David LinckThere are many types of financial aid for single mothers, but the best types in my opinion are from the U.S. government. Government assistance for college is easy to get, free to apply for, and the easiest to work with.
The first step in getting government support is to apply with a Free Application For Federal Student Aid, also known to many as a FAFSA, pronounced faf-sfuh. This one form can be filled out on paper and mailed in or completed online. If you can, apply online to shave a few weeks off the processing time.
After your FAFSA is processed you will receive a letter with your EFC on it. An EFC is your expected family income, and is what they believe your family should be able to pay to go to college. The lower your EFC, the better. Don’t panic if your EFC looks high to you, it takes a lot of money to get a degree and you may still qualify.
The school will use your EFC, and based on the funds available award you a federal Pell grant based on financial need. If your grants doesn’t cover all of your schooling costs you may qualify for Federal Work Study, also called FWS. FWS is a set amount of money you are allowed to earn working a job. Once you reach your set amount of earnings you are not allowed to earn any more through that job until the term starts over. It’s basically a job with an earning cap.
If you have applied for every grant and scholarship you can find and are still coming up short, a federal loan may be your answer. Typically government loans are the way to go as they offer lower interest rates and flexible repayment plans. A loan should always be your last option though, as you are increasing your debt.
There are many kinds of financial aid out there for moms raising children on their own. Grants, scholarships, federal work study, and federal loans are all great options. Apply with a FAFSA and work with your financial aid counselor to find the funding to attend college.
