The Free Application For Federal Student Aid

Every year it seems that the costs to go to college increase; whether that’s because the economy is in a decline or that these schools feel like they need more money each year. Over twenty-five years cost of loans and amount of loans needed have tripled, “In the early 1990s, fewer than half of students needed loans before they could walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. These loans averaged below $10,000 in constant dollars, which is about one-third of

Finally, the most difficult challenge students face in college is a financial hardship. Many students come from various walks of life and sometimes determining one’s financial capability to offset college costs during the early stages of can be problematic. Some students come from well to do families who have a tremendous capacity to pay full tuition without external assistance. These particular students do not require financial aid or scholarships, as they can meet the institution’s financial requirement regardless of what level in college they may fall under as the source of wealth is derived from the family or families. Other students, however, come from impoverished families whom solely depend on financial aid and work full time or part time

In the U.S. students are encouraged to earn a college degree, but the cost of an education turns many away. “Driven by the allure of a decent salary with a college degree, Americans borrowed to go to school. Outstanding student debt doubled from 2005 to 2010, and by 2012 total student debt in the U.S. economy surpassed $1 trillion” (Mian, Sufi 167). There are plenty of opportunities to obtain funds for college, including one of the most common, student loans. A student loan is defined as “a common way to fund education, specifically college and graduate school, and they provide educational opportunities that you otherwise may not be able to afford” (Barr). Student debt is at an all-time high in America. Over half of all lower income

College, originally deemed as the pointer to guaranteed employment, financial stability, and an indicator of success, has been declared in jeopardy. Topping the credit card debt and many household debts, the student loan debt has been pronounced the next potential financial disaster in the U.S. With 2014’s numbers currently exceeding $1.2 trillion, the debt figures have reached about twice of 2007’s remaining debt (Akers, 2014). Gone are the days when a parent could send a child to the state university to study their interests and finish off with a job offer, ensuring a respectable future. The average balance for a 2014 college graduate is $32,500, which will be dragging out of not only themselves but also their families (Rajan, 2014).

While you grow up through school, you hear over and over that college is a must if you want to land a good job as an adult. That seems reasonable, I have to get a higher education to get a job with more money and potential. Then comes junior year and you go to look at schools and you see the price of tuition. Everything changes, college isn’t just a dream anymore it's a burden.

However, college education not only delivers a degree or diploma, but also intellectual growth and a more promising future of financial stability and happiness. With things like fees, financial aid, housing and transportation, it is understandable for any individual to be frustrated with the many obstacles college may throw. However, college is only as difficult as one may approach it. It is an overwhelming statistic that “student debt has increased significantly,” within the past few decades (Leonhardt). With plenty of opportunities for financial aid, students can ease the tension of their wallets by taking advantage of the convenience scholarships provide.

While it is well known that college tuition is on the rise, not enough people stop to uncover the foundational flaws in tuition assistance. For one, federal student aid relies too heavily on their parent’s income and taxes. That is, a student’s eligibility is dependent on possibly unrelated information that may not affect them. For instance, 2017 FAFSA asked for tax records from 2015; however, a lot can change in 2 years (i.e. job loss, marital status, sudden disability, insurance coverage, etc.). This is a trend that will be carried into the 2018-19 FAFSA. Any lack of funding from federal aid will directly result in an increase student loans. As a matter of fact, student loan debt in the U.S. capped $1 trillion in 2011, well surpassing national credit card debt in 2010 (Stephens). Moreover, students are having an increasingly difficult time managing these

One of the biggest challenges college students face today is debt associated by student loans. Nearly every college student will graduate with debt unless supported by academic or athletic scholarships, grants or financial aid. This issue can be addressed by encouraging students to pursue scholarships, and applying for financial aid. Though not all scholarships are capable of fully funding a student's tuition, most can help provide for fees, books, or housing. Many websites and counselors are open to providing scholarship opportunities to students who seek it. Applying for smaller scale scholarships often can result in a larger amount of money than at first anticipated. Applying for large scale scholarships are worth the time that is spent

Presently, the availability of educational opportunities at the college and university level is a critical state and personal interest given the needs of the state for a well-educated workforce which has never been greater. Too many, the focal point of attending college is receiving a high paying job in the future. Unfortunately, in most states, tuition is on the rise and students who come from low-income families find themselves struggling to fund their education. According to legislatures, “The cost of college in New Jersey, as in the nation, continues to grow faster than the rate of inflation.” (State of New Jersey 1). In the national financial aid policy resources that are typically given to the neediest families are shifting towards

In recent years, the federal aid system has tripled in numbers in over 25 years. Some federal aid programs can range from a giant billion to a more obscure prams such as $15 million. In the beginning, federal aid programs would require other states to match the federal funds on a dollar for dollar basis. There was initial struggle when the federal aid system began to expand many believe that it would be difficult to opt out of new federal aid programs. Thus, it left residents with requirement to continue to pay federal taxes in order to support the federal aid spending.

The cost of attending college has risen drastically over the years. Statistics show that there has been a 260% increase in tuition costs since 1980. The increase in tuition cost equates to an increase in money borrowed to fund higher education. An increase in money borrowed results in an increase in debt accumulated over time. As a result of the rising figures, the economy as a whole has also suffered because of the restricted financial space many graduates find themselves in upon completion of their degree. In this paper, we will discuss college costs, reasons why they have risen, and the best way for students to pay for it.

The paramount reason for me to begin saving was for future financial demands and inquiries. I want to prepare myself for the draining expenses college students possess to attend school. After high school, students are hit with a smack in the face: The price of college. Costs of attending college are insurmountable, while still rising as the years go on. Any value of money will help overcome this hurdle that stands in the way of attaining desired occupations. Not only will tuition tear at a person’s finances, but also the college way of life.

The words “free college tuition” spark interest in any college student with accumulating debt. In fact, this topic is so incredibly supported that Bernie Sanders implemented it as a core interest in his 2016 campaign. Once Hillary Clinton became the Democratic nominee, she decided to take it on herself with an extensive plan that guaranteed students free tuition. Unsurprisingly, free tuition resonates extremely well within the student demographic. To forty million Americans, free tuition eliminates the largest problem for students: debt (Hess, 2017). However, free college tuition generates the inverse of what these low-income and middle-income students believe. In fact, free college cripples them from multiple perspectives; students will end up spending more financially, will be less likely to graduate with a degree, and will be subjected to more inequality and less exposure.

The cost of tuition for higher education is quickly rising. Over half of college freshmen show some concern with how to pay for college. This is the highest this number has been since 1971 (Marill and O’Leary 64-66, 93). The amount of college graduate debt has been rapidly increasing also. With limited jobs available because of the high unemployment rate, college graduates find themselves staying in debt even longer. Although grants and financial aid are available to students, students still struggle to pay for their college tuition. Higher education costs are prohibitively expensive because the state’s revenue is low, the unemployment rate is high, and graduates cannot pay off their student loans.

Since the mid 1980s, student fees have increased at a rate approximately double the rate of inflation (Hauptman, 1997, p. 24). A 1996 study by the General Accounting Office indicates a 234 percent increase in tuition and fees at public institutions and a 220 percent increase at private universities since 1980. This compares to an 80 percent increase in inflation since 1980 (Barry, 1998, p. 39). Families today spend a considerably larger percentage of their family income on college than families two decades ago. In 1979, the average four-year tuition at a public college consumed approximately 36 percent of a family’s annual income, while a private university consumed 84 percent. By 1994, the percentages jumped to 60 and 156 respectively (Reiland, 1996, p. 36). In addition to increases in tuition, an attitude shift in regard to paying for college contributes to the problem of financing higher education. Parents today are more likely to budget college expenses out of their annual income instead of from savings, and students are expected to contribute more to financing their own education than in the past (Kiesler, 1994, p. 67).