Loans: Money you borrow and pay back with interest after your schooling is complete.

Grants:  Money you are awarded that you do not pay back.

Tuition, meal plan, dorm/apartment, books, supplies, any expense while you are in your semester of college/schooling.

• FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
• PHEAA stands for Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. You apply for your loans/grants with the FAFSA application as overseen by PHEAA.
• This is how the government and the college determine what loans and grants you are eligible to receive.
• Most colleges/schools require you to complete the FAFSA form to be eligible to be awarded merit-based scholarships at admissions or to apply for other scholarships the school offers from their financial aid department.

• PHEAA Student Aid Guide – Step by Step directions to apply and tons of information!
• PHEAA Student Aid Guide (Spanish) – Step by Step directions to apply and tons of information!

myStudentAide Mobile App – Helpful tool to guide you along the Financial Aid process.

Financial Aid Information:

Click here to see attachment of events, upcoming webinars, and recorded sessions.

Mrs Kimples best take aways:

• Each student is guaranteed a $5,500 loan through the Federal Loan Program.
• Each year that guaranteed loan amount increases.
• You can borrow more to cover the gap between the cost of your education and the amount of other financial aid you need.
  • PA Forward Loans
  • Parent PLUS loans
  • or other Private student loans (maybe through your family’s bank)
• If you qualify for the free or reduced lunch, you will most likely be awarded the PA State Grant and/or the Federal Pell Grant, which you do not pay back.
• There are so many other special grants that do not need to be paid back such as the PA-TIP (PA Targeted Industry Program). Click here for the application which must be completed AFTER the FAFSA is completed.