By: Sarah Ferguson – Financial Aid Officer
At East Ohio College, we try to make your college experience as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. There are some frequently asked questions regarding our financial aid process and questions about grants you can receive through the school that I am going to answer for you today.
One of our most frequently asked questions is “Do students have to be admitted to the college before applying for financial aid?” The answer is no. Students can apply for financial aid at any time by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.ed.gov using your Federal Student Aid I.D. We are also often asked “Are there any deadlines for certain types of financial aid, and if so, what are they?” At East Ohio College, there are no deadlines to receive Federal Financial Aid. Since we offer grants through the school, there are deadlines for the grants awarded. These deadlines can be determined by speaking to a Financial Aid Officer, and will be reviewed when you complete your financial aid appointment.
Even if you feel like you do not qualify for financial aid, you should still apply. There are multiple factors that will affect whether you will receive financial aid. A student’s current situation can change between now and next year, which can affect financial aid year-to-year. All students should apply for financial aid and grants that we offer through the school. This can be done by completing your FAFSA and applying for Federal Student Loans and the Federal Pell Grant. At any point in time, you can check in with the Financial Aid Office for any specifications on grants through our school.
Applying for scholarships is another crucial factor in making your college experience more affordable. Scholarship information can be obtained by visiting our Financial Aid Officer or speaking to your Administrations Representative. They will gladly point you in the right direction. If you are still a high school student, notify your guidance counselor that you’re interested in applying for scholarships.
A great benefit of East Ohio College is that we are not a residential campus. This eliminates the need for the additional expense of on-campus housing and/or room and board plans. The school does not prohibit students from working outside of class, as long as the student is able to attend class regularly and maintain good grades. Your grades here will affect your eligibility for any future academic grants from East Ohio and all students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to remain eligible for federal student aid.
Once you are a student, the FAFSA application must be completed every year. The best time to do this is around October when the new FAFSA for the following year is open. This provides the Financial Aid Office plenty of time to process your information and have it ready for the following year. At East Ohio College, we are here to help you become successful. We look forward to answering any of the questions you may have about the sometimes confusing world of financial aid and look forward to hearing from you in the near future.