Financial Aid 101
You CAN Pay For College
Don't let the cost of college stop you from going to college!
There are numerous financial aid sources out there. To be considered for financial aid — money given or loaned to you to help you pay for college — you have to apply. Applying for financial aid is like applying for admission to college, but they’re not the same thing. The financial aid application process usually has its own forms, deadlines and requirements — and you don’t have to wait to be admitted to a college before you apply for financial aid. Financial aid comes in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study jobs.
You don't have to explore this process on your own. Our Student Center offers guidance with our Scholarship Advisor, Stephanie Rowan-Bailey. Please contact her to set up an appointment to get started. She can be reached at 801-826-6426 and Stephanie.Rowan@canyonsdistrict.org.
Here are some sources of financial aid:
Institutional Scholarships
Institutional scholarships are awarded by your college. Institutional scholarships can come from your school's admissions office, your specific major's department, student groups, or athletic programs. Colleges may require you to fill out the FAFSA or their own financial forms.
Federal and State Governments
To give yourself the best chance for all available aid, start by completing the FAFSA — the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Submitting this application gives you access to the largest pool of financial aid dollars (grants and work-study) and loans with the best terms.
Private Scholarships
Scholarships are great ways to pay for college because they don’t require the money to be paid back. Depending on your situation, you might be able to qualify for scholarships aimed at women, people of color, first generation students, etc. Check with your parents' companies, other local companies, banks, and service organizations for scholarships as well.
No scholarship is too small. Even if you get $2,500 from your local credit union or $1,000 from the Rotary Club, that’s money you don’t have to worry about later. And lastly, keep applying for scholarships even while you’re in college. You can get funding to help cover books, housing, and other costs even as a sophomore or junior. Be strategic in completing these applications — you are more likely to get a local scholarship than a national one. And never pay for a scholarship search service — there are plenty of free tools out there.
529 Plan
Saving up is one of the best ways to pay for college. While you can save money using a regular savings account or taxable investment account, a 529 plan can help you gain a tax benefit as you set money aside for school.
There are numerous financial aid sources out there. To be considered for financial aid — money given or loaned to you to help you pay for college — you have to apply. Applying for financial aid is like applying for admission to college, but they’re not the same thing. The financial aid application process usually has its own forms, deadlines and requirements — and you don’t have to wait to be admitted to a college before you apply for financial aid. Financial aid comes in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study jobs.
You don't have to explore this process on your own. Our Student Center offers guidance with our Scholarship Advisor, Stephanie Rowan-Bailey. Please contact her to set up an appointment to get started. She can be reached at 801-826-6426 and Stephanie.Rowan@canyonsdistrict.org.
Here are some sources of financial aid:
Institutional Scholarships
Institutional scholarships are awarded by your college. Institutional scholarships can come from your school's admissions office, your specific major's department, student groups, or athletic programs. Colleges may require you to fill out the FAFSA or their own financial forms.
Federal and State Governments
To give yourself the best chance for all available aid, start by completing the FAFSA — the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Submitting this application gives you access to the largest pool of financial aid dollars (grants and work-study) and loans with the best terms.
Private Scholarships
Scholarships are great ways to pay for college because they don’t require the money to be paid back. Depending on your situation, you might be able to qualify for scholarships aimed at women, people of color, first generation students, etc. Check with your parents' companies, other local companies, banks, and service organizations for scholarships as well.
No scholarship is too small. Even if you get $2,500 from your local credit union or $1,000 from the Rotary Club, that’s money you don’t have to worry about later. And lastly, keep applying for scholarships even while you’re in college. You can get funding to help cover books, housing, and other costs even as a sophomore or junior. Be strategic in completing these applications — you are more likely to get a local scholarship than a national one. And never pay for a scholarship search service — there are plenty of free tools out there.
529 Plan
Saving up is one of the best ways to pay for college. While you can save money using a regular savings account or taxable investment account, a 529 plan can help you gain a tax benefit as you set money aside for school.
If you are eligible to receive grants or work-study, use those first. Apply as many scholarships as possible and use college savings before deciding to borrow student loans.
Valuable Resources
College is a huge first step in learning how to manage finances. We believe when students learn financial literacy at an early age, it helps them to make astute decisions about their choices and responsibilities as smart financial behavior leads to financially secure lives. The link below cover information about...
-Filling out a FAFSA request -Merit-Based Scholarships
-How Student Loans Work -Planning for life after college and much more
Click here for more information about these topics.
-Filling out a FAFSA request -Merit-Based Scholarships
-How Student Loans Work -Planning for life after college and much more
Click here for more information about these topics.
Paying for College GuideThis useful guide has been created by Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority (UHEAA). Check it out!
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Financial Aid Tips Via TextThe Up Next Texting Tool Step-by-step support as you fill out the FAFSA and search for colleges!
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Federal Student AidThis is a great place to start! Click the image below to learn about the different types of federal aid, including the FAFSA! And be sure to click here to see our FAFSA page.
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College Savings - 529 PlansMany of us forget that asking for money is not the only way to pay for college - how about saving your own?
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Helpful Videos
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Paying for College
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Understanding Student Loans
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Understanding Federal Student Loans
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