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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Financial Aid Window Opens Soon for College-Bound Iowans

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Wednesday, December 3, 2014   

DES MOINES, Iowa - An important window soon will open for Iowa college-bound students who need help paying for tuition.

The Free Federal Application for Student Financial Aid determines how much financial aid schools can award based on a family's financial situation. The application can be filed starting Jan. 1.

Dr. Laurie Wolfe, executive dean of student services at Des Moines Area Community College, said preparing now can make the process less stressful.

"Now that we're at Christmas time," she said, "that's a good time to sit down with the family and start talking about, 'What do we need to be looking at?' I highly encourage people to get hold of a copy of that application now, look through it, pull together the documents that you need."

The list of documents includes income-tax returns and investment statements. The application deadline is June 30, but to avoid missing any deadlines for special scholarship programs, Wolfe recommended completion before Feb. 15.

Federal aid is based on need and offered through grants and loans. Wolfe said families need to understand the difference, and look at ways to reduce costs before students begin college.

"Our fear is that students will not think about what happens down the road, when they graduate and they're $20-, $25-, $30,000 in debt," she said. "And they have to pay that back and, at the same time, they're trying to buy a new car, get a new house, maybe relocate."

While in high school, she said, students should consider volunteer opportunities that can be helpful experience in getting a scholarship, or high school courses that can be counted for college credit.

Another option to bring down the cost of college, Wolfe said, is to complete general-education courses at a two-year school before heading to a four-year institution.

"Community college runs about anywhere between $110 and $160 a credit hour, which is far less than what it would cost at the four-year 'publics' or the four-year 'privates,' " she said. "So, that's one thing to look at."

For Iowa residents, she said, annual student tuition and fees average about $3,000 at a community college, $8,000 for public universities and $30,000 for private colleges.

More information is online at fafsa.ed.gov.


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