Financial Aid

Financial Aid is money that you can use to help pay for college. There are four basic forms of Financial Aid, each of which is supplied from different sources:

Scholarships → This is FREE money. No interest, no pay back, no obligations! There are different types of scholarships available for students that range from institutional scholarships to privately funded ones. They differ because Institutional scholarships are disbursed directly from a university or college and students are either automatically considered for them upon application to the school or they must submit additional paperwork to be considered. Private scholarships are sponsored by different corporations, foundations and local organizations. There are so many different scholarships available and they are based on an array of everything including: athletics, talent, art, music, racial/ethnic, religious, leadership, community involvement, and academic.

Grants → This is free money typically offered by the government that is distributed by colleges. Grants are usually set amounts of money that are reserved for the students who financial need.

Work Study→ This type of aid is sponsored by the federal government and provides funding to low income students. Students receive as part of their Financial Aid package a set amount of money that they can receive by attaining a work study or job on campus. The money that students earn can be used to help pay for books and other college related activities.

Loans → Although loans may seem like free money at the time, you will eventually have to pay this money back to the institution that granted it. There are two major types of loans. 1.) subsidized→ the government pays for your interest while you are in school and 2.) unsubsidized→ interest accrues while you are in school. In both of these cases, students typically will not begin paying the loans back until six to nine months after they have graduated, thus giving them time to gain employment and make money.

For more information about Financial Aid and Scholarships, please visit the following websites:
www.fastweb.com →This website will give you access to free scholarship assistance.
www.scholarships.com
www.schoolsoup.com
www.collegeboard.com → This website provides information about scholarships and the SAT and ACT tests.
www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov
www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org/SSFAS/bf/ → This website will allow you to apply for Florida Bright Futures

Scholarship Information 

Do you need financial assistance for college? If so, the Southern Scholarship Foundation (SSF)can help! SSF is a non-profit organization which awards qualifying students with housing scholarships on the following campuses: FSU, UF, FAMU, FGCU. Interested applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA and a demonstrated financial need. Scholarship recipients live cooperatively in a house with students representing a variety of backgrounds and cultures. They do not pay rent, but are responsible for their fair share of basic household expenses such as food and utilities. The entire cost to the student averages $950 per semester. Applications are available on the website, www.southernscholarship.org.

Scholarship.
www.fafsa.ed.gov → This website will help you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).