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Tuesday, February 26, 2002

By Bill Schackner, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

It doesn't take a Rhodes scholar to know that cost is a major barrier to college. But there's another obstacle just as formidable, say financial aid experts: Not knowing all the help that's out there.

	Where to go to college that's close

Yes, some private campuses cost $30,000 a year. But they and other less expensive schools offer a range of institutional aid -- some based on need, some on merit and some according to criteria such as academic interest, major or athletics.

That's in addition to grant programs, scholarships, low-interest loans and work study programs run by the state and federal governments. And then there are various community and church scholarships.

Taken together, the money can bring the actual cost of attending far below a college's "sticker price." The trouble is, some families don't learn how much aid they might be eligible for until it's too late to apply.

"They don't do the research," said Sue Valdisera, who works in the Pittsburgh office of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. "They don't prepare themselves."

She and others in the financial aid business cite a few cardinal rules: Begin early, explore as many opportunities as possible and never miss deadlines.

File too late, PHEAA Regional Director Jim Cardinale warned, and "the money may be gone."

Students certainly should be considering and visiting campuses by their junior year of high school, Valdisera said. But families ought to start thinking about financing years earlier by exploring options like a tuition account program, or TAP, which lets families save for college from birth. All earnings on the accounts are tax free when used for a qualified higher education expense.

When families do visit a campus, they should stop in the financial aid office to find out what that school offers.

High school guidance counselors are another important resource and can give students leads on community scholarships available from groups like the American Legion, the Elks and churches, Valdisera said.

Among the most important documents that a family must fill out is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which can be submitted as soon as Jan. 1 of the student's senior year of high school. The U.S. Department of Education document is available in high school guidance offices, libraries or from colleges themselves. Students also can apply on line by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov, Cardinale said.

Completing a FAFSA is required for all state and federal aid programs. Most colleges also require FAFSA when they consider students for need-based aid programs they offer. Students identify on the forms what schools they are interested in, and the government relays family information electronically to each of those campuses.

There are just about 100 questions on matters such as family size, income, assets, bank savings, investments and other data that will be used to ascertain the share of college cost that the family is expected to shoulder. The form must be renewed each year a student seeks aid.

Roughly a month after families submit a FAFSA, the government sends them a student aid report outlining their expected family contribution and the student's eligibility for aid programs like the federal Pell Grant, the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, the Perkins Loan Program, and the federal college work-study program. That report should be checked for accuracy and returned with any revisions needed. An amended report comes back and should be checked, too.

Individual colleges may require other forms beyond FAFSA. "We recommend that students check with any institution they are interested in to make sure of their own procedures and to be sure that additional forms are not required," Valdisera said.

Information from FAFSA also is shared electronically with PHEAA, which uses it to determine eligibility for the Pennsylvania State Grant, which can range up to $3,300.

Typically before May 1, colleges notify students what share of their educational costs the students or their families will probably have to pay, and what share financial aid will be cover. PHEAA announces awards for its program after May 1.

Good Places To Start

Those looking for more information about planning for college and financing can go to the PHEAA web site at www.pheaa.org or www.pheaamentor.org, Cardinale said. They also may contact the agency's Pittsburgh office at 412-881-5279 or the main toll free number at (800) 692-7392. Families may request PHEAA's 32-page financial aid handbook by calling one of those numbers.

Also, the U.S. federal student aid information center can be reached at (800) 433-3243 .