Affording College
Financial Readiness
Financial Readiness
College is expensive, but there are many ways to make the expense more manageable.
Cost of Attendance
The cost of attending college includes not only tuition, but books, dorms, meal plans, and personal expenses. Keep in mind, some public schools also charge out of state students higher tuition fees. Consequently, in-state students are offered lower tuition at public universities in their state.
Financial Aid
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): This is the primary form for federal financial aid, including grants, work-study programs, and loans. The FAFSA opens each year on October 1, although some years the opening date is delayed, such as this year. For 2025 seniors, the FAFSA opens December 1.
Scholarships: Many schools and private organizations offer scholarships based on academic merit, financial need, and sometimes special interests.
State Grants: Some states provide their own financial aid programs. For example, Arizona offers aid programs like the Arizona Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (AzLEAP).
Budgeting for College
Students should keep in mind that college is not only about paying for school, depending on the location of the institution, cost of living in the city or town might also become an important factor when budgeting for college.
Students should also be mindful of travel costs, for example moving into dorms out of state will inevitably be more expensive than moving into dorms in state.