Latest news with #FreeApplicationforFederalStudentAid
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CT State enrolling for flexible fall classes across Connecticut campuses
Credit registration is now open at CT State Community College campuses statewide. According to a community announcement, the fall 2025 semester begins on Aug. 27, offering a variety of on-campus, online and hybrid courses. CT State campuses provide hundreds of associate degrees and certificates designed to prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions or entry into the workforce. Programs cover in-demand fields such as advanced manufacturing technology, business, cybersecurity, data science, early childhood education, information technology, health care, and pathways to teaching careers. Students can earn a certificate in as little as six months and a degree in two years. Special agreements with public and private colleges and universities throughout Connecticut facilitate seamless transfer and create a low-cost pathway to a bachelor's degree. Prospective students should apply online at To ensure optimal course selection, students are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Free tuition is available for Connecticut residents who are high school graduates attending college for the first time. This applies to graduates from the state or elsewhere. Additionally, anyone who first attended college in fall 2020 or later may also qualify. To access the free tuition program and any financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at The free tuition program is not based on income. All students planning to attend full- or part-time should complete the FAFSA to access the program, even if they do not believe they will qualify for need-based aid. Funding for the program is available on a rolling basis, and applicants can check their eligibility at Registration for non-credit career training certifications is ongoing, with programs available in health care, information technology, manufacturing, real estate, culinary arts, veterinary assistant, and more. Scholarships for information technology, health care and manufacturing classes are also available. Veterans, certified dislocated workers, and those receiving SNAP assistance may qualify for scholarships and tuition waivers for many continuing education programs. More information can be found at CT State is the largest community college in the Northeast, formed in 2023 through the merger of Connecticut's 12 community colleges. With one application, students can enroll in classes at any CT State campus across the state. Open houses are held each spring and fall, and campus tours are available year-round. CT State's central office is located in New Britain. For more information, visit This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: CT State Community College fall 2025 semester registration now open
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Can you pay college tuition with a credit card?
Given the potentially massive expense associated with college tuition, it's understandable that students and parents want to squeeze every possible benefit out of their payments. Paying for college tuition with a credit card to earn rewards — or to earn a welcome bonus with a sizable spending requirement — is one such strategy that comes up frequently. Yes, you can technically pay your college tuition with a credit card. However, this payment option is unlikely to make financial sense in most cases. Earning a college degree is one way to advance your education and broaden job opportunities. It can also put you into some of the most costly debt you will take on in your lifetime. College tuition is expensive. College Board estimates that it costs $43,350 on average to earn a bachelor's degree at a private university and $11,610 to earn a four-year degree at an in-state university. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Americans today carry a staggering 1.7 trillion dollars in college debt. So, can you pay tuition with a credit card? Some colleges allow this, and if you're spending the money either way, shouldn't you get some rewards back in the process? The short answer is yes, you might get rewards, says Bankrate credit card senior industry analyst Ted Rossman, but they can come at a steep price. The only time it might make sense to pay for tuition with a credit card is: If you're able to produce rewards that outweigh the fees. If you're able to responsibly earn a credit card's welcome offer. If you have a long promotional APR offer. However, outweighing the cons of using a credit card to pay for tuition is no small feat. The key to making this work, though, is to pay the balance in full. 'I think even going for a zero percent promotional rate is too risky because this could be a big charge, and the interest rate would skyrocket at the end of the term,' says Rossman. 'Student loans have much more favorable interest rates and repayment terms than credit cards.' To be clear, paying college tuition with a credit card almost never makes sense. Here are some common reasons: You will be subject to a high APR — on average over 20 percent — if you don't pay your tuition payment off in full and on time. Your credit score is at risk. Your college simply may not accept credit cards as a payment method. On top of these reasons, you may get hit with fees. Colleges that accept credit cards will often charge a processing fee to complete your payment. These fees are typically 2.5 percent or more of the tuition charge, which can add up quickly. To put that into perspective, if you're charging $12,000 in tuition, you will pay an additional $300 in fees. To apply for financial aid you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year to see how much aid you are eligible for. FAFSA allows the Department of Education to see how much aid you qualify for. Scholarships and financial aid can come in the form of grants, work-study programs, low-interest loans and scholarships. FAFSA is not the only way to qualify for a scholarship. Many students can obtain partial or even full scholarships for academic success, athletics, extenuating circumstances such as a disability, being part of a protected minority class or falling below the federal poverty line, just to name a few. There are scholarships available from a variety of institutions, so do your research before paying your tuition in full. The U.S. Department of Education offers tools to help you find and apply for scholarships you may qualify for. If you can't find a scholarship that fits your needs, consider reaching out to your university directly. Many institutions offer installment plans to pay for your tuition in more manageable installments, rather than all at once. While paying your tuition with a credit card is possible, it's rarely the smartest financial move. Although you can earn decent rewards by having one of the best student credit cards, those will disappear fast if you carry a balance. On top of the interest you'll pay on that balance, colleges that allow card payments tend to charge processing fees for each payment, further negating the value of your rewards. It's also important to be aware that many college students end up in credit card debt, as well as student loan debt, before leaving school. In the long run, you'll likely be much better off exploring scholarships and types of financial aid that are not subject to high interest rates when paying your tuition.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
TSTC Foundation provides 350+ scholarships to cut education costs
MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) — The financial barrier to higher education affects many people. With help from donors, The TSTC (Texas State Technical College) Foundation helps alleviate that burden. The Foundation offers over 350 scholarships to new and current TSTC students, several of which are exclusive to students at the Marshall campus or to Harrison County residents. TSTC Marshall grows diesel tech program with new facility Jill Crocker, a development officer for the Marshall campus, said, 'How it works is once they complete their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and their paperwork, if they receive government funding, we have scholarships out there that will cover the rest as long as they keep that grade-point average.' Martin Specialty Coatings in Shreveport will award two $2,500 scholarships to students enrolling in the Building Construction Technology program in Marshall. The Fat Boy Foundation is awarding a $1,500 Jonathan Holland Memorial Scholarship to a TSTC Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology student. The scholarship's namesake studied in the program. Harrison County residents entering their first semester can have their entire tuition covered with The Steve and Penny Carlile scholarship. Building Construction Technology program coming to TSTC's Marshall campus Caleb Lovera, a TSTC Industrial Systems student who received the Carlile Scholarship, said, 'If you apply for scholarships, it's free money. It doesn't matter if you get it or not; it doesn't hurt to apply.' The deadline to apply for scholarships for the fall semester is Monday, June 30. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LCHS earns award for student financial aid participation
Lee County High School was recently named a Financial Aid Champion by College for North Carolina. The title is bestowed upon schools who go above and beyond to support students through the financial aid process. The Yellow Jacket staff and students were the only large rural high school in the state to achieve over a 95% year-over-year increase in completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), generally regarded as the first step of pursuing higher education for any student. More than 41% of this year's senior class at Lee County High have completed the FAFSA. The designation comes with several key hurdles including providing bilingual support and Spanish-language materials at events and improving FAFSA completion at the school by more than 10% over the prior year. Lee County High was able to make huge strides in one year thanks to the placement of a College Advisor for the senior class through Americorps. Eden Briley served in that capacity this year and helped spearhead the additional events, outreach and targeted follow-up with students that helped make this award a reality. 'She worked with nearly every member of our graduating class and helped organize FAFSA Nights, Senior Signing Day, CFNC College Application Week events, field trips and so much more that made a tremendous impact on our students,' according to Senior Class Counselor Allison Poole. Briley's position was funded and supplied by Americorps and Duke University through a grant and partnership. While she is stepping away from this role, her impact will stay with the staff at Lee County High School and continue to serve as a model for excellence in student support through the college process, the release states. Briley cited Georgiana Scrisu for her support to bilingual students and families.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FAFSA deadline approaching, students urged to seek aid now
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – An important deadline is quickly approaching for students heading to college this fall. The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, must be submitted by the end of the month. The application is the first step to accessing billions of dollars in financial aid. 'FAFSA unlocks federal grants, loans, and work-study as well as many state and college programs' aid on a first-come, first-served basis,' Shaan Patel, Founder and CEO of an online college prep service, said. The entire application can be completed online. 'Make sure you have all your necessary documents… so you get the maximum financial aid possible for college this fall,' Patel said. Dr. Rhea Watson, also known as The Scholarship Doctor and CEO of Scholarship Solutions, warns that skipping the FAFSA could cost you thousands of dollars. She emphasizes that it's a mistake to assume you won't qualify for financial aid. 'If you don't have a FAFSA application on file, it is nearly impossible, very difficult for your scholarship applications and even those financial aid packages you want to receive from a college,' Watson said. Roughly $3 billion in aid goes unclaimed every year, Watson said. 'Don't leave money on the table… it just goes and recycles through the government versus going to students who can use it to go to school and go without debt,' Watson said. The FAFSA only takes a few hours to complete if one is prepared. Once submitted, one can expect the financial aid award letter within 2 to 3 weeks. However, keep in mind that state and school-specific aid can run out quickly, so it's best to apply as early as possible. Documents needed for filling out the FAFSA include: Social Security number Parents' Social Security numbers (if you are a dependent student) Tax returns Records of child support received Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts Social Security card, driver's license, and/or alien registration card (if not a US citizen) Federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned For more information on what students need to know before they fill out the FAFSA form, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
