Stand By Me NexGen helps families find ways to pay for college

Families looking for ways to fund students’ postsecondary education studies can receive free advice and assistance from Stand By Me NexGen, a joint project of the State of Delaware and United Way of Delaware.

Stand By Me NexGen currently partners with 43 public and charter high schools in Delaware; it offers free public workshops and presentations, hosts events and conducts one-on-one appointments through its college funding program.

“College money is available to help students,” said Sally C. Coonin, program manager of Stand by Me NexGen. “They just need to find out if they are eligible for one of the numerous types of funding out there. The first step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid,” she said.

The FAFSA is an online application that helps eligible students access federal aid, state aid and financial assistance from two- and four-year colleges, universities, and technical and trade schools.

“Completing the FAFSA is an integral step in securing college funding. It a myth that families with higher earnings are ineligible to receive financial aid,” Coonin said. “Financial aid includes more than just grants and loans. Many private scholarships require students to show proof of FAFSA submission as a criteria for eligibility to apply. This is why everyone should complete the FASFA.”

Research indicates that millions of students who are eligible for financial aid fail to file the FAFSA each year, leaving money on the table that could pay for postsecondary education. The National College Attainment Network cites research estimating that half of all the students who did not complete the 2018 FAFSA  would have been eligible for Pell Grants totaling $2.6 billion.

Online seminars available include Paying for College, which informs students and parents about government grants, scholarships, loans and the FAFSA application process.

Scholarships 101 explores scholarship opportunities from the federal and state governments, as well as from institutions, private organizations and online sources. The goal is to inform students and parents about scholarship opportunities and the application process, and to provide essay-writing tips.

One-on-One Zoom FAFSA completion appointments provide students and their families with actual, real-time assistance in completing the FAFSA form.

To learn more, go to standbymede.org.