Financial Aid Finder Website Puts the Financial Aid Process into Perspective

FinancialAidFinder is a free website that helps high school and college students locate financial aid from government and private sources. The costs of attending a four-year college continue to rise and so do student debt levels. The new website features detailed information on college scholarships, student loan programs, state sponsored financial aid, insightful articles, and answers to commonly asked questions.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) January 25, 2007 -- The financial aid experts at Student Financial Services/Perpetual Press have relaunched FinancialAidFinder.com, a free website offering easy to understand, expert advice about college financial aid. FinancialAidFinder guides prospective college students, parents and current college students through the complicated financial aid research and application process and explains the First Rule of Financial Aid.

When students and parents first begin to explore their financial aid options they may become overwhelmed with the amount of information available. Some students and parents ultimately choose not to apply for financial assistance for fear that they will not qualify or for sheer lack of understanding. Many others just don't want to incur massive debts that can take many years to pay off after college. According to a recent study by The Project on Student Debt, the average debt for all four-year college graduates in the class of 2005 (a weighted average combining both public and private non-profit institutions) ranges from a high of $22,793 in New Hampshire to a low of $11,709 in Utah.

FinancialAidFinder shows that it's possible to supplement college loans with scholarships, a funding source that doesn't need to be paid back. Also, by employing simple cost cutting plans and budgeting techniques students can further reduce the need for loans.

"With today's rapidly rising costs for higher education, we felt students needed all the help they could get to understand and optimize the amount of financial aid money they can apply for and potentially receive," says FinancialAidFinder president Matt Lucas. "FinancialAidFinder shows that it's possible to supplement college loans with scholarships, a funding source that doesn't need to be paid back. Also, by employing simple cost cutting plans and budgeting techniques students can further reduce the need for loans."

FinancialAidFinder explores myriad financial aid options available and encourages people to apply. The website leaves few stones unturned, covering such topics as privately funded scholarships, federal and state scholarships and loans, grants, pre-paid tuition plans, 529 Savings Plans, work study, internships, and college cost-cutting methods.

The website provides concrete, unique ways for students to get their degree without incurring maximum debt. For instance, most universities now offer extensive online or distance learning degree programs. Students can take certain necessary courses for credit, or even earn an associate or bachelor's degree. This method has long been popular with older, nontraditional students who have full-time jobs, but now younger students are taking advantage. Taking classes online eliminates costs related to commuting, living on campus, and other fees. Many public universities extend their financial aid packages to online students, as well.
Students and parents are being forced to invest more time into figuring out how to pay for college. "College is feasible for anyone determined to attend. The money is out there, but it takes patience, time, and research to find," says Lucas.

For more information on financialaidfinder.com visit http://wwww.financialaidfinder.com.

About FinancialAidFinder:

FinancialAidFinder is a privately held company based in Seattle, Washington, and provides free financial aid information. Some content on the website has been adapted from the popular Perpetual Press books: The Financial Aid Book and The Government Financial Aid Book. The website is free and enables prospective college students, parents, and current college students to learn about financial aid programs ranging from scholarships and grants to federal and state funding programs. Learn more at FinancialAidFinder.com

Contact FinancialAidFinder
Kevin Lutgarten
Vice President for Communications
1-206-728-8612
Website: FinancialAidFinder.com

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