Financial aid step-by-step
Determine what type of student you are below and get additional information on applying for financial aid, scholarships, filing your FAFSA, and more to stay on track to receive funds.
Calculate and Compare
Find out what college will cost by comparing financial aid offers against your cost of attendance, and then compare schools.
Top Ten Mythbusters
There are lots of myths about financing a college education. You may be surprised to learn the truth.
Myth #1: If my family makes too much money, I won’t get financial aid.
Reality: Income is only part of the equation for determining financial aid, so the only way to know if you’ll get an award is to apply.
Myth #2: Filling out the FAFSA is just a waste of time.
Reality: In order to be considered for financial aid, including some scholarships, you must complete the FAFSA. To keep your financial aid options open, it’s always worth your time to file your FAFSA.
Myth #3: The FAFSA is complicated and difficult to complete.
Reality: The FAFSA is easier to complete than ever before. You can even fill it out online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Myth #4: There isn’t enough financial aid to go around.
Reality: ASU students received more than one billion dollars in financial aid during the 2013–2014 academic year. Some form of financial assistance is available for almost every student.
Myth #5: If financial aid doesn’t cover the cost of tuition, I won’t be able to go to college.
Reality: There are many types of financial aid, including a combination of financial aid programs and student employment. While not every student will be able to cover the cost of college through grants and scholarships, most students are able to finance their education with a combination of financial aid programs.
Myth #6: I need to complete my tax return before I submit my financial aid forms.
Reality: If you have not yet completed your tax return, you can still fill out your FAFSA using estimates derived from the previous year’s tax returns and other documentation.
Myth #7: It takes hours to fill out a FAFSA.
Reality: On average, it takes less than 30 minutes to complete your FAFSA.
Myth #8: The financial aid process doesn’t recognize my special circumstances.
Reality: While the FAFSA addresses a family’s basic financial circumstances, ASU has ways to address items not reflected on the FAFSA. Examples include income changes, health care expenses, educational expenses (tuition for K–12), educational loan payments and more.
Myth #9: I will receive a lot of financial aid my first year of college, but I won’t get it again after my freshman year.
Reality: ASU financial aid eligibility criteria are applied in the same way every year. Things like an increase in income, a decrease in unusual expenses, a change in the number of people in your home or the number of people in your family enrolled in college effect your eligibility. So unless your application changes or you miss application deadlines, your financial aid will remain comparable each year you’re in college.
Myth #10: Students are saddled with debt once they graduate.
Reality: In 2013, ASU resident students graduated with 33% less debt than the national average, and ASU out-of-state students graduated with 17% less. A study by the Institute for College Access and Success found Arizona was the third lowest state in terms of student debt, with an average of $20,299. The national average is $29,400.
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