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To increase the completion rate of critical college financial aid forms, particularly from high school seniors in historically underrepresented urban schools, the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority (RISLA) and its College Planning Center today launched a comprehensive grassroots campaign aimed at getting more financial aid to students interested in attending college.

Many college-bound students and their families have fallen for the dangerous myth: "I won't qualify for aid so I'm not going to apply." The reality is, everyone should file the FAFSA, even if they think they may not qualify. The FAFSA is absolutely free to fill out and it can give families money to help cover the rising cost of college. Below is a quick rundown of what you could be eligible for by filing the FAFSA.

Don't leave free money on the table!!

October 1 has come and gone, which means it's time to fill out the FAFSA for the 2019/20 academic year! Creating an FSA ID is the very first step to take in applying for financial aid. An FSA ID is a username and password that allows students and parents to access federal student aid systems and "sign" the FAFSA online. Both the parent and student need one in order to file the FAFSA. For a run down of common FSA ID mistakes to avoid, check out the video below!

The RISLA College Planning Center will once again be hosting FAFSA Completion Events across the state of Rhode Island to help students, parents, and adult learners with completing the FAFSA. The FAFSA, formally known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the first step to applying for college financial aid. All schools uses this application for awarding federal student aid dollars and many also use it for awarding their own institutional funds. 

The RISLA College Planning Center will be hosting events all week to promote college planning and financial aid awareness

We are excited to announce that effective March 5, 2018, the RISLA College Planning Center currently located at the Boys & Girls Club of Cumberland-Lincoln will be moving to a new location at 652 George Washington Highway in Lincoln, RI.

By Invite Education

The recent tax bill expands 529 savings plans to include expenses for elementary and secondary education. And, the annual gift tax exclusion has increased. This is big news for education savers – no matter how much you are saving!

Congress wanted to make it easier to save for education. Traditionally, 529 plans have been used to cover college costs only, making 529 savings plans the go-to option to save for college for many families.

For the longest time, I thought the phrase "never LOOK a gift-horse in the mouth," was "never LICK a gift-horse in the mouth." Yuck, I wondered, why would anyone do that?! Does that even require such a warning? It turns out that looking at the teeth of a horse someone gifted to you is bad manners. 

Whether you are looking or licking (please, don't lick!), it's a bad idea when it comes to financial aid. Don't question free money for college, no matter the amount. Be grateful for any amount that reduces what you need to borrow. Here, we will explain the differences between gift aid and self-help aid for college. 

The RISLA College Planning Center is happy to announce that in addition to its two permanent locations in Warwick and Cumberland, Rhode Islanders will have access to free college planning services at local high schools throughout Rhode Island this winter. Throughout January and February, RISLA College Planning Center counselors will be traveling across the state in an effort to make filing the FAFSA and CSS Profile easier for college-bound students and their families.

This year alone we published over 90 blogs, but these 10 blogs really stuck out. We've covered almost everything college related, from discussing loan options to the very first steps of college planning. Save the blogs you love and share the ones that you think others need to see!