Finance

The cost of college includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, personal expenses (living, transportation, clothing, and entertainment), and travel expenses.
There are three basic types of Financial Aid available to assist in defraying the costs of higher education

The cost of college includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, personal expenses (living, transportation, clothing, and entertainment), and travel expenses.

There are three basic types of Financial Aid available to assist in defraying the costs of higher education

Grant or scholarship money is the preferred aid as it does not have to be repaid.
Grant programs such as the Pell Grant and the Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) are funded by the Federal Government to assist students who have high financial need.
Filing a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the only way to access any federal aid in the form of grants or loans.
Scholarships have many funding sources and may be affiliated with the college or a private source such as a local business, a national corporation (Target, Coca-Cola), civic or fraternal organizations (Elks, American Legion), religious group or denominations (Hillel, Lutheran Association), or a specific program (ROTC). Use www.fastweb.com as the best scholarship resource.
Our Scholarship Searches and Notifications page has links to several scholarship searches both general and for specific categories. Also search the web and check with family and friends for scholarships that may be available to you through community resources.
Do not wait to look for scholarships or to apply for financial aid! Pay attention to deadlines and apply early. If you wait, money that you may have been eligible for may have already been given out.

Grant or scholarship money is the preferred aid as it does not have to be repaid.

Grant programs such as the Pell Grant and the Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) are funded by the Federal Government to assist students who have high financial need.

Filing a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the only way to access any federal aid in the form of grants or loans.

Scholarships have many funding sources and may be affiliated with the college or a private source such as a local business, a national corporation (Target, Coca-Cola), civic or fraternal organizations (Elks, American Legion), religious group or denominations (Hillel, Lutheran Association), or a specific program (ROTC). Use www.fastweb.com as the best scholarship resource.

Our Scholarship Searches and Notifications page has links to several scholarship searches both general and for specific categories. Also search the web and check with family and friends for scholarships that may be available to you through community resources.

Do not wait to look for scholarships or to apply for financial aid! Pay attention to deadlines and apply early. If you wait, money that you may have been eligible for may have already been given out.

In order to qualify for any federal loans, you will need to fill out the FAFSA form.
These awards do have to be repaid but usually not until the student has graduated.
Loans may originate with the Federal Government (e.g. Stafford Student Loan or the Perkins Loan), through the college, or through a private lending agency.

In order to qualify for any federal loans, you will need to fill out the FAFSA form.

These awards do have to be repaid but usually not until the student has graduated.

Loans may originate with the Federal Government (e.g. Stafford Student Loan or the Perkins Loan), through the college, or through a private lending agency.

Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
Need based loan. Interest does not accrue until you graduate from college
You must start paying interest when you take out the loan, but do not have to start paying the principle until you graduate from college.

Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan

Need based loan. Interest does not accrue until you graduate from college

You must start paying interest when you take out the loan, but do not have to start paying the principle until you graduate from college.

Federal Perkins Loan
A low interest loan for students with exceptional need.

Federal Perkins Loan

A low interest loan for students with exceptional need.

PLUS loan
Federal loans only available to parents of undergraduate students.
Interest rate is variable, but cannot exceed 9 %.

PLUS loan

Federal loans only available to parents of undergraduate students.

Interest rate is variable, but cannot exceed 9 %.

The College Work-Study program (CWS) is funded by the Federal Government and supports a student's wages in specific on- and off-campus jobs.
Many students work part time during the academic year to cover part of their college expenses.
Federal college work-study money is paid directly to you and is at least, minimum wage.
Just because you qualify, there may not be a job available! If you qualify for work-study, verify with the financial aid officer that there is a job available for you, the specifics of the job and the pay rate.

The College Work-Study program (CWS) is funded by the Federal Government and supports a student's wages in specific on- and off-campus jobs.

Many students work part time during the academic year to cover part of their college expenses.

Federal college work-study money is paid directly to you and is at least, minimum wage.

Just because you qualify, there may not be a job available!

If you qualify for work-study, verify with the financial aid officer that there is a job available for you, the specifics of the job and the pay rate.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Filing a FAFSA is the only way to access any federal aid in the form of grants or loans.
Most colleges also require FAFSA as a means of determining college-supported financial aid including scholarships and work study.
The FAFSA is based on family financial status (assets, income, need) and considers parent and student contribution to college costs.
FAFSA forms are available in the THMS Post- Secondary Resource Centers in November (or you can apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov ). Fill in the FAFSA on-line for line-by-line help and to amend your form later.
You should complete and submit as soon after January 1 as possible (need is based on current income tax returns). Check the Important Dates and Events page for the priority mailing date.
You can estimate based on the previous year's tax return and amend your numbers later.
Within four weeks of mailing your FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR) that will indicate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on the information provided on the FAFSA. Colleges will use the EFC to determine the amount of Federal grants, loans, or work-study awards and send you their financial aid "offer" soon after you receive the SAR.
More information about Federal Student aid programs and how to apply for them are available on the FAFSA Web Site http://www.studentaid.ed.gov.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Filing a FAFSA is the only way to access any federal aid in the form of grants or loans.

Most colleges also require FAFSA as a means of determining college-supported financial aid including scholarships and work study.

The FAFSA is based on family financial status (assets, income, need) and considers parent and student contribution to college costs.

FAFSA forms are available in the THMS Post- Secondary Resource Centers in November (or you can apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov ). Fill in the FAFSA on-line for line-by-line help and to amend your form later.

You should complete and submit as soon after January 1 as possible (need is based on current income tax returns). Check the Important Dates and Events page for the priority mailing date.

You can estimate based on the previous year's tax return and amend your numbers later.

Within four weeks of mailing your FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR) that will indicate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on the information provided on the FAFSA. Colleges will use the EFC to determine the amount of Federal grants, loans, or work-study awards and send you their financial aid "offer" soon after you receive the SAR.

More information about Federal Student aid programs and how to apply for them are available on the FAFSA Web Site http://www.studentaid.ed.gov.

College Goal Sunday
College Goal Sunday offers line-by-line assistance on the FAFSA. You will need to bring your income tax information.
Check the Important Dates and Events page for date and location information for this year's College Goal Sunday.

College Goal Sunday

College Goal Sunday offers line-by-line assistance on the FAFSA.

You will need to bring your income tax information.

Check the Important Dates and Events page for date and location information for this year's College Goal Sunday.

THMS Annual Financial Aid Night
Representatives from the University of Arizona, Pima Community College and the Making Financial Aid Count Program will be here to discuss with parents FAFSA information and other financial aid specifics.
Check the Important Dates and Events page for date and location information.

THMS Annual Financial Aid Night

Representatives from the University of Arizona, Pima Community College and the Making Financial Aid Count Program will be here to discuss with parents FAFSA information and other financial aid specifics.

Check the Important Dates and Events page for date and location information.

CSS PROFILE
The CSS PROFILE was developed by the College Board as an alternative/supplement to the FAFSA and a way of predicting financial aid eligibility at an earlier date (to coincide with early/rolling admissions).
Many colleges and scholarship programs use information from the PROFILE to help them award non-Federal student aid funds
Not all colleges use the CSS PROFILE so check your college application to see if they request the PROFILE. If so, arrange to complete and submit the form as soon as possible.
PROFILE Application Registration forms are available in the Post-Secondary Resource Center/Main or register online at www.collegeboard.org/profile.
Even if you complete the CSS PROFILE, remember that you must complete and submit a FAFSA form to qualify for any Federal student aid program.

CSS PROFILE

The CSS PROFILE was developed by the College Board as an alternative/supplement to the FAFSA and a way of predicting financial aid eligibility at an earlier date (to coincide with early/rolling admissions).

Many colleges and scholarship programs use information from the PROFILE to help them award non-Federal student aid funds

Not all colleges use the CSS PROFILE so check your college application to see if they request the PROFILE. If so, arrange to complete and submit the form as soon as possible.

PROFILE Application Registration forms are available in the Post-Secondary Resource Center/Main or register online at www.collegeboard.org/profile.

Even if you complete the CSS PROFILE, remember that you must complete and submit a FAFSA form to qualify for any Federal student aid program.