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Undergrad Estimated COA – Fall 2016 & Spring 2017 COMBINED ON CAMPUS GA Resident On-Campus NON Resident Tuition* $9,364 $27,574 Student Fees* $2,270 Books & Supplies $1006 Room* $5,660 Board* $3,956 Transportation $1172 $1,882 Living Expenses $2,780 Total $26,208 $45,128

Types of Financial Aid Merit-Based Scholarship (Hope Scholarship) Need-Based Grant (Pell Grant) Non-Need Based Grants (HOPE Grant) Student or Parent Loans Employment Opportunities, Work Study Military Aid and Grants Savings Plans (Path2College) While there are different sources for financial aid, there are also different types of financial aid. Some are based on merit such as grades or test scores. Some are based on financial need. Some you have to pay back…loans. And some you do not…grants, scholarships or work study.

Sources of Financial Aid Federal Government State Government Colleges and Universities Private Foundations Employers and Private Companies Professional and Service Organizations Financial aid can come from many different sources. The most common include federal and state government, as well as colleges and universities.

What are Some State Programs? Academic or Merit Scholarships HOPE Scholarship Zell Miller Scholarship Grants HOPE Grant Zell Miller Grant Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant (SIWDG) HOPE GED Grant Loan Student Access Loan (SAL) As most of you know, the HOPE Program is the state and lottery-funded financial aid program for Georgia. The HOPE Program includes the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships that are based on merit. The HOPE Grant isn’t initially awarded based on merit but recipients must maintain a 2.0 while they’re in school.

GAfutures.org Georgia’s new resource to help students plan, apply and find affordable ways to pay for college GAfutures supports GSFC’s mission to increase access to education beyond high school for Georgia students

GAfutures.org Financial Aid Information College Planning Tools The basics, state and federal programs, calculators, repayment options, financial literacy tips, national scholarship search College Planning Tools Timeline, test prep, calculators, applications (admissions, financial aid), HOPE-eligible institutions highlighted, national college search Career Exploration Career assessments, interest profiler, Career Clusters and Pathways, skilled trades My GAfutures for Students Request high school transcripts, check HOPE GPA

GSFAPPS If you choose to complete a GSFAPPS, students can access the application through their My GAfutures account.

Scholarship Search The Scholarship Search uses a national database that can be searched by key word or you can use various filters to help narrow down your search.

FAFSA Homepage: FAFSA.gov To get started filling out the FAFSA, we recommend you go to the official FAFSA site - FAFSA.gov. Beware there are other websites out there that charge you to file the FAFSA. YOU SHOULD NEVER PAY SOMEONE TO FILL OUT OR FILE YOUR FAFSA. Free means free!

Factors that Influence EFC Independent student/dependent student Income (students and/or parents) Savings Assets Number in college Family Size EFC is influenced by a number of factors that both you and your parents provide on the FAFSA.

2016 – 2017 Interest Rates Direct and PLUS Loans Type of Loan Direct Subsidized Loans (Undergraduates) 3.76% Direct Unsubsidized Loans (Undergraduates) Direct Grad Plus Loans (Graduate or Professional Students) 5.31% Direct Parent PLUS Loans (Parent Undergraduate Students) 6.31% Here are the 2016 – 2017 interest rates for direct and PLUS loans.

Federal Loan Program Limits 2016-2017 Academic Year Initial Loan Amount for Dependent Students whose Parents are Eligible for a PLUS Loan Base Additional Unsubsidized Annual Maximum Amount Freshmen $3,500 $2,000 $5,500 Sophomore $4,500 $6,500 Junior/Senior $7,500 Independent Students and Dependent Students whose Parents were Denied a PLUS Loan Base Additional Unsubsidized Annual Maximum Amount Freshmen $3,500 $6,000 $9,500 Sophomore $4,500 $10,500 Junior/Senior $5,500 $7,000 $12,500 Depending on what type of loan you and/or your parents qualify for, there are some limits to the amount of funds you can receive. First-year undergraduates are eligible for loans up to $5,500. Amounts increase for subsequent years of study, with higher amounts for graduate students. The interest rates may vary based on when the loan is borrowed.

www.fastweb.com www.collegeboard.com www.finaid.org/scholarships http://osfa.uga.edu/announcements.html

Duct Tape Scholarship Winners To enter the Duct Tape Scholarship, you and your partner must be legal residents and at least 14 years old. Either opposite sex or same sex partners may participate. You must attend a high school prom and have your photo taken before, during or after the prom in your attire made using duct tape. Costumes must be original and will be judged based on workmanship, originality, use of color, use of accessories, and use of duct tape. Photos of the 10 finalist couples will be posted online for online voting. For more information about the Duct Tape Scholarship Contest see, duckbrand.com

Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship Application Deadline October 31 Award Amount $2000 Can you outsmart the Zombies at your school and win one of these strange scholarships for college? Write a short essay (250 words or less) about what you would do to survive if your school was overrun with Zombies, the walking dead. This scholarship is open to high school students ages 13+ and college students. For the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship Application for 2014 go to www.scholarshipexperts.com Superpower Scholarship Application Deadline March 31 Award Amount $2500 Do you love Batman? Superman? Would you like to be a superhero? Write a short essay (250 words or less) about “Which superhero or villain would you want to change places with for a day and why?” Open to high school students ages 13+ and college students. For Superpower Scholarship application and information see www.scholarshipexperts.com

Financial Aid Award Offer Name: Doe, John ID: 000 00 0128 Award #: 01 May 21, 2017 Housing: On-Campus Estimated Cost of Attendance 2 Semesters $18,305 Residency: In-State Expected Family Contribution - 0 Established Financial Need $18,305 Type of Aid Fall Spring Summer Total Accept? Federal Pell Grant $2,907 $2,908 $0 $5,815 Yes or No HOPE Scholarship* $3,495 $6,990 Federal Direct Loan – Sub $1,750 $3,500 Federal Direct Loan - Unsub $1,000 $2,000 Total for Academic Year $18,305 This is an example of how your financial aid award could be broken down. In this particular award, we’ll point out a few things: There is no EFC. This student received the max amount for the Federal Pell Grant. This student also received the HOPE Scholarship. Then the student has the option of accepting some subsidized and unsubsidized direct loans to make up the remainder of the cost. *Estimated HOPE Scholarship award amount for 15 credit hours per semester at University of Georgia. Award amounts vary by institution.

We’re Here to Help You We currently have six representatives across the state that are here to help you. In the next few weeks we will have two new reps in the metro-Atlanta area that will also be available to provide assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact any of us.