Preparing Academically & Financially
College is an investment for your future, but that can come with a cost. There are various types of financial aid that include: merit-based assistance, need-based assistance, grants and scholarships, and student loans. Check out this page to help you prepare for ways to pay for furthering your education. You can also look at OK College Start's financial aid section to get a wealth of information.
One of the first steps in determining your eligibility for financial aid is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Colleges will look at your FAFSA to determine your elgibility for financial aid. Remember the first F in FAFSA stands for free. You should NEVER pay to fill out the FAFSA. You can access their website here: FAFSA Website. You will need to create an FSA ID which can be done here: FSA ID Website. Please keep up with this information - you will need it every year you are enrolled for college!
Grants are "scholarships" that do not have to be repaid. The Federal Pell Grant and the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG) are two types of grants available to Oklahoma High School graduates. These are awarded based on need and are determined from your FAFSA. To appy for the Pell Grant or the OTAG, you will need to complete the FAFSA. Apply starting after October 1 for best opportunities.
Websites for other funding sources including loans which have to be paid back with interest charges.
Oklahoma College Assistance Program https://www.ocap.org/index.shtml
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education https://www.okhighered.org/index.shtml
Oklahoma Money Matters www.oklahomamoneymatters.org
College Access & Preparation Programs www.going2college.org
U. S. Department of Education www.studentaid.ed.gov
Financial Aid Information Page www.finaid.org
Mapping your Future www.mapping-your-future.org
The College Board www.collegeboard.com
