The saying goes: "time is money." When it comes to filling out the FAFSA, how much of your time will it take to get that money?

Answer: Less than 15 minutes

Questions:

• What is the FAFSA, and why is it important for college applicants?
• How do grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and student loans differ?
• How can the financial aid package offered impact a student’s decision on which college to attend?

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (Federal Student Aid):

"People typically finish their section of the FAFSA form in 12 minutes or less...Colleges and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans. You must apply for aid every year, but with the right information in hand, it's easy."

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Check out NGPF's Paying for College unit to find resources on the FAFSA and more.

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MOVE: The Net Price of College is an activity that will get your students out of their seat to learn about what they'll actually pay to attend certain schools.

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.