In The ZONA - East Valley Jan. 2014 | Page 17

Q. I’m excited about college, but worried about the cost. How do I get financial aid? A. Earning your degree or certificate at Scottsdale Community College means you are getting one of the best educational values in the nation. However, even though tuition at SCC remains more affordable than tuition at state or private institutions, many students still require some form of financial aid. Financial Aid is meant to supplement your family’s ability to pay for college costs and eligibility will depend on your demonstrated financial need and other requirements. Most financial aid comes from the state and federal government and can consist of grants, loans, student employment, and scholarships to help meet a student’s cost of attendance. There are many factors affecting eligibility for financial aid. As a result, students should apply for financial aid every year, even if they don’t think they will qualify. Financial aid is available for full time as well as part time students. The first step for everyone is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is online at https://fafsa.ed.gov/. You’ll also want to be sure and submit any requested information to the SCC Financial Aid Office by the priority deadline in order to have your application reviewed before the tuition due date. Financial aid applications received after the deadline will still be considered for aid, but students will not receive their award letter until after the start of the semester. If you file after the priority date, you should be prepared to use your own funds to pay for tuition and fees prior to the tuition due date. You may opt to use the Payment Plan to hold your classes until your financial aid application can be processed. Got a question for Scottsdale CC’s Artie the Artichoke? Send it to: [email protected] women of faith pursuing excellence Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School Xavier Entrance Exam Saturday, January 11, 2014 7:30 a.m., $50 Testing Fee No Reservations Necessary Applications for 2014-2015 distributed at testing 4710 N 5TH STREET PHOENIX, AZ 85012 WWW.XCP.ORG 602-277-3772 Make Up Test Date Saturday, January 25, 2014 7:30 a.m., $50 Testing Fee Reservations Requested Call: 602-240-3112 inthezona.com January 2014 / 17