Financial aid basics

Financial Aid for Graduate and Professional School

How grad school aid differs from undergrad: no Pell Grant, different loan limits, Grad PLUS loans, and what to expect.

Apr 21, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

Financial Aid Glossary: 40 Terms Every Family Should Know

Plain-English definitions of 40 financial aid terms including COA, SAI, gapping, stacking, displacement, and more.

Apr 21, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

How to Renew Your Financial Aid Each Year

Annual FAFSA re-filing, satisfactory academic progress requirements, and how your aid can change from year to year.

Apr 21, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

What Is Tuition Discounting and Why Should You Care?

How private colleges use sticker price vs. net price strategy, and what tuition discounting means for your family's bottom line.

Apr 21, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

FAFSA for Transfer Students and Returning Adults

Apr 20, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

FAFSA Verification: What It Is and How to Survive It

Apr 20, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

FAFSA vs. CSS Profile: Which Do You Need?

Apr 20, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

Federal Student Loan Limits by Year

Apr 20, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

How Merit Aid Works and Who Gets It

Apr 20, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

How Outside Scholarships Affect Your Financial Aid

Apr 20, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

How to Correct or Update Your FAFSA

Apr 20, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

Institutional Aid vs. Federal Aid: How Schools Fund You

Apr 20, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

Understanding Your Pell Grant Eligibility

Apr 20, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

What Is Financial Need and How Is It Calculated?

Apr 20, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

What Is the Expected Family Contribution (and Why It Changed)

Apr 20, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

What the FAFSA Doesn't Cover (And What to Do About It)

Apr 20, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

10 Common FAFSA Mistakes That Cost You Money

The most common FAFSA errors that reduce your financial aid, with specific fixes and cost estimates for each mistake.

Apr 17, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

FAFSA Deadlines: Federal, State, and School

The three layers of FAFSA deadlines you need to know, plus state-by-state examples and a month-by-month filing timeline.

Apr 17, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

FAFSA for Divorced or Separated Parents: Who Reports What

How divorced or separated parents determine who fills out the FAFSA under the new rules, including stepparent income and CSS Profile differences.

Apr 17, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

FAFSA for Independent Students: Do You Qualify?

All the federal criteria for FAFSA independent status, the biggest misconception about independence, and how dependency overrides work.

Apr 17, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

FAFSA When a Parent Is Undocumented

U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens can file the FAFSA even if their parents are undocumented. Here's exactly how the process works.

Apr 17, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

How to Fill Out the FAFSA Step by Step

A complete walkthrough of every FAFSA section, from creating your FSA ID to signing and submitting, with tips for first-time filers.

Apr 17, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Loans: What's the Difference?

The difference between subsidized and unsubsidized federal loans can cost you thousands. Learn how interest works, borrowing limits, and which to accept first.

Apr 17, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

Types of Financial Aid: Grants, Loans, and Scholarships Explained

Understand the four main types of financial aid — grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study — so you know what to accept first and what you'll pay back.

Apr 17, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

What Happens After You Submit the FAFSA

The complete timeline from FAFSA submission to award letter, including SAR review, verification, and what to do if your offer has a gap.

Apr 17, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

Work-Study vs. a Part-Time Job: What It Means for Your Aid and Your Budget

How work-study shields future financial aid while regular job income counts against you — and when a regular job is the better choice.

Apr 16, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

Federal Aid Checklist: Are You Getting Everything You're Entitled To?

Most students accept their aid offer without checking if they've received everything they're eligible for. Use this checklist to verify.

Apr 9, 2026 · Resource guide

How to Read an Award Letter

Decoding grants, loans, work-study, and the real cost of attendance.

Apr 9, 2026 · By Sravani Atluri

How to Read Your Financial Aid Offer Without Getting Confused

Financial aid offer letters use inconsistent formats and confusing terms. Here's how to cut through it and find the numbers that matter.

Apr 9, 2026 · Resource guide

What Is SAI and Why Does It Affect How Much Aid You Get?

The Student Aid Index replaced the EFC in 2024 — but many students and parents still don't know what it means or how it determines their federal aid.

Apr 9, 2026 · Resource guide