Financial Aid U

Helps Students Make College a Reality

Created through a generous grant from the Citi Foundation, Financial Aid U is a nationwide program designed to help aspiring, first-generation students finance their college education. 

Financial Aid U connects students and their families to government grants, scholarships and loans in a unique two step process:

Step 1) Free tax preparation
With 75% of the information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) coming from the tax return, the Financial Aid U process begins with free tax preparation.

Step 2) FAFSA help
With the tax return in hand, we help students make sense of the financial aid process and help them complete their FAFSAs.

2011 Evaluation Report
Read about the goals, objectives, strategies, approach, and evaluation of Financial Aid U

2011 Outcome Data Report
Read about Financial Aid U's enrollment rates

This year, Financial Aid U will be operating in partnership with nine programs including:

• Boston EITC Campaign
• Campaign for Working Families
• Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
• Center for Economic Progress
• The Financial Clinic
• Health & Welfare Council of Long Island
• Human Services Coalition of Miami
• Mission Economic Development Agency
• Newark Now
• Pathways PA
• United Way of Central Alabama
  
• United Way of Buffalo and Erie County
  

2011 Online Volunteer Training

This year FAU is excited to launch a FASFA certification volunteer online training course. The course is hosted on the NCTC Online University and will be available to all NCTC members. If you would like to learn more about this opportunity and how you can become trained as a FAFSA volunteer for the upcoming tax season, visit the FAU current training page.

Financial Aid U Premium Resources

• Financial Aid Tax Site Program Guide: This publication is intended to prepare organizations offering free tax preparation services for success in assisting aspiring students with financial aid applications at the tax site.

• Financial Aid Coach Guide: This guide is intended as a resource manual for financial coaches. It provides an overview of various options that higher education students may encounter. The manual identifies the best financial choices, weighing potential value against actual costs.

• Financial Aid Student Workbook: This workbook is meant to be used as a resource for students that are faced with financial decisions related to college — from how to find financial aid for college to choosing between living on- or off-campus. In each section, they will find advice and tools that will inform their decisions and help them make financial choices that will set them up for success long after their graduation day.

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Interested in becoming a partner and offering Financial Aid U through your program next year?

Contact Rebecca Riha at 312-346-6282 ext. 266.