HIGHER EDUCATION
HELP
TIPS FOR FINDING TUITION ASSISTANCE BY NINA GREENPLATE
Financing a college education can be a challenge. In 2022, collegeboard.org determined in-state tuition averages $10,740 annually for a four-year public university, with out-of-state students paying well over twice that amount. And hold on to your wallets, because private institutions start at around $38,070. Add in housing, food and books, and you’ve racked up quite a bill. But take heart, smart options exist for real assistance. FAFSA: FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID Start here. Used by the Department of Education, this
30 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M
required eligibility form must be completed for all federal student loans, grants, federal work study, and to qualify for state and institutional scholarships. University of South Carolina Beaufort director of financial aid/Veteran affairs, Pat Greene, explains the importance of the ‘early-bird-catching-the-worm’ approach. “The most important thing is to start the process as soon as possible,” she says. The USCB staff encourages high school seniors to complete the FAFSA promptly after Oct. 1 for an anticipated spring graduation. “Get the FAFSA form done,” Greene said. Financial-aid offices should be the first stop for funding
