February is Financial Aid Awareness Month

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Published on February 5 2013 3:41 pm
Last Updated on July 14 2013 12:07 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

February is Financial Aid Awareness Month (FAAM), and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is hosting nearly 200 events across the state to help students and families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and learn about the wide range of college financial aid opportunities and the college selection and admission process.

“February is the critical time for all Illinois students considering starting or continuing along the path to a postsecondary education,” said Eric Zarnikow, ISAC executive director. “Many Illinois families are uncertain where to look for and how to obtain financial assistance to pay the high cost of college. FAAM’s goal is to increase awareness that programs and services are readily available locally.”

A calendar of local events, updated daily, is available on the ISAC website, www.isac.org.

Zarnikow stresses that filing the FAFSA as early as possible in the year is the vital first step for
anyone seeking financial assistance.

“Fiscal challenges and uncertainty at both the state and federal levels make it more important than ever that students act quickly,” he said. “The longer a student waits, the less aid that will be available.”

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission notes that there are several sources for non-loan grant aid, assistance that does not need to be repaid. The Monetary Award Program (MAP) is Illinois’ large-scale grant program, which, for over 50 years, has helped Illinoisans pay for tuition and fees at Illinois colleges and universities. MAP grants are awarded based on financial need using information collected on the FAFSA.

“MAP funds are limited, however,” Mr. Zarnikow cautioned. “Over the past several years, demand for grants by eligible Illinois students has increased while funding has become more constrained. As a result, each year grant funds are depleted earlier and more students are left without a MAP grant. In 2012, students filing a FAFSA after April 2, even if fully qualified, were unable to receive a grant as funding had already been exhausted. This year will be no different as we expect available funding will likely be exhausted in early March.”

According to ISAC, even if MAP is not available, many undergraduate students may qualify for a federal Pell Grant, which can provide up to $5,550 for students attending a Pell-eligible institution fulltime.

“Pell plays an important role in the total student financial aid picture,” said Mr. Zarnikow. “Last year, Illinois students received nearly $1.3 billion in federal grants, an amount nearly four times as great as MAP.

“The key however, is the FAFSA. Without one, the opportunities for non-institutional financial assistance are reduced greatly,” he concluded.

Information on the number of FAFSAs received, as well as the dollar amount of projected MAP and Pell grants, will be posted on the ISAC website and updated weekly.