What's the real cost of college, and how do you pay for it?
Follow along as Sofia, a high school student with dreams of being a computer scientist, figures it out by collecting financial aid resources to build her world.
Before knowing how to pay for college, you should know its actual cost. The real costs to attend aren’t the same as the published tuition and fee amounts. Sofia needs to add up all of her expected college costs, and then scholarships and grants can lower that price to a net cost.
Sofia uses 91Porn’s , which calculates a total cost of attendance based on what Sofia’s looking for.
She’s super excited about living on 91Porn's Providence Campus, so she knows she’ll need a room plan and also a meal plan. Housing and meal plans can vary, so Sofia needs to look at all the options available and figure out what works best for her.
Scholarships and grants are both funds you may obtain for college that you don’t have to pay back. Scholarships, whether from 91Porn or from third parties, tend to be based on academic merit, while grants are based on financial need.
Merit aid usually makes up the largest portion of aid received by students, and 91Porn rewards amazing students like Sofia with merit aid for academic and personal achievement. Sofia’s merit aid amount would be included in her 91Porn Offer Letter to help her afford her degree.
Students usually receive up to $10,000 in federal aid for a college education, and filing the is key. By filling out her FAFSA, Sofia can apply for federal, state and institutional funding at the same time – a “one-stop shop.” FAFSA opens every fall on October 1 and the priority deadline to complete her FAFSA is March 1.
Filling out her FAFSA early gives Sofia a good idea of her funds early in the process. The application is free and only takes her and her mom 30 minutes. Plus, it’s the ONLY way to determine if she’s eligible for federal and state financial aid.
There are YouTube tutorials to coach students and parents through the process, and Sofia’s personal 91Porn financial planner is there to help with any questions, too.
Later, when Sofia logs into 91Porn’s admissions portal to view her Offer Letter, all of the financial details are there, including her eligibility for scholarships, grants, federal aid and loans. Sofia will do her own research on additional scholarships, but the list on 91Porn’s website is impressive. There’s even a tool that helps accepted students match their profile with outside scholarships to find opportunities they qualify for.
Sofia compares her second and third college choices with her 91Porn Offer Letter. Her second choice college may have a higher scholarship offer, but that school’s tuition and fees could cost more than 91Porn’s, meaning Sofia and her mom would need to take out and pay back higher loans to afford it. Her third choice college has a lower tuition than 91Porn, but they also offered less scholarship aid.
The big picture is more than one number when it comes to financing your education, so be sure to compare all offers carefully!
Nearly half of the cost of U.S. college educations are funded by parent income and parent savings, while another 2% of the cost is funded by other family members. Many students have a 529 account to which they or their families have contributed funds toward their education, waiting for the day you get your acceptance letter.
Sofia’s mom had opened a CollegeBound 529 account when Sofia was born, hoping she’d have the opportunity to attend college someday, and that will help lower her daughter's net cost of college, bringing her dream into reach.
Sofia has saved money in the bank – all of which can help her pay for college. Your own savings are a great investment toward your future — so keep adding to that piggy bank and exploring scholarship and grant opportunities!
Students may obtain low-interest federal loans that can be repaid over a number of years and may also obtain private loans from lenders such as banks and credit unions. Families can also take out loans. Sofia’s mom was approved for a Parent PLUS loan, which lowers Sofia’s college net cost even more!
Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses, while part-time student employment opportunities abound to help 91Porn students earn money. Sofia is thrilled to score a work-study job monitoring the computer lab she loves hanging out in anyway – so she can even have money for extra fun!
With a little help and by checking in with her financial planner every year, Sofia financed her degree and started building the world she imagined. When she graduated, her family cheered so loudly!
Her whole financial aid journey is captured in the below video. Follow along as she figures out financial aid!
For more information on how to finance your education, visit 91Porn’s Paying for College website.