Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
College is affordable

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Although many Kentucky students and parents may think a college education is financially out of reach, that isn’t necessarily the case, according to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA).

Student financial aid programs are available to help pay for college. Financial aid comes in many forms — scholarships, grants, work-study and loans — and most students will qualify for more than one type.

By working with their school counselor and the financial aid offices at the colleges they are interested in attending, students may find that higher education is more affordable than they believed.

All students interested in college should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA will determine how much aid they may qualify for from federal and state programs.

They should then search for scholarships for which they might qualify. Not all scholarships are based on grades or athletic ability. Some are for students from particular areas, for students interested in certain fields or for students from specific backgrounds. A good place to start is Affording Higher Education, a KHEAA resource book available in counseling offices and public libraries. Then check out the Paying for College section on www.kheaa.com, which has a link to a free scholarship search engine.

With some research and by working with financial aid professionals, students and parents may find that a college education is well within their reach.

To learn how to plan and prepare for higher education, go to www.gotocollege.ky.gov. For more information about Kentucky scholarships and grants, visit www.kheaa.com; write KHEAA, P.O. Box 798, Frankfort, KY 40602-0798; or call (800) 928-8926, ext. 6-7372.

-30-