Planning for College
Paying for college is a big financial responsibility for any family. However, a majority (about 70%) of students here at Tennessee Tech receive some type of financial aid to help manage their school costs. Financial Aid potentially available to Tennessee Tech students include state and federal grants, student loans, parent loans, and a wide variety of institutional scholarships.
What steps should I take to prepare for paying for college?
Consider Cost of Attendance for Your School(s) of Choice
Cost of Attendance is a school's calculation of how much it may cost to attend their college. Search each school's Financial Aid webpage and determine what their office uses to calculate a student's total cost of attendance. Make sure to utilize a school's Cost of Attendance as an estimate only since it will more than likely include estimates for expenses (such as transportation, supplies, and personal expenses) that the school will not directly bill you for. Additionally, expenses such as room and board may cost more than what the schools' residence halls and meal plans cost, because many schools, including Tennessee Tech, utilize an average dollar amount in their Cost of Attendance that factors in off-campus meal purchases and apartments. You can view Tech's Cost of Attendance page here, and feel free to browse our Financial Literacy page to learn more about how schools determine their Cost of Attendance!
Learn How to Apply for Financial Aid
Students have multiple options available to them to help pay their college costs,
including federal, state, and institutional aid. The majority of federal and state
aid is made available to students through the FAFSA application, which you can learn
more about on our FAFSA page or by visiting studentaid.gov. Additionally, state aid may have additional requirements you may need to complete,
so make sure you are aware of the steps you need to take to make sure your state aid
is applied to your school of choice! For in-state students, check our Lottery Scholarship page for more information about the HOPE Scholarship and its requirements.
All schools have their own requirements that students will need to follow to apply for institutional scholarships, so make sure that you are aware of and understand these requirements. You can learn more about Tech's Scholarships process on our Scholarships page!
Search for Local Scholarships
Make sure to reach out to your local high school guidance counselor, religious organizations, as well as local community and civic groups to ask about potential scholarship opportunities! Additionally parents, make sure you check with your employers to see if they offer scholarship opportunities for your student. Visit our Applying Outside/External Scholarships page to learn more!
Search for National Scholarships Online
In addition to local scholarship opportunities, there are multiple national organizations that offer scholarships to new and returning college students. Click on the websites below for more information.
FastWeb: Free Scholarships and College Searches
Scholarships.com: Free College Scholarship Search & Financial Aid Information Resource
Please note that you should always be wary of potential scams when searching for online scholarships. Learn how to spy potential scams here.
Learn more about Government Resources
The U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website, studentaid.gov, contains valuable information regarding federal aid opportunities, as well as houses the FAFSA application (which you will need to complete for every school year to receive federal and state aid). Make sure that you browse their website and make sure you are prepared for the FAFSA!
The U. S. Armed Forces also offers financial aid opportunities to students who are interested in joining. For more information on recruitment incentives and other ways to help pay for college through their programs, visit www.todaysmilitary.com. Additionally, if you (or your spouse) are a veteran, or a dependent of a veteran, you may be eligible for educational benefits. Information is available at www.gibill.va.gov.
Explore Investment Opportunities
For parents who have decided to prepare for their future student's college costs early, consider learning more about 529 Plans and their benefits by visiting the College Savings Plans Network.
For additional information regarding 529 Plans, please visit our Applying for Outside/External Scholarships page!
Questions? Reach Out to Us!
If you have any questions about paying for college, the FAFSA, or any of the above information, schedule a meeting with us! Our Financial Outreach Coordinator Joe Clark is available to answer any questions or concerns you or your parents may have, so please feel free to reach out to him at jclark@tntech.edu to schedule an appointment!
