Let’s say you want to study Zoology, but cannot find a school in Virginia that offers a degree program in that field. You may still be able to go to an out-of-state school and pay in-state tuition.
Your first step is to make sure that your program is definitely not offered in Virginia.
SCHEV offers a Degree Inventory tool on our web site that might be of some use to you. Simply select “Degree Inventory” in the Students & Parents section of our web site. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select the broad or specific program area that best suits your need. Once you hit “Display” the tool will generate a complete list of the public and private college and university offerings across Virginia that fit your description.
The state does help when degree programs are not offered in Virginia through a program known as the Academic Common Market (ACM). ACM is an arrangement among Southern states allowing students to pay in-state tuition rates at out-of-state schools while studying in <select programs not available at Virginia public institutions. Information on the ACM can be found on SCHEV’s website
We recently received a comment from a student wondering why it was important to fill out the FAFSA and were pleased to find a five minute video on the FinAid website to help us explain. Created by FastWeb, the video is a great introduction to FAFSA and explains its importance in a quick and entertaining way.
You’ve done it! Congratulations! After years of hard work, you are finally graduating from college with a degree. Now what? In addition to finding a job and working out the details on the next phase of your life, don’t forget that an important part of your future is paying back any student loan debt you may have incurred over the course of your college career.
While you may be aware that most loans offer grace periods before repayment is to begin (six months for a Federal or Direct Stafford Loan, nine months for a Federal Perkins Loan), don’t wait until your grace period is up to figure out your next steps. The Financial Aid office at your institution can provide information on how the payback process works. If you have a federal loan, the U.S. Department of Education and Federal Student Aid has a good, online resource to help get you rolling.
On Friday, April 25, 2008, SCHEV hosted a student panel on the topic of affordability. Questions submitted by SCHEV staff were presented to the Student Advisory Council which consists of student leaders from Virginia public institutions. Read the article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The spring rains have turned our world green - everything is in bloom! And speaking of green, if you completed your FASFA, you should be receiving your award announcement soon.
Federal financial aid is a very good thing, but often it does not cover the entire cost of higher education. Have you thought about how you will manage the gap? Are you considering student loans, work study, or part-time employment? We would like to know!
Send a comment to this post and share your financial aid plans - it may be that there are other students out there who could benefit from your ideas.
US News & World Report recently published an article urging students to “look twice at loan offers” to ascertain whether advice is coming from an unbiased source.
We agree, and hope that students will turn to sites, such as this one, that are run by state agencies, non-profits, the US government, or other organizations that have a vested interest in providing unbiased financial aid information. Such entities do not have ulterior motives and are more likely to provide complete, factual information about available student loans or scholarships.
When exploring financial aid options to help pay for college, one of the first steps for most students and parents is to fill out the FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The majority of FAFSA forms are filled out online, though students and parents can still request a paper version from their school counselor.
One important thing to remember when using the online form: The official FAFSA is www.FAFSA.ed.gov. It is not a .com Web site. If you go to a .com site, you will probably be asked to pay to submit the FAFSA, and that’s no fun. The first F in FAFSA stands for “Free,” after all.
Domicile is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “a person’s fixed, permanent, and principal home for legal purposes.” In Virginia, domicile is important for students at public and private institutions. Generally, state financial aid programs and in-state tuition are reserved for Virginia students who have domicile.
An individual must demonstrate residence in Virginia and an intent to remain in Virginia indefinitely to establish domicile in Virginia. After meeting the requirements to establish domicile, a person must continue to be domiciled in Virginia for at least 12 months preceding the first day of classes.
Demonstrating residence can be tricky. Several factors are used to determine if a person demonstrates intent to remain in Virginia indefinitely. A college or university may ask for information from you or your parents about the following:
