February Financial Aid Awareness for UF - The Pulse

By Victoria Hansen, HansenV@Findlay.edu
Throughout February, Findlay participates in Financial Aid Awareness month through various emails, events and presentations.
“The Financial Aid Office wanted to celebrate this month with a variety of events for students to raise awareness and provide information about financial aid,” said Robert Hinds, a Financial Aid Graduate Assistant, in an email.
The upcoming FAFSA Frenzy workshop on Feb. 26 promises to teach students how to fill out their FAFSA and claim prizes for getting it done early. The following day, they will host an event on debt management and repayment after graduation.
Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine their eligibility for financial aid from the federal and state governments, as well as the University of Findlay. This form assesses eligibility for grants, such as the Pell Grant, federal work-study programs, and both subsidized and unsubsidized loans, according to Hinds.
“Many students assume they won’t qualify based on income, but there are multiple factors aid eligibility depends on,” Hinds said. “Completing the FAFSA allows you to take out federal student loans, which usually have lower interest rates and better repayment options than private loans. If your family’s financial situation changes due to job loss, medical expenses, or other hardships, having a FAFSA on file makes it easier to appeal for aid later. “
Financial aid consists of more than just loans and scholarships, however.
“Besides the most popular forms of financial aid like scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs. Other forms of financial aid are ROTC scholarships, which cover tuition in exchange for military service after graduation,” Hinds said. “Also, many companies offer tuition reimbursement programs for employees.”
This embraces point six of National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators’ (NASFAA) key messages for Financial Aid Awareness Month, “Understand your funding options.”
Statistics ranging from 96% to 99% of students at the University of Findlay receive financial aid of some form or another, with each incoming freshman being awarded a merit scholarship ranging from $17,000 to $25,000 depending on GPA or test scores, including the ACT, SAT and CLT. The University also offers endowed scholarships funded by alumni and other donors.
Students with a completed FAFSA automatically apply for all eligible endowed scholarships and receive the scholarships awarded to them.
The NASFAA initiated Financial Aid Awareness Month to offer essential information to students and families about accessing federal, state, and institutional student aid. This movement was taken farther by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who declared April 2024 as New York Financial Aid Awareness Month.
The financial aid office at UF, located in Old Main 113, opens from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Schedule appointments through Starfish with a UF login; drop-in appointments occasionally available.
“The financial aid staff is here to help you along your college journey,” Hinds said. “If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.”