Reduce your college costs
Charity worked a few different jobs before she
went back to school at Heartland Community College.
There she found out about financial aid options. She
decided to continue her education at Illinois State
after receiving an associate’s degree. She is financing
the rest of her education with a combination of state
and federal grants, student loans, and work study.
Charity is confident her hard work will pay off.
“The important thing is to get here, even if that
means taking out loans. I know with a bachelor’s
degree I’ll be more marketable as an employee. The
increase in my income will take care of my debt,”
Charity said.
She recommends looking beyond the Financial
Aid Office for gift aid to reduce college costs.
-Charity M., Bloomington
Transfer Students
As a transfer student, you made a wise financial decision to keep costs down during your first few years. You may experience some “sticker shock” when you compare the cost of attending Illinois State to your community college. Remember, the financial commitment you are making to your education now is an investment in your future. Follow these steps to stay on track. Please note, this timeline is based on a student transferring for fall semester.
Fall
- Check in with your community college advisor. Make sure you are meeting college admission and graduation requirements (if you plan to earn an associate's degree). Also, your counselor will have information about local and regional scholarships for which you may qualify.
- Keep up your grades and activities. Many universities, including Illinois State, consider grade trends as well as cumulative GPA. Also, your coursework during your final year at community college can affect scholarship eligibility.
- Apply to colleges. Illinois State's preferred filing period is September 1 - January 1.
Winter
- File your income taxes (if needed) as soon as possible and make sure your parents file theirs. Unless you qualify as an independent student, you'll need information about your parents' income as well as yours for financial aid applications. Please note, your status as an independent student is not based on how much you or your parents contribute toward the cost of your education.
- Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available online each year starting January 1. Learn more at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
- Watch for financial aid seminars and workshops. Your community college or the colleges you are intersted in may host information sessions about paying for college.
Spring
- Review and compare financial aid and scholarship awards. Sit down with your parents and figure out if you can afford to attend your first-choice school based on that school's financial aid package. Also, consider whether the aid package is only for your first year or if it will be maintained if your financial and academic situations remain the same.
- Select the college you will attend and attend a Transfer Day Program. If you're having trouble deciding, you may want to make another round of campus visits.
- Decide how you'll spend the summer. Consider a summer class, volunteer work, or a summer job. You'll learn valuable skills and earn money for college.
- Notify your school of any additional scholarships not listed on your award notice. At Illinois State, students must fax scholarship award letters to (309) 438-3755.
Summer
- Finalize your enrollment. Be sure you've submitted all necessary documents for admission and financial aid including your final college transcripts.
- Create an estimated budget. Compare how much money you'll earn, borrow, and get from your family to how much you think your expenses will be. Look for ways to control your costs.
- Buy books and supplies. Used and discounted textbooks go fast, so you may want to purchase them early.
