COLLEGE & TRAINING FINANCIAL AID
Financial aid
& PIZZA They're the same (sort of).
By Rebecca Daughtry, College and Career Coach, Program Specialist, and Self-Professed Financial Aid Nerd for Career Compass
THIN CRUST= Local community college or Louisiana technical colleges.
TRADITIONAL CRUST= State universities that offer affordable housing and meal plans and are located in town/city where cost of living is moderate to low.
THICK CRUST= Private colleges in towns/ cities with a moderate to high cost of living.
DEEP DISH “CHICAGOSTYLE” CRUST= Out-of-state public and private schools with out-of-state tuition and located in towns/cities with moderate to high cost of living. Still with me? Next, we need to cover up that delicious crust. No one wants a toppingless pizza. Covering the crust of your choice can be represented by the toppings available. Every family has different capabilities for covering costs, so the toppings will look different for everyone.
THE PIZZA SAUCE= Eligibility (also known as EFC: Eligible Family Contribution) for covering costs. When you complete the FAFSA, you figure out your EFC. This will indicate whether or not your family is eligible for need-based aid, which consists of Pell Grants, federal student loans, and any need-based state aid available. Every pizza needs sauce. Even if you think you don’t need it, you do—just like everyone needs to complete the FAFSA.
THE CHEESE, MEAT & VEGGIES=
Scholarships, otherwise known as merit-based aid. These are earned by students and accessed by completing applications. In Louisiana, the one everyone thinks of most is TOPS. TOPS is accessed by completing your FAFSA and having your ACT scores sent to the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance.