Financial aid guides
Start with the one that matches where you are in the process.
How Does the FAFSA Work? A Plain-English Walkthrough
How does the FAFSA work, from the federal formula to your Student Aid Index to what each college does with your result. A plain-English walkthrough for US students and families.
Read the guide →What Is the Student Aid Index (Formerly EFC)?
What is the Student Aid Index (formerly EFC)? How the number replacing Expected Family Contribution is calculated, what it does, and what it does not guarantee.
Read the guide →Subsidized vs Unsubsidized Federal Student Loans, Explained
Subsidized vs unsubsidized federal student loans: who pays the interest while you're in school, current borrowing limits, and where Direct PLUS Loans and private loans fit in.
Read the guide →How to Read a Financial Aid Award Letter
How to read a financial aid award letter: separating grants, work-study, and loans, comparing cost of attendance across schools, and questions to ask the aid office.
Read the guide →FAFSA Deadlines You Cannot Miss
FAFSA deadlines you cannot miss: the federal, state, and school priority deadlines are different dates, and missing any one of them can cost real aid money.
Read the guide →Common Financial Aid Mistakes to Avoid
Common financial aid mistakes to avoid — from filing late to skipping the appeal process to confusing loans with grants — and what to do instead of each one.
Read the guide →How to Find Scholarships You Actually Qualify For
How to find scholarships you actually qualify for: why small, local awards beat national ones on realistic odds, and how to avoid scholarship scams.
Read the guide →Refinancing Federal Student Loans Into Private Loans: What You Give Up
Refinancing federal student loans into private loans can lower your rate, but it permanently gives up income-driven repayment, PSLF eligibility, and federal deferment options.
Read the guide →The FAFSA and Financial Aid Prep Kit
A practical, printable kit covering FAFSA preparation, how to read an award letter, and the questions worth asking before taking on any student loan. Built for families who want to walk in prepared, not for any specific application cycle.