President Obama is proposing to cut some student aid programs to maintain the maximum Pell Grant at $5,550 in 2011-12 as part of the FY2012 federal budget request. This comes after the House Republican leadership proposed cutting the maximum Pell Grant by $845 on Friday. The Pell Grant program has a $20 billion funding shortfall due to large increases in the ...

The Republican leadership of the US House of Representatives released a proposal to cut the maximum Pell Grant to $4,015 late on Friday, February 11, 2011. This proposal is part of a larger package of budget cuts that seek to cut spending by $100 billion for the remainder of the current fiscal year. Congress has not yet passed the fiscal year ...

If a child does not qualify for the free or reduced-price school lunch program, can they still qualify for federal student aid? — Y.P. Yes. Students who don't qualify for the free or reduced-price school lunch program can still qualify for federal student aid and should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA added a question about ...

Like many nontraditional students, I found the process of returning to school intimidating. Worries hung over my head. How would I pay my bills? Support my family? Pay my tuition? It was those questions that drove me to begin my own scholarship hunt. I used FastWeb, asked friends and kept my eyes open. Yet when I found scholarships I was eligible ...

February is a short month packed with lots of events. With Groundhog's Day, Black History Month, Ash Wednesday, Valentine's Day and President's Day, you probably thought nothing more would fit in these short 28 days. But if so, you were wrong! February is also Financial Aid Awareness Month. Which makes it the perfect time to complete your FAFSA form and learn ...

Parents of college students face added financial pressure. The federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) loan can alleviate some of that pressure. The PLUS is a loan for parents and family members to help cover the education costs for dependent college students. PLUS loans cover up to the total cost of undergraduate education not already covered by financial aid for ...

This year more than ever, the economy is making it more difficult for families to pay for college. The number of financial aid applications is up more than 10% over last year. Lenders are suspending loan programs and tightening credit standards. Families are concerned -- really concerned -- about obtaining loans and paying for college. Add in the possibility of job ...

I am a single parent of three children. One is a junior in college, the middle child will be attending college next year. I have always completed the FAFSA for my oldest daughter, claiming her as my dependent. Her father and and I have split the cost of out-of-pocket expenses. This past year, however, her father took me back to court ...

For years, the college cost inflation rate has been steadily rising by roughly 7% each year. The 2010-2011 academic year is no exception. According to College Board, who recently released their Trends in College Pricing and Trends in Student Aid, the average cost of tuition and fees at four-year public schools rose 7.9% while the average rate at private colleges and ...

Last year my family had low income ($40,000) but high assets. The assets include $1 million in properties, other investments, the primary home, car, 401(k), IRA and pension plan. How are the assets counted for determining need-based financial aid? — S.S. Certain types of assets are not reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For example, the net ...

It's time to fill out the mother of all financial aid forms: the FAFSA. Don't worry, it's easier than you think. But before you sit down to complete the form, make sure you have all the necessary materials. You'll need: Your Social Security card and driver's license, and/or alien registration card if you are not a US citizen. Your income tax ...

1. What types of financial aid do you offer? What are the requirements for need-based aid and for merit-based aid? 2. How much debt do students have when they graduate? What percentage of students graduate with debt? 3. If I get a work-study job, how many hours will I be required to work per week? Are part-time jobs available to students ...

My daughter's father and I are divorced and I have remarried. Neither my previous nor my new husband are contributing toward my daughter's education, so I am paying all of the expenses myself. How can I show that in my taxes and on the FAFSA so the aid calculations are not made using twice the income that is actually being applied ...

My husband earns about $125,000 in salary and I am a stay at home mom. My husband just changed jobs and got his deferred salary and his retirement from 25 years of employment, so last year's income looks huge when it really wasn't. We also have a 19-year-old child with autism who lives in a group situation with social and living ...

Why should I fill in the FAFSA, opening up my financial life, when I know today that it will not get any aid for my children's college educations? We are not independently wealthy with millions in salary and savings, but we intend to have the kids compete for merit based, essay or other subjective determinants for college awards and scholarships. — ...

Wondering how to maximize your financial aid package? Got a specific student aid question you can't find the answer to? No matter what is its, if you've got a financial aid question, "Kantro" has the answer. Mark Kantrowitz is one of the top financial aid experts in the country and he's answering YOUR questions, here on FastWeb! Nationally recognized and often ...

I have twin daughters going to college in the fall. The annual tab (for both girls) after scholarships will be $58,000 in loans per year for four years. We have saved $47,000 for the first year and anticipate being able to save about $12,000 per year to apply towards payments over the three remaining years. This leaves us looking for loans ...

"I am a college sophomore and I pay for school myself. For the last two years, I have used my parents' tax information on the FAFSA. Since I pay for school myself without any help from my parents, should I list only my own tax information to be eligible for more aid?" This is a common question about the FAFSA: When ...

President Obama proposes to cap student loan payments at 10% of discretionary income as part of a package of proposals outlined by the White House Task Force on Middle Class Families on January 25, 2010. Debt would also be forgiven after 20 years in repayment. This proposal would enhance the income-based repayment plan which was enacted by Congress as part of ...

I'm having problems with my financial aid. I'm a single mother of one. My daughter is almost three years old and will be attending daycare this semester. I've been going to college for two years and will receive my associates degree soon with a cumulative GPA of 3.7. I will continue my education at another college this fall, and again I'm ...