College Resources

Let's talk about college!

Many students don't consider the idea of going to college because of the enormous cost. Luckily, there are many resources available to help you pay for college. Here we will give you resources and strategies to alleviate financial stress and a comprehensive list of scholarship opportunities.

Naviance

Individual Career and Academic Plan: Naviance is a comprehensive college and career readiness website that helps students align strengths and interests to post secondary goals, improves student outcomes and helps to connect learning to life. Naviance enables each student to have a truly personalized action plan of specific tasks necessary to achieve their goals.

Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation: Naviance also supports increased collaboration and transparency between school counselors and their students. Students are able to request school transcripts to send to colleges/universities. It also enables students to request letters of recommendation from staff and teachers.

naviance

Applying to College

1. Use a Net Price Calculator

2. Apply to at least one Financial Safety School

3. Register for the Colorado College Opportunity Fund (COF)

4. Apply for Free Application for Financial Aid or CASFA

5. Apply for Scholarships!

6. Claim AP Credit and Shorten Your Time in College

7. Use the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program

8. Start at a Community College (Junior College)

It can be a very wise idea to complete your general requirements for the first two years at a community college and then transfer to a 4-year, in-state college or university later.
NOTE: Many Colorado junior colleges state "guaranteed transfers," but that doesn't mean they will always fulfill specific degree and/or major requirements. You should be careful and check to ensure your first two years at a community college is worth your while.

FAFSA

apply for fafsa

College Land Terminology

COF

The College Opportunity Fund provides a stipend for new and continuing in-state students going to college in Colorado. To receive the stipend, a student must apply for and authorize the use of the stipend at their respective institution. Without the stipend, a student is responsible for the full amount of tuition which equals in-state tuition plus the stipend amount. You can apply for the COF at HTTP://COF.COLLEGE-ASSIST.ORG

Financial Aid

A catch-all term referring to any program that offers money to assist with the costs associated with being a student. This includes tuition help, scholarships, living stipends, textbook costs, child care benefits, work grants, entrepreneurship support and more. Aid can come from any number of sources -- state, local and federal government, the college itself, professional organization, private charities and many others. Visit HTTP://WWW.FINAID.ORG/ for more information

FAFSA

EFC

Expected Family Contribution is calculated for every student, even if the family is not going to contribute that amount. A FAFSA is used to determine the specific Federal Student Aid programs that can contribute to a student's total financial aid package and in what proportions. Many universities also use the information provided on the FAFSA to determine other grants and scholarships as well. The Federal Student Aid office is a part of the US Department of Education.

Grants

Index Score

Loans

Personal Statement

Selective Services

Work Study

Scholarship

Merit-Based Scholarship

Need-Based Scholarship

Student-Specific Scholarship

Career-Specific Scholarship

College-Specific Scholarship

The FAFSA Process

FAFSA provides more than $120 billion in grants, loans, and work-study funds each year to help pay for college or career school. To apply for this aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Also, state governments and many colleges and career schools use your FAFSA information to award you their aid.

Did you know?

Some schools won't consider you for merit scholarships (scholarships based on academic achievement or other talents or skills) until you've submitted a FAFSA, so complete one even if you think you won't qualify for federal aid.

Relax!

The FAFSA is designed to be simple to fill out. Tips throughout the application help you understand the questions. Most people finish filling out the FAFSA in less than half an hour!

Preparing for the FAFSA

The FAFSA process is quicker and easier when you have a username and password called an FSA ID. If your parent is providing information on your FAFSA, he or she will need his or her own FSA ID as well. Learn more about the FSA ID and how to create yours at studentaid.gov/fsaid

Gather This Information

The FAFSA asks questions about you and your finances, so have the information below handy.

Social Security number
Alien registration number
Federal tax information or tax returns
Records of untaxed income
Cash, savings, and checking account balances
Investments other than the home in which you live

Don't have all your info ready yet?

That's ok; you can start the FAFSA, save it, and come back later to finish it. To find out whether you need to report info about your parents, visit studentaid.gov/dependency

Filling out the FAFSA

Each October, the FAFSA is available for the next school year. It's important to fill it out as soon as possible to meet school and state financial aid deadlines.

Submission Options

Electronic form filled out at fafsa.gov
Mail-in application. Download PDF at fafsa.gov or request a printed PDF by calling us at 1-800-433-3243
Electronic submission by your college or career school
- Ask if they can submit the FAFSA for you

Meeting Financial Deadlines

Each state and school has its own FAFSA deadline. Check a college's or career school's deadline on its website or by calling its financial aid office. Most state deadlines are at fafsa.gov/deadlines.htm

Did you know?

You may be able to retrieve and transfer tax information into the form automatically using the Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT).

Processing the FAFSA

After you submit your FAFSA, your information will be sent to the colleges and/or career schools you listed on the form.

Process Timeline

You'll receive an email within a few days, letting you know your FAFSA was processed.
Your college or career school might request additional information from you. Make sure you respond by any deadlines.

First-Time Applicants

You'll receive an aid offer from each college or career school you applied to and listed on your FAFSA, stating the amount of aid you could receive at the school.
Review and compare your offers, and decide which school to attend based on the school's net cost and how well the school suits your needs.

Renewal Applicants

You'll receive an aid offer from your school stating the amount of aid you could receive at the school.

Receiving Financial Aid

Formally accept the school's aid offer, and remember, if you're offered student loans, borrow only as much as you really need.
Your school will handle your aid. Ask the financial aid office when and how your aid will be paid out, what it'll cover, and how much, if any, money will come directly to you once tuition and fees are paid.