Financial Aid

For those of you high school seniors currently in the first stages of your college search (visiting campuses and filling out applications) financial aid may be the furthest thing from your mind. However, it's never too early to start planning for and pursuing as many different options as possible. Here's a quick overview of the most prominent sources of financial aid:

The colleges and universities you are applying to

Most institutions can offer you an academic scholarship, and Bluffton is no exception. Ours range from $5,000-$13,000 per year, and are automatically awarded upon acceptance based on a student's GPA and ACT or SAT scores. If you are interested in finding out which scholarship you qualify for, visit our website and plug your information into our scholarship calculator here.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

If you have older siblings who have been through their college search, your parents may be familiar with this online form. If not, it's good for them (and you!) to learn about it, since it's a GREAT resource for additional free money and other aid from the government. The FAFSA is a form families complete using their tax return information. It is then submitted to the government, and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be determined. This will help each college and university you are accepted to create a financial aid award package for you, which awards you as much aid as possible from a variety of sources.

The FAFSA itself is not open to be filled out until January 1st, but you are welcome to apply for your PIN number (the identification number you'll use to "sign" the FAFSA online) now. You and your parents will each need a PIN number, and you can apply for them here.

The main FAFSA website has some other great information to help your family prepare for the financial aid process, so check it out!

Local Scholarships

Most communities offer a variety of scholarships to college-bound seniors...all you have to do is find them and apply! Many students convince themselves that they don't have enough time to pursue local scholarships, but finding them can be as easy as asking your guidance counselor or calling local businesses to ask! Because there is a smaller pool of students applying for local awards, the chances of securing some additional funding for your education make it worth taking a few hours a week to search! These scholarships usually become available and are publicized in January and February...so be on the lookout!

Don't forget what a great resource the financial aid offices at your core colleges are! They are experienced working with students and their families in all aspects of financial aid, and are available to answer all your questions as they arise. Feel free to contact them any time.

Best of luck as you continue navigating your college search and the wide world of financial aid!

-Andrea