentar la Solicitud Gratuita de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes (FAFSA, por sus siglas en inglés) en la Web. Puede llenar y transmitir esta solicitud electrónicamente.
• Planilla de preparación para la solicitud para el año 2006-2007 en formato PDF.
• Cómo Reembolsar Sus Préstamos Para Estudiantes. Esta publicación le explicará las opciones de reembolso que están a su disposición para ayudarle a pagar su deuda sin problemas. También le informará sobre las medidas que usted puede tomar para que no se retrase en el pago o quede en el incumplimiento de pago.
• Lo que usted debe saber sobre el reembolso de los préstamos para estudiantes.

  International Student Information

• eduPASS gives guidance to international students who wish to pursue a postsecondary education in the United States.

For High School Counselors

• Planning and Conducting a Financial Aid Night from NASFAA provides information and tools for conducting a financial aid night presentation. Planning and Conducting a Financial Aid Night includes a PowerPoint slide show and guide, with important steps on how to set up a financial aid night, as well as narrative for the slideshow. Available free on-line.
• College Readiness for All is a toolbox to help school and college outreach practitioners increase college preparation and access for all students. The toolbox is the collective work of more than 30 national organizations, including NASFAA, in the Pathways to College Network dedicated to increasing college preparation, access, and success for all students.
• FSA for Counselors is the Department of Education's Web site for middle school, high school and TRIO counselors.
• 2004-2005 High School Counselor's Handbook from the Department of Education helps high school counselors advise students about financial aid for postsecondary education, with a focus on the aid programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education. It includes supplementary materials designed to encourage high school students to consider postsecondary education as an avenue to a more rewarding career. Available free on-line in Acrobat PDF format.

Early Awareness

• The ABCs of Early Awareness: A Resource Guide and Toolkit for Helping Students Achieve a Higher Education is a Web site that assists financial aid administrators and others seeking to develop programs to help young students understand the benefits of graduating from high school and continuing on to postsecondary education. The site is offered as a public service by NASFAA and The Education Resources Institute (TERI). "The ABC's of Early Awareness" is a toolkit that provides step-by-step instructions to help program organizers identify the right program for the target age group; plan activities; address budget constraints; implement the program; and evaluate the program's success.
• College Readiness for All from the Pathways to College Network is a toolbox to help school and college outreach practitioners increase college preparation and access for all students. Any practitioner responsible for student achievement and college preparation can and should use the toolbox, including school leaders, high school counselors, outreach program professionals, and teachers. School district administrators, postsecondary administrators, and community leaders may also find the information in the toolbox helpful as they work with people at the school level.
• The College Track: America's Sorting Machine is a 3-part public television series that shakes up conventional notions about who is "college material." The series, which was broadcast on public television, explores America's commitment to equal access to higher education through the stories of students struggling to become the first in their families to attend college.

For Financial Aid Administrators

Please visit us at http://www.NASFAA.org.

For Members of the Press and Media Outlets

Please visit the NASFAA Media Center.

Statement of Ethical Priniciples and Code of Conduct

• The primary goal of the financial aid professional is to help students achieve their educational potential by providing appropriate financial resources. To this end, the Association's Statement of Ethical Priniciples and Code of Conduct provides the Financial Aid Professional with a set of principles that serves as a common foundation for accepted standards of conduct.

© 2007 National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).