Determine your Eligibility

Now that you have a general understanding of the types of financial aid and how the process works, it's time to start putting the puzzle together by determining what types of financial aid you may be eligible to receive. The following information gives you some good tips on finding the options that may be best for you.

Will I be eligible for need-based financial aid?

The first step is to determine the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The FAFSA is used to calculate the EFC, but we are pleased to provide you with a calculator called the Preliminary Aid Information System (PAIS). The PAIS asks a few simple questions and gives you an estimate of your EFC.

The next step is to determine your cost of attendance by visiting the GA Colleges section of this web site to find the cost of attendance for the school(s) you are interested in attending.

Lastly, subtract your EFC from the cost of attendance and you have the eligibility for need-based funds. If you determine that you are eligible for need-based funds, see our section Grants Based on Financial Need for more information.

Will I be eligible for merit-based financial aid?

Merit-based scholarships can be administered by the State of Georgia, the college or university you plan to attend, or through a private organization. To determine what options are available to you, we suggest you start with our Financial Aid Search tool which can provide a list of potential scholarships that match your needs.

Most of the largest merit-based scholarships in Georgia, including the HOPE Scholarship, are administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC). For details on these programs, you can view our Scholarships and Grants Programs section. Details on eligibility requirements, award amounts, and application procedures can be found for each of these programs in that section.

Many colleges and universities, technical colleges, and career schools have their own institutional scholarship programs. Larger schools often have many donors and endowments for scholarships that they administer for eligible students. Your high school counselor and other people you know may help you with the application processes. Often an essay is required. (Be sure to write the essay yourself.)

The best source for information on institutional scholarships is the school you plan to attend. To research scholarship programs at your specific schools of interest, we recommend starting with the information provided in the Campus Tours section of this web site.

In addition to the larger programs administered by GSFC and institutional scholarships, there are many other scholarships available for which you may be eligible. The Financial Aid Search tool offers access to many of these programs, and there are other avenues to research potential scholarships. Your high school guidance counselor will be able to help you find scholarships. You may also research scholarships at public libraries, businesses, organizations, clubs, retailers, and a nearby college campus (even if you don't plan to attend there), and, of course, on the Web.

There are several reputable web sites for scholarship searches. If you find one that charges a fee or if you are solicited by telephone, mail, or e-mail, be careful. You can almost always find everything you need for free.

For more information on Scholarship Scams, click here.

What if I need assistance in addition to my eligible need and merit-based financial aid?

Non-need-based aid is provided to students when the financial aid formulas indicate the student or family should be able to afford an education using their own funds. Such aid is almost always in the form of a student or parent loan in which the federal government does not pay the interest for you (unsubsidized loans). Students with financial need may also rely on this kind of aid, and most federal and state aid still requires a determination of financial need (using the FAFSA) before approving non-need-based aid.

In addition to administering scholarship and grant programs, the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) provides all types of low-cost education loans for students and their parents. For more information, please see the Loan Programs section of this web site.

Ready for the next step?

Now that you understand the basics and understand what types of financial aid you may be eligible to receive, it's time to APPLY! APPLY! APPLY!