VSAC’s Paying for College guide (PDF 9.1mb)

• types of financial aid
• steps involved in applying for financial aid
• how the expected family contribution (EFC) is calculated
• how to compare financial aid offers from different colleges
• additional resources and tax benefits that can offset college costs
• questions to ask college financial aid officers

VSAC’s No-Nonsense Guide to Education Loans for families of undergraduate students (PDF)

• education loan basics
• the difference between federal education loans for students/parents and private education loans for students
• ways to compare loan options to get the best deal
• ways to apply for education loans

Paying for College presentation handout (PDF) for students and parents who attend VSAC’s Paying for College presentations at Vermont high schools — directs families to relevant sections of VSAC’s Paying for College guide

Checklists

• college application and financial aid checklists (PDF)
• questions to ask the financial aid office (PDF)
• senior year tips
• junior year tips

Financial aid applications

• FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov)
• CSS Profile (www.collegeboard.com)
• Vermont grant application
• scholarship information

Estimating your family’s contribution

• estimating your family’s contribution worksheet (PDF)
• Web calculators

Comparing award notifications

• comparing award notifications worksheet (PDF)
• Web tool (Excel)