Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
College is affordable

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 programs and loans — and most students will qualify for more than one type of assistance.

By working with their school counselor and the college financial aid office, 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) at www.fafsa.gov. The FAFSA determines the amount of federal and state aid for which they qualify.

Students should also search for scholarships for which they may qualify. Not all scholarships are based on grades or athletic ability. Some are for students from particular areas, for those 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 school counseling offices and public libraries. Also 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; or call (800) 928-8926, ext. 6-7372.

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