CALIFORNIA AND WASHINGTON STUDENTS:
DON’T PASS UP YOUR OPPORTUNITY FOR AID
February is Financial Aid Awareness Month

Los Angeles, CA (February 1, 2008) – According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average undergraduate tuition, room and board costs for one year of college is around $14, 629. Unless a student is a part of the few families who can simply write a check for a college education, he or she is going to need financial aid.

Even if a student and his or her family don’t believe they can qualify for aid, it is important to apply because the application not only provides information for federal aid, but also for state aid such as grants. To apply for aid, students need to complete the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which can be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

More importantly, now is the time to apply for financial aid. Aid is usually given on a first-come first-serve basis, and for California students it’s even more important so that he or she may be qualified for the Cal Grant, which has a deadline of March 2. While Washington state students will be automatically considered for a State Need Grant by completing the FAFSA, they should still complete the FAFSA as soon as possible to qualify for other limited aid that may be available.

Applying now will maximize a student’s financial aid opportunities. If you or a student is looking for help when
filling out the FAFSA, experts are available to help with the process by calling (888) 271-9721 or writing to reachingallyouth@allstudentloan.org