For many
students, financial aid has a critical role in the educational choices they make. It may
affect which institution a student chooses to attend, the credit load—even whether he
or she can pursue higher education. In
addition, learning about and applying for financial aid can be a daunting experience for
any student. Because of its great importance
to students and its complex nature, financial aid information and services should be easy
to find, accurate, and straightforward. If
students are given the necessary online resources, they should be able to understand,
apply for, and receive financial aid online without ever visiting campus.
Include
general information about financial aid. Provide
site visitors with a basic knowledge of financial aid.
Include introductory information to help students understand the different
components of the process. Consider including
a Frequently Asked Questions format in this section.
(University
of Wyoming)
Identify
and describe the various types of financial aid available.
Inform students of the different financial options available to them,
including grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study. If special financial aid programs
are available to assist distance learners, be sure and highlight them. (University of New
Mexico)
Detail
the costs of attendance. Provide
information on tuition and fees as well as estimates for living expenses and other costs
associated with attending your institution. (Northern Arizona University)
Describe
the application process. The steps
in the process can often be defined through a checklist. (Eastern Oregon
University)
State
all institutional financial aid policies. Define
policies and procedures that may affect a student’s financial aid and registration
decisions. Consider linking to relevant sections of your institution's student handbook or
course listing. (Grand Valley State
University)
Provide
your Federal School Code for the FAFSA application. Make
it easy for students to find your institution’s code to list on Federal financial aid
applications. (University of Wyoming)
List
deadlines and other important dates. Provide
deadlines and other important dates related to financial aid. (Iowa State University)
Link to
the online Federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Linking
directly to this form enables a student to complete an application online. (Metropolitan State College of Denver)
Supply
other applications and relevant forms. Provide
forms for students to download or complete online. Include
instructions for each form in a print-friendly format. (Ball State University)
Link to
related sites. Numerous Web sites
already exist that provide useful financial aid information, including (www.fastweb.com) and (www.collegenet.com).
Linking to these sites and others is far easier than developing original material,
and it may be more effective. (Azusa Pacific
University)
Features to Consider
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