5 Essential Tips to Get Financial Aid For Online College

Can you get financial aid for online college?

How am I going to pay for my online degree?

What are the top online schools with financial aid?

If you’re asking questions like these, it’s time to pull up a chair and clear the next ten minutes of your day. You’re going to need to put in a little time and effort, but don’t worry! The process is simple and completely worth it when you receive financial aid for online college and are able to get your degree.

Grace College online has already taken steps to help you with the process! First, we reduced the cost of your online degree by 19.5%. Second, we sat down with our director of online admissions, Kourtney Sumner, to learn about what our students need to do to find the best financial aid for online classes.

1. Get Financial Aid for Online College & File the FAFSA

Many don’t realize that the FAFSA is necessary for online schools with financial aid, but it is — and it’s an essential first step. As you file the FAFSA, Kourtney recommends you follow these three steps:

1. Create an account at fafsa.ed.gov/spa/fafsa/#/LOGIN?locale=en_US.
2. Have the following information ready (if you’re a dependant student, you will also need the following for your parents):
   • Your Social Security number
   • Your Alien Registration number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
   • Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
   • Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
   • Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
   • An FSA ID to sign electronically.
   • Grace’s school code: 00180
3. Submit your information. Grace College will receive and process what you’ve submitted and then contact you with an official financial aid award letter. Be on the lookout!

2. Talk to your Employer

Online schools with financial aid accept help from student’s employers all the time. Your workplace might be willing and able to offer you financial aid. Here’s how to find out:

First, check your employee handbook to see if your workplace offers tuition reimbursement or other incentives for furthering your education. If it does, set up a time to sit down with a human resources representative and talk through what options you have, how much they cover, and what information they need from Grace College.

Next, get in contact with your Grace College Admissions Counselor to obtain any information you need for your employer. You will probably have to contact Student Accounts to get specific dollar amounts, too.

Finally, submit paperwork to your employer, and finish your degree for less!

Do you work at the Bowen Center or Lifeline Youth & Family Services? Grace College has partnered with these organizations to provide additional discounts to staff pursuing certain degrees from Grace College online. You could get up to 25% off of your tuition!

3. Apply for Grants and Scholarships

There are many available grants and scholarships to apply for, even as an online student. Look into your county and see what financial aid for online college might be available to you.

Kosciusko, Allen, Elkhart, Wabash, Marshall

Search for your county!

4. Check with Questa Education Foundation

Do you live in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Whitley, Wabash, or Wells county?

If you do, Questa is an excellent resource for scholarships, loans, and career opportunities. Their goal is to prepare 21st-century entrepreneurs for the business landscape by building talent and investing in education. 

5. Ask for a Transfer Discount

Come to Grace Online with credits from Ivy Tech, Ancilla, Crossroads Bible, Harrison, Schoolcraft, Vincennes, or Wayne County Community College, and you could be eligible for a $100 discount per credit hour. Our bachelor’s degree completion programs are the perfect option for a transfer student. Don’t waste any time — the opportunity to pick up where you left off is at your fingertips.
To learn more about eligibility and other details, contact our online admissions counselors at onlineadmissions@grace.edu. If you’re looking for financial aid for online college, we’ve got you covered!