FINANCIAL AID for students and families

• Senior Year College/Financial Aid Checklist 
• Guide to Financial Aid Terms​

• ​How Need Based Financial Aid Works
• Ways to Save Money in College(courtesy of Eve-Marie Andrews, College of the Desert)

• Washington Monthly magazine provides an annual “Best Bang for the Buck” ranking system for colleges that looks at graduation rates, graduate rate performance, student loan default rates, percentage of students receiving Pell grants and Net Price to students.  Ranking can be found here.

• If you aren’t sure if you are considered a dependent or independent student for financial aid purposes, review this information published by StudentAid.gov

• 7 Questions Every Student Should Ask About Financial Aid

• Use the new College Scorecard website andCOLLEGE STATISTICS THAT AFFECT TOTAL COST handout (pdf) to factor in other aspects that can affect a college’s total cost.

• Finally, use the College OPTIONS Decision Tool(pdf) to weigh all factors in selecting which college to attend.

• Attend a Financial Aid Information Night at a high school in late Fall.  Link to presentation used at those workshops:  2018-2019 REGULAR College OPTIONS FA Night Presentation

• Shorter version: 2018-2019 SHORT College OPTIONS FA Night Presentation Rev. 10-11-17

• For Fall 2017 FA Info Nights Schedule stay tuned for next years schedule.

• Your high school counselor is a great resource!

• The College OPTIONS Resource Center in downtown Redding offers financial aid advising and FAFSA completion assistance by appointment.  Call (530) 244-4022 for more information.

• The Cost of Attendance Comparison Worksheet will help you compare colleges’ estimated costs of attendance with your personalized costs of attendance.

• For help in creating a personalized cost of attendance and budgeting for when different expenses will come due use the College OPTIONS College Student Budget Tool. (For a simpler interactive budget, click Simpler Budget Tool.)

• To compare financial aid awards from several colleges, use the College OPTIONS Financial Aid Award Comparison Tool For instructions on how to use the tool, click Financial Aid Award Comparison Worksheet Instructions

College OPTIONS Financial Aid Information Night PPT:

• 2018-2019 REGULAR College OPTIONS FA Night Presentation  

• 2018-2019 SHORT College OPTIONS FA Night Presentation
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