The Top 5 Sources for Financial Aid Advice

Your favorite influencer might be your go-to for product reviews and tips, but they’re probably not the best place to get financial aid advice. And unless your family is deep into the educational funding world, they’re not the ideal sources either.

Luckily, there are many reliable places to turn to for the real deal on the changes to the financial aid process — and for help. Here are 5 of the best:

  1. Studentaid.gov

    The home of federal student aid and the FAFSA form. There’s also a new Financial Aid Estimator Tool, which gives you a first look at how much aid you could be eligible for when you answer a few quick questions about your family and yourself.

  2. Federal Student Aid YouTube Channel

    This channel is run by the division of the U.S. Department of Education that administers the FAFSA, so you can trust the information there. It’s presented in bite-sized videos that make it easy to focus on just the area you need help with, so you don’t have to skip through a lot of yadda yadda yadda.

  3. College financial aid offices

    While federal and state aid policies are consistent across schools, every college’s aid policies are different. Be sure you talk to the financial aid offices at the schools you’re considering attending — they’re there to provide support for you throughout the process!

  4. Counselors/Community Based Organizations (CBOs)

    College counselors at your school and non-profit CBOs are there to help you navigate all aspects of college, from academics to social to finances. Be sure to check their event schedules, as many high schools and CBOs hold financial aid information nights regularly.

  5. Trusted publications and websites

    How do you know what’s legit? Think entities like the College Board, College Navigator, US News, NACAC (the National Association of College Admissions Counselors) — names you know and that have been around. It’s always a good idea to check multiple sources, and to confirm anything you read elsewhere with studentaid.gov and your college’s financial aid office.

Remember, any site or company that charges you money to file the FAFSA is a scam.

There have been a lot of critical changes to the financial aid process as a result of the FAFSA Simplification Act, so it’s important to use only trustworthy sources for information and help.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Financial Aid Office at xx.website.xx and 804-123-8899 if you have any questions about anything you read or hear!