We help you find ways to pay for college

Frank has done the research and curated resources that will help you on your journey to college and answer all your questions on how to pay for college.

Common Topics on How to Pay for College

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How to Pay For College Basics

If it seems that paying for college has become more challenging than getting into college, you’re not alone. Rising tuition costs have families across the country asking the question, “how to pay for college?” Financing a college education can be a painstaking, stressful process. Frank’s here to help ease the burden so students can concentrate their energy on one of life’s most rewarding and enriching experiences.

 Filing FAFSA® as the first step for claiming your aid

Every year, a new wave of students and families scramble to figure out how to fill out the FAFSA®, the “Free Application for Federal Student Aid,” the first step to getting federal financial aid.

Filing a FAFSA® form is the first step towards paying for college, and it’s often the most difficult step. Frank set out to change that. Our online version of the application takes about 7 minutes to complete – all you need is your personal information, your family information, and your financial information.

When you file your FAFSA®, you’re automatically applying for federal grants (including the Pell Grant), loans and scholarships to pay for college. In addition, many colleges will use the FAFSA® to determine if a student qualifies for funding provided by the school and the state.

You have many options when it comes to closing the gap to pay for school

Filing your FAFSA® is the first and most important step to getting your aid, but there are many more sources of aid than you may think.

While most students receive at least some financial aid through filing their FAFSA®, it’s often not enough to cover all college-related expenses but there are many options for closing the gap.

Here are 8 ways that students can realize more financial aid and other benefits:

  1. Outside scholarships and grants can add up to help reduce the expense or otherwise minimize the loan burden students and parents take on.
  2. Part-time  and work study jobs  can help chip away at the cost, especially for students out of high school.
  3. The federal government provides fixed rate student loans for students to help afford education, that may help students save on interest versus using a private lender.
  4. States offer their own financial aid programs and initiatives to help you cover the cost of school.
  5. Institutions such as trade unions and businesses may offer tuition reimbursement to help members or employees cover a portion of tuition expenses.
  6. Students can also work with schools to see if tuition discounting or aid appeal is an opportunity for them on a case by case basis.
  7. In addition to the traditional forms of aid mentioned above, students can explore private student loans and even emerging options such as Income Share Agreements and crowd funding, as other potential options for closing the aid gap.
  8. For families saving for college for younger children there are tax privileged accounts to help families to start saving early.

The financial aid mix for every student and family is different; however, families who explore all options prior applying for college and after students get their financial aid award have a better change at claiming more free financial aid and realize other financial benefits. With Frank, you can explore all your options to find your best financial aid mix.