MHS School Counselors can assist students in applying for financial aid to better ensure their access to post-secondary programs.
Click here for the Financial Aid Night Presentation from 9/11/2024
Federal Financial Aid
There are three types of federal student financial aid:
- Grants — financial aid that doesn't have to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund)
- Loans — borrowed money for college or career school; you must repay your loans, with interest
- Work-Study — a work program through which you earn money to help you pay for school
Students apply for federal student aid through the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
The
FAFSA is used by nearly all colleges and universities to help determine how much financial aid you and your family are eligible for. It’s created and coordinated by the U.S. Department of Education, and it is safe and secure. It asks questions about how much money your family made and how much money your family paid in taxes for the previous year. The FAFSA will directly import your family’s previous income and tax information using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Learn more about the FAFSA and fill it out online at
https://fafsa.ed.gov/
FAFSA Deadlines
The federal deadline for the FAFSA is in June, but most colleges and universities have earlier deadlines for priority consideration, often between October of the previous year and February of the year you’ll start school. It is best to complete and file your FAFSA as early as possible.
(information from https://nextsteps.idaho.gov/ and https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/)
Western Undergraduate Exchange Program (WUE)
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Students who are residents of WICHE may be eligible for a rate of 150% of in-state tuition at participating two- and four-year college programs outside of their home state. The WUE tuition rate is not automatically awarded. Many institutions limit the number of new WUE awards each academic year, so it is best to apply to colleges early.
WICHE participants include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Keep in mind that there is not a separate application for the WUE. Students apply directly to the college of their choice and indicate on the application that they would like to be considered for the WUE discount.
Learn more about the WUE at
http://wiche.edu/wue/
MHS's WUE Information Presentation
More Information: